Zac Efron stars as Patrick, a boy who is trying to find out what he really wants out of life. His father, a former baseball player, pushes him to excel in the sport, but Patrick isn't as fond of baseball as his dad wants him to be. Patrick has other ideas. He spends all his free time with retired horse trainer Houston Jones (Bill Cobbs) who relates stories about his past and instills in Patrick a love of horses, which the boy never knew he had. When his dad confronts him about his desires, Patrick divulges that he is quitting baseball and wants to train for the derby.

Patrick pours all his heart and soul into training, but at times doesn't understand why Houston makes him do some of the things he does. In the vane of "The Karate Kid" ("Wax on, wax off") Houston is smart about how he trains his young friend, and soon it is clear to Patrick why he was made to do the things he did. But Patrick must face many challenges on the way to the Derby Cup. First he has to learn to get onto his new horse, and then he has to learn how to jump. To say Patrick is starting from scratch is an understatement.

This is a cute story about this young boy's desire to do something different with his life. With the help of Houston, Patrick learns more than just how to ride and jump. He learns how to become a man, and his dedication impresses his hard-nosed father and ends up bringing the family closer together. But will his hard work be enough to defeat the reigning champion and local bully?

Bonus features include a Zac Efron calendar (tweens and teens will no doubt hang these all over their walls), an interview with Efron, and a look at the making of the film.

This coming-of-age story is something kids can share with their parents.

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