HORSES
This is only a wild guess, but I’d say about 99% of the kids who wanted a pony for Christmas didn’t get one. As a not-very-reasonable substitute, how about some of the best movies about horses? 
Any discussion of horse movies must start with the marvelous Black Stallion (1979). A young boy is marooned on a desert island with a magnificent black stallion. Their rapport and the photography are both amazing. The second half, in which they are rescued and the boy (Kelly Reno) becomes the horse’s jockey under the tutelage of trainer Mickey Rooney, is ok but not wonderful. But the first half is mesmerizing. Kids love this.
While most of the films in this article are fairly old, 2019 produced an excellent horse movie, The Mustang. Though fictional, it is based on a real program in Nevada in which prison inmates train horses. Inmate Roman has been assigned to train Marquis, only recently brought in from the wild. It doesn’t go well for quite a while, but persistence pays off and the man and the horse become a good team. That’s enough to give you the idea. This is one fine film, but for adults only. 
Perhaps the very best horse photography ever is in The Man From Snowy River (1982), an Australian “western” with our own Kirk Douglas and hundreds of gorgeous horses. Their run down the mountain is completely thrilling. Kids won’t much like the love story but the horse stuff is great.
Mickey Rooney showed up 35 years earlier in the fabulous National Velvet (1944). Elizabeth Taylor (already stunningly beautiful at 12) wins a horse in a raffle and determines to make it a racing champion, and to do the riding herself. Fabulous scenery (in addition to Miss Taylor) and excellent horse photography. For the whole family.
Similar and only a step behind is My Friend Flicka (1943) with Roddy McDowell as the lad determined to make a winner of his horse and Preston Foster as his dubious 
dad. Faithfully adapted from Mary O’Hara’s beloved book, it’s a pleasure throughout. 
More great horse photography. For all ages.
Black Beauty (1994) is often sold and not always well-loved, but his story is compelling. This version is superior to the earlier ones and while it will bring you and the kids at least to the edge of tears, you can count on a happy ending for all.
For grown-ups only, The Horse Whisperer (1997) features Robert Redford as a gentle restorer of damaged horses. The Misfits (1961) has Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift as three misfits who love wild horses. Phar Lap (1984) may be the best story ever made about horse racing. The subject was an Australian national hero who died in a mysterious fashion on a trip to the United States. Great racing photography.
All of the films in this article are available on DVD.