some more info with more detailed plot synopsis
found this on a good search
http://www.wercwerkworks.com/Turin_Horse_Film.pdf
here's a copy and paste of the text body
In Turin on January 3rd 1889, Friedrich Nietzsche steps out of the
doorway of number six Via Carlo Alberto, perhaps to stroll, perhaps to
go by the post office to collect his mail. Not far from him, or indeed far
removed from him, the driver of a hansom-cab is having trouble with
a stubborn horse. Despite all his prompting, the horse refuses to move
and at this the driver—Giuseppe? Carlo? Ettore?—loses his patience
and takes his whip to it. N. comes up to the throng as the driver,
foaming at the mouth with rage, finishes this brutal scene. The solidly
built and full-mustached gentleman suddenly jumps towards the cab
and, bursting into tears, throws his arms around the horse’s neck. His
landlord brings him home, he lies motionless and silent for two days
on a divan, until he mutters his necessary final words (”Mutter, ich bin
dumm.”), and lives for another ten years, silent and demented, under
the care of his mother and sisters.
the turin horse
a werc werk works current project
Béla Tarr Friedrich, artistic vision for film
Synopsis
Our film follows up this question. What did in fact
happen to the horse?
Ohlsdorfer, the carter, and his daughter live out
their lives on their farmstead. They subsist on hard
work: their only source of income is the horse and
cart – that’s what they live on. The father takes on
carting jobs, his daughter takes care of the household.
It’s a very meagre life and infinitely monotonous.
Their repeating gestures and the changes in
seasons and times of day dictate the rhythm and
routine which is cruelly inflicted on them.
Their horse, now old and in very poor condition,
is no longer able to carry out its tasks. Pulling the
loaded cart is more and more difficult however
it tries to obey the words of command. Even the
whip can’t force it to achieve beyond its strength.
All what the horse wants now is peace and an
untroubled death. The dying of the horse shapes
the story of the film which is framed by the gale
sweeping all before it, whose function is to make
true order in the world, at the same time giving the
final tribute of respect to innocence and defencelessness.
The film speaks about death, and the deep
pain that comes with it, felt by all of us as an
universal law.