I had seen Disney's version at the theater as a child and was enthralled! The angst of loving a pony more than life itself while living in harsh poverty in Australia decades ago. The movie was called "Ride a Wild Pony". The poverty stricken boy is given a wild pony by the richest man in town, just to get to school on time. He manages to tame this pony, barely, and they enjoy racing trains and getting into trouble together. This boy lives on his pony and it becomes his best friend. During a storm the little escape artist pony runs away and returns to the wild, only to be herded back to the richest mans pens. The pony is chosen for his wildness, and stubbornness by the mans daughter. Unfortunately her traits and the pony's are a match. She too trains the pony and uses it to pull her cart, thus giving her the freedom she craves from her paralyzed legs. The boy and she both claim the pony as theirs, thus tearing this little village apart. All choose sides, make cash bets, and wait on the pony to decide who he will come to in the grand climax of the story. Excellent! ( Amazon customer) - from Amzon