The film follows Nautical at the International Horse Show in Aachen, Germany, where the palomino, part of the United States Equestrian Team, is to compete. Unlike many champions, his backstory is less than glamorous. Born at the South Springs Ranch in New Mexico in 1944, he was originally intended to ride with cowboys as they tended their cattle. His love of visiting a local Native American village earns him the name "Injun Joe" and his natural gift for jumping makes him a standout. Injun Joe is trained by a retired Cavalry officer and his daughter before being sold as show-ring jumper. Unfortunately, the new owner objects to the horse's stubbornness and beats and starves him. Injun Joe goes through a series of owners before landing with Hugh Wiley, a member of the U.S. Equestrian Team. Now re-named Nautical, the horse becomes an award-winning champion.
Originally shot for the Walt Disney Presents television program, the film was written by Janet Lansburgh and directed and produced by Larry Lansburgh with narration by George Fenneman, best known as Groucho Marx's announcer on the TV game show You Bet Your Life. It was shot on location in New Mexico, Virginia, and at international competitions including Paris, London, Belgium, and Germany. Although technically a documentary, the film reportedly takes liberties with Nautical's story, as there is no evidence he was ever abused by any of his owners.
The Horse with the Flying Tail was pre-released on December 21, 1960 in order to qualify for that year's Academy Awards as part of a double-bill with Swiss Family Robinson. The strategy paid off as The Horse with the Flying Tail won the 1960 Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary. Later, the film would air on television in 1963.
Sixteen-years-old when The Horse with the Flying Tail was released, Nautical had won several trophies between 1957 and 1960, including the West Point and Stone Trophies at the National Horse Show, the King George V Gold Cup in England, and won the team gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games, as in the film. Shortly afterwards, he developed pneumonia on a boat to Germany and could not compete in the 1960 Rome Olympics. His owner, Hugh Wiley, said of him, "Nautical was a highly intelligent, very gentle horse when not being ridden, but he could certainly be a problem under saddle. What made him so challenging was that he had overwhelming power and maneuverability and could jump enormous fences with hardly any preparation." Nautical retired after performing in The Horse with the Flying Tail and lived out the rest of his life at Wiley's farm, where he passed away in 1966 at the age of 22.
SOURCES:
https://www.disneystore.com/family-movies-entertainment-the-horse-with-the-flying-tail-dvd/mp/1322906/1013403/
https://horsecountrychic.blogspot.com/2013/04/nautical-horse-with-flying-tail.html
https://www.horsenation.com/2014/07/02/secret-history-the-fascinating-story-of-nautical-a-palimino-show-jumper-with-a-golden-career/
The Internet Movie Database
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/629733/The-Horse-with-the-Flying-Tail/notes.html
By Lorraine LoBianaco
