I think the whole purpose of the movie was to show the horrors of past wars. NO, it was not a pretty war, put it showed what huge hearts these horses had to give their human handlers what they were asked to do. Think of all the obstacles this horse went through. Plow horse, calvary horse, pulling ambulances, pulling guns. It wasn't about how horrible it was, it was about what people and horses can overcome. Yes, I was horrified when the horse got caught in the barbed wire, but was heartened by how the two sides came together to help save the horse.