As girls of all ages arrive at Black River Farm and Ranch (BR) to participate in camp activities and horseback riding, we meet Lisa who is head counselor for the first time. She has big shoes to fill since the previous head counselor, Jessica, was beloved by the campers. She also must deal with girls with poor attitudes, like riding instructor Stacey and returning camper Riley. To make matters worse, Jessica returns to BR and starts to take over. Lisa doesn’t let these setbacks get the better of her and soon takes control of the reins.
Amid this drama, a romance begins to canter. Jerry (Richard Karn), BR’s handyman, sparks an interest in head riding instructor Bonnie. When Jerry is too nervous to reveal his feelings to Bonnie, he gets some help from the teenage campers who rally together to help him win over her heart. There are lighthearted and learning moments throughout the film, as well as somber ones when we’re introduced to young camper Zoey who recently lost her firefighter dad and struggles at camp. Jessica’s husband, Sheriff Dave, mentors Zoey to help her cope with the loss.
This good-natured film focuses on teaching girls to spread kindness to one another (“Kindness Quest” is the theme of the camp). Both campers and camp leaders learn valuable lessons to apply to everyday life. Girls who wronged each other eventually apologize for their poor actions. There is no overt Christian message in the film, but there is a conversation about heaven when Zoey asks Dave if he thinks her dad is in heaven and Dave tells Zoey that all firemen go to heaven.
Horse Camp: A Love Tail is sure to delight audiences who love horses and camp life. Viewers catch a glimpse of the comradery at camp as girls gather to hear about the day’s activities and sing songs. There are also ample scenes of horseback riding. The film is great for all ages in the message it shares about developing confidence and displaying kindness. However, it earns our Dove-approved for Ages 12+ award because of some sneaky behavior and poor attitudes.
The Dove Take:
While this playful drama’s teaching moments might have you galloping to see it, some poor behavior makes it better suited for audiences 12 and older.
