After the death of horse trainer John Peterson, his wife and two children move from Sydney, Australia to the long-abandoned family homestead in New Zealand, where they are met with hostility inspired by a neighboring horse breeder. They first meet Garrett even before they get to the house, when his truck runs them off the road as he chases the wild horse he thinks will run off his breeding mares. Teenage Anna Peterson forms an immediate bond with the rogue stallion.

Garrett makes an offer to buy the Peterson property, but is determined to drive the them out by any means. His daughter Ginny and younger son Tony (Dean) adopt their father's attitude, although their older brother Wayne disapproves. After Wayne helps young Mike Peterson when a local shopkeeper refuses to serve him, Tony and some friends attack Mike on his way home, pelting him with mud. Anna Peterson confronts Garrett at a local horse show when he brutally tries to control Ginny's horse, further damaging the relationship between the families. Garrett is furious when the wild stallion crashes into the showgrounds as if to defend Anna and the mare.

Ginny Garrett and Anna get into a fight on the bus on the way to the Petersons' first day at school, but later Ginny invites Anna to ride her horse Eclipse. When the other kids are impressed by Anna's riding skill, Tony makes the horse bolt by throwing a rock at her. Eclipse runs away with Anna, throwing her in the woods and disappearing. The wild stallion leads Anna to Eclipse, who has become trapped in a mud flat. With the help of the mysterious Mr. Gonzales and the stallion, she manages to pull the mare free. At Mr. Gonzales's home deep in the woods, she is surprised to meet Wayne Garrett, but is relieved to find he does not share his siblings' hostile attitude. Gonzales tells the kids about the long standing feud between the Garretts and the Petersons, based on the death of a horse twenty years before.

Meanwhile, Garrett confronts Mrs. Peterson, repeating Ginny and Tony's story that Anna has stolen the mare from his barn. While he goes to search for the horse, Mrs. Peterson and the family's one friend mobilize the police to search for the missing girl. Little Mike sneaks out of the house to search himself. In the morning, Anna and Wayne find Mike fallen into a pit trap made for the stallion by Garrett's men. Anna rides the wild stallion to get help.

When he gets home, Wayne tells his father about Ginny and Tony's lie about Anna and Eclipse. Garrett is more determined than ever to kill the rogue stallion, and follows Anna to Gonzales's. The horse runs and to Anna's horror leaps into the river's rapids.

Mike's injuries are not life threatening, but the distraught Mrs. Peterson is determined to move back to Australia. Her friend Jean reads the riot act to the townspeople, who finally turn against Garrett and organize a work day to repair the Petersons' dilapidated house. The Petersons determine to stay in New Zealand after all, fulfilling the dream of their late father, although Anna is saddened by the loss of the stallion. When Wayne invites her to go riding, she laments her lack of a mount, until he points out the stallion waiting for her at the edge of the clearing!

"This is a good family film...Some of the filming is spectacular--especially of the horses and the woods. There isn't a word of profanity and no on or off-screen immorality. This is just a nice wholesome story. And for a relatively low cost film, the acting is surprisingly good. And as is typical of films distributed by Feature Films For Families, this story brings up several teaching moments for parents and kids about problems that happen in life," according to Feature Films for Families.

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Kevin Barret : Charlie
Christine Bartlett : Doctor Webb
Jean Bailey : Beaver
Margaret Blay : Emily
Bruce Brown : Stunt Driver
Beth Buchanan : Anna Peterson
José Maria Caffarel : Gonzales
Nathali Dennis : Doreen
Michele Fawdon : Rose Peterson
Neil Gudsell : Police Constable
Stephen Hall : Police Sergeant
Lance Johnston : Stunt Driver
Bruno Lawrence : John Peterson
Peter McAllum : Garrett
Dean O'Gorman : Tony Garrett
Rawiri Paratene : Brian
Mike Poole : Farm Hand
Jodie Rimmer : Ginny Garrett
Daniel Robinson : Warren
Brian Rooney : Wayne Garrett
Andrew Shepherd : Mike Peterson
David Walsh : Farm Hand
John I. Walsh : George
Rosemary Williams : Immigration Officer

CREW

Director : Henri Safran
1st Assistant Director : Chris Short
2nd Assistant Director : Victoria Hardy
3rd Assistant Director : Bryce Campbell
Producers : Philip East, William Grieve
Associate Producer : Don Reynolds
Production Secretary : Kath Fraser
Production Runner : David Kloff
Production Accoutant NZ : Carol Paewai
Production Accoutant AU : Gemma Rawsthorne
Production Co-Ordinator : Christine Rogers
Post Production Co-Ord : Lynn Solly
Writers : Ysabella Dean, Mick Maier
Music : Mike Harvey
Casting Director NZ : Joselyn Morton
Casting Director AU : Inese Vogler
Editor : David Huggett
On-Line Editor : Chris Godfrey
Script Editor : Dave Worthington
Art Direction : Nigel Tweed
Art Department Runner : Carmen Sosich
Art Dept Assistant : Alex Williams
Makeup Artist : Francia Smeets
Sound Recordist : Tony Johnson
Boom Operator : Kim Williams
Stunt Co-Ordinator : Peter Bell
Best Boy : Eddie Lou Simms
Dubbing Editor : Glenn Auchinachie
Dubbing Mixer : Steven R. Smith
Asst Dubbing Editor : Nigel Christensen
Gaffers : Ian Beale, Richard Evans
Caterers : Peter Brennan, Sue Curlett
Focus Pullers : Roland Carati, Mairi Gunn
Horse Trainers : Evanne Chesson, Harley Yount
Strappers : Catherine Garden, Jody Rawson-Harris
Wrangler : Caroline Girdlestone
Tutor : Joanne Crosby
Location Scouts : Liz Difore, Annie Dodman
Location Manager : Scott Donaldson
Unit Assistant : Les Doar
Grip : Kevin Donaldson
Assistant Grip : Bruce George
Still Photographer : Ken George
Property Buyer : Terry Lysaght
Lighting Assistant : Henare Mato
Standby Wardrobe : Gavin McLean
Continuity : Nicky Moores
Standby Props : Luke Parata
Assistant Cameraman : Justin Topzand
Unit Nurse : Angela Ward
Color Grader : Sue Wilson
Construction Manager : Paul Worley

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

Grundy Television Australia & South Pacific Pictures New Zealand