Synopsis
KIM BELLE is a hard-working single mother who owns and operates a failing ranch up in Indian Springs. It belonged to her late husband and now she's desperately trying to keep it afloat with her sons, PETE and CRAIG and her 16 year old stepdaughter, JULIET. Pete and Craig don't like working the ranch, always slack off, and treat their step-sister very badly because they believe their mom likes her better then them and she's not even really related. Only through marriage.
Juliet grew up on the ranch with her dad before he had even met and married Kim. She loves the place and takes care of almost everything herself including her favorite horse, HORATIO, a handsome stallion who hangs out mostly in the stables due to a hurt leg.
Word gets out that Kim is having trouble making ends meet and receives a visit from MR. MONTGOMERY BEETLE, a very rich land developer and his timid teen-age son, WESLEY. Mr. Beetle is here to convince Kim to sell her land so he can turn the place into a shopping center. He brought Wesley along to show him the ropes and teach him how business deals are made.
Kim doesn't want to sell but doesn't know how she can afford to keep the property. Her sons don't care but Juliet is determined to save her home one way or another. She just doesn't know what to do until she gets knocked on the head in a freak stable accident. When she awakens, she hears a new voice that she never heard before. It is Horatio, her favorite horse, speaking to her! A talking horse?!
This is it! Just like “Charlotte” the magical spider, a talking horse can save their property. But when she brings everyone around to listen, all he does is grunt and whinny. They can't hear Horatio speak.
Horatio informs Juliet that only she can hear him because of that bump on her head. It opened up a special part in her brain so she can understand him now. Juliet thinks she's losing her mind. At first, she tries to ignore Horatio's comments until he tells her that he knows how she can save the ranch.
The problem is Horatio is not an-all knowing magical being. He is just a horse and many of his ideas are not very good even if his intentions are admirable.
Juliet tries and fails a few times, getting more and more frustrated but in the process, she also gets Wesley's attention with all of her hi jinx. He begins to like her and confides that his father buys all these properties because he's very lonely since his wife, Wesley's mom, died.
Juliet understands what they're going through because she and her stepmom are the same way. Juliet then tries to explain about Horatio. Wesley can't hear the horse so Juliet smashes him on the head, hoping the same head trauma will allow him to understand the talking animal. It doesn't work and only gives Wesley a splitting headache.
Horatio has another idea. If Juliet and Wesley can bring their parents together, Mr. Beetle might save the land himself. However, Pete and Craig don't like this idea and try to sabotage the matchmaking couple. But luckily Pete and Craig are knocked on the head hard and can finally hear Horatio talk. He warns them that if they don't change their ways, they will be sorry. Terrified by the talking horse, they give their blessings and let Kim Belle and Montgomery Beetle get together as do Juliet and Wesley. And everyone does live happily ever after...Especially Horatio who now gives advice to everyone.