Who wants to know what breed Becephalus was supposed to play in the Movie Alexander?

OK, someone asked this question a week or so ago and I searched the net and couldn't find anything definite. Someone said they thought something was said in the special features of the movie.

So, I suffered through the movie - which I didn't like much. It did look like a Fresian, but I was a bit skeptical since the movie was shot in Morocco and Thailand.

Well, Oliver Stones says in the Director's Commentary "Three horses were used, they were Fresians, I think. Becephalus was a big, strong, black horse, so we wanted something to reflect that"

So...apparently three Fresians were used - anyone have any other information to support this?

2008-03-23T14:25:57Z

Yeah, this is why I was skeptical about the Friesians - they are not a breed originating from the Middle Eastern area of the world - and back in those times, no big, cold blooded draft would be used as a war horse, or much of any kind of riding horse - unless the farmer's kids hop on it.

It's funny that people will see some big black Friesian as more of a war horse than something like a Barb that is much more agile. The Lipizzaner tops out at 15.2HH and they are the closest to the old war horses. Freisians can be up to 17HH - and the ones in the film were probably about 16.2HH, judging from people standing next to them and the like.

galloping.greys2008-03-23T09:52:27Z

Favorite Answer

Gah, Fresians.

Obviously the director didn't know much about horses, seeing as Fresians aren't the most athletic horses, and they weren't even bred in the area.

There are hundreds of other breeds that are big and black, and I think a Dutch Warmblood x Thoroughbred Cross would have done the best job.

And Im guessing it was played by a Fresian, because that is what the director also thinks they are.

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T.O.Rider2008-03-23T10:20:18Z

Fresians were definitely the breed used, i have done MUCH research on this, in fact, you might notice the other riders in the movie reining their horses back in order for the fresian to stay in front. No one really knows for sure what breed the original Becephalus was, although i would REALLY like to know, I've heard that he was maybe a akhal-teke, or maybe Arabian. As for Fresians not being accurate, thats true, but the movie people clearly didnt care. Remember, the real Becephalus was probably really small, a pony, compared to modern horses. So they tried to use the horse that looked best.

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Lynn B2008-03-23T11:33:31Z

The fresian horse is actually a descendant of an anciant coldblood type of draft horse, and one of europes oldest breeds.Eastern blood was introduced during the crusades, as was the Andalusian during the 80 yrs war. During the 19th century they out crossed to trotter's to become lighter and higher stepping and by WWI its numbers declined drastically. However lack of fuel during WW11 caused it to be useful on the farms once again. The resurgance came during the last half of the century. So it has a very long, useful history. My guess is the Barb may have been the common denomenator for the war horses.

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~$Quarterhorsesrock$~2008-03-23T10:33:17Z

I dunno, but they could be any breed of big black horse. There are allot of them . Your right it wasnt a good movie.

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