Trained Hoofs: Just a guy, a horse, and a lot of dirt

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, it depends on how much you like horses. If you’re into the smell of sawdust and the rhythmic sound of a hoof hitting dirt, you’ll probably be mesmerized. If you need explosions or a character arc, you’re going to be bored to tears within five minutes. It’s not for everyone, but it’s oddly peaceful.

Charles Cooper and Pete Smith aren't trying to change the world here. They’re just capturing something specific. There’s a scene where they’re brushing down a horse’s coat that lasts way longer than it needs to. It’s almost hypnotic. You start to wonder if they just forgot to yell 'cut.'

The whole thing has this dusty, black-and-white charm that feels like looking at an old photograph album. It’s not as polished as Mill Pond, which had a bit more of a narrative thread to hang onto. This is just life on the track.

The details that stuck

• The way the trainers walk. It’s a very specific, hunched-over gait. You can tell they’ve spent their whole lives watching the ground.
• The silence. There’s barely any music. Just the wind, the horses huffing, and the occasional creak of leather.
• The editing feels a bit jumpy. Sometimes it cuts away right when you get invested in a particular animal’s expression.

It’s funny how movies like this don't really 'conclude.' They just stop. It feels like someone just turned off the camera because they ran out of film. It’s not deep, but there’s a dignity to it that you don't find in modern, slicker stuff. It reminded me a bit of the raw, observational feel in Voyage au Congo, though obviously much less travel-focused.

I found myself zoning out a bit during the mid-section. Maybe it was the repetitive trot. Or maybe it was just a slow Tuesday. Still, there's something *weirdly honest* about it. It’s not trying to be a masterpiece. It’s just showing you a horse. And sometimes, that’s plenty. 🐎