As movies go this one lacks in numerous areas, particularly dialog and acting, which is sometimes unskilled. However you can't find fault with the family story, revolving around a young teen lady who is different, including her first name "Moondance." Kay Panabaker is Moondance. Her father passed away recently but she still had her artist mommy Gelsey, played well by 40-something Lori Loughlin. By her own admission, Moondance has couple of, if any, pals since fellow students make fun of her name and the way she gowns. The motion picture starts on the last day of school as summertime break starts.
She has a little job, utilizing her bike to make small package deliveries in the backwoods surrounding her house (filmed in the Canadian Rockies and surrounding locations). One day, riding along a dirt road, a Pinto horse appears in front of her, evidently jumping the fence. We later learn this is a habit of the Pinto, whom she names "Checkers", and this later can be found in convenient in a jumping competitors.
As it turns out the horse is not lost, but is owned by Don Johnson as Dante, a male of gruff attitude and few words. We later on find out he had actually been a horse trainer but something took place and he had actually stopped. Moondance doesn't want to be separated from Checkers, so she bargains to work free, starting at 6:30 AM every day, cleaning up stalls, etc and in return she gets to ride Checkers.
It is hard to figure why skater Sasha Cohen has a role, except it seems she has acting goals. Here she http://r4skxdi774.nation2.com/why-you-should-spend-more-time-thinking-about-ftl is Fiona Hughes, a nasty and self-indulgent girl who won the Junior jumping championship in 2015, and who takes every opportunity to attempt and put Moondance down. There is no subtlety to her acting.
Overall an excellent household movie, with a great message, and no bad language, no sex, no violence. We require more motion pictures with those attributes.
SPOILERS: Dante accepts assist Moondance and Checkers get ready for the yearly jumping competitors. However he cautions her not to get her hopes up. But they succeed, have a perfect ride, and wind up co-champions with the mean Fiona. Proving that "various" can be great under the ideal conditions.
