This just came to me,but i wanted to mention another movie that had a great effect on me....which was The Electric Horseman, Starring Robert Redford.
Basically,this is the "jist" of it....
Sonny Steele used to be a rodeo star, but his next appearance is to be on a Las Vegas stage, wearing a suit covered in lights, advertising a breakfast cereal. When he finds out they are going drug the horse in case its too frisky, he rides off into the desert...
-IHW