Moondance (Kay Panabaker), a misfit at her school, anticipates another lonely summer. She unexpectedly finds an escaped horse named Checkers and returns him to his rightful owner, Dante (Don Johnson) . Undeterred by Dante's gruff manner, she asks him for a job at the stable. While riding Checkers, she discovers he has a talent for jumping, and she convinces Dante to coach them for a prestigious competition.