Parents' Guide to

The Horse Dancer

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Tired horse tale with silly plot, poor production.

Movie G 2017 113 minutes
The Horse Dancer Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Krisanne G.
Krisanne G. Parent of 6 and 8-year-old
April 22, 2023
age 6+

Good generic horse movie for horse loving kids

Did this movie have the worst acting ever? Yes. Was it your typical horse camp movie and cheesy? Yes, even worse than your typical horse movie. Did my horse obsessed 8 year old love this movie? Yes, it’s her new favorite movie. My 6 year old liked it too. My kids are very sensitive to movies and get scared very easily and this didn’t scare them. They also get very emotional but even the part where the grandmother died they were okay with. After, when Sam is upset and runs away and they are searching for her they did get a bit nervous but not too bad. As far as movies for kids goes I like it for them. However I cannot handle watching it which then again. Also I was mildly annoyed with how generically blonde most of the girls were.
Cyndi M.
Cyndi M. Parent
April 28, 2019
age 7+

Not worth watching

Bad script, selfish and mean characters, poor acting, mixed messages. It's all so odd. Spoiler alert: from the long gap between being introduced to the main character and then having her show up at the camp to the strange marriage proposal where the bride-to-be completely ignores her new fiancee seconds after he's asked her to marry him so she can spend time with her girlfriends to a camp leader asking campers to behave "like little ladies" while they search for a missing camper and the owner of the camp isn't immediately told of what's going on, the movie just made little or no sense. Strangest? The mother does not inform the main character that her grandmother is dead. A camp counselor is chosen as 'the best person' to deliver the sad news. The mother does not drive to the camp to tell her or provide comfort or take her home. Like the mother doesn't care at all. The character development is done in the last twenty minutes of the film and comes across as totally unbelievable. My daughter said she liked the last little bit of the movie where the girls became friends. I disliked the messages of white privilege and how when one girl was unable to get money off her 'daddy' the other girls shunned her for 'failing' them. The messages in this movie are so mixed that I cannot recommend this movie. Such a disappointment.
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What's the Story?

In THE HORSE DANCER, Samantha "Sam" Wick (Sophie Bolen) is shattered when she first learns that she didn't make the Olympic Gymnastics team, for which she's been training forever. Sharing the news with her devoted grandmother, Sam realizes that perhaps she's a little relieved, since gymnastics isn't the great love of her life. Her real passion is for horses. So, she's really grateful when her grandmother decides to cheer her up by sending Sam to a horse camp for the whole summer. Problem is, while Sam is a sweet, caring family member, she also has major attitude problems and, because of that, no friends. She brings her unpleasant demeanor with her to Black River Horse Camp, where she instantly alienates just about everyone. And, it turns out, though she loves the majestic animals, she's never been near or touched a horse in her whole life. Samantha's road to redemption finds her at odds with a rich girl who's trying to be nice, the camp director, and all the girls in her unit. It's only when the camp itself runs into financial troubles and she makes her first tentative steps toward riding that Sam begins to figure out that life will be a lot better if she's willing to make good friends, join the team, and work toward a happy ending.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (2):

Hopelessly amateurish production and badly conceived, predictable story is well-intentioned and has lots of simplified messages, along with nice shots of horses and livestock. Premise is based upon a young woman's lifetime love of horses. Unfortunately, when her dream of horse camp comes true, she's never even been near a horse. But no worries, it only takes a few weeks for this nonrider to become an exceptional trick rider/horse dancer. In addition, people change in a flash. One-dimensional characters learn important lessons, which don't take, so they have to learn them all over again. The action stops in several sequences so that important encouragement and guidance can be delivered. Performances are uneven at best, with a fine turn by Rachel Sowers as the heroine's mentor worth mentioning. Wholly inadequate, but The Horse Dancer may still have some appeal for fans who so love horse stories that they won't mind the inadequacies.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can discuss whether the quality of a film is important. How much does your interest and/or passion for a film's subject matter or viewpoint influence your opinion? Are you willing to see bad movies that reflect your personal interests? Why or why not? Do you think The Horse Dancer is a high-quality film?

  • Was Sam's ability to perform at the end of the film convincing to you? Do you think an individual can transition from beginner to expert in a matter of weeks? What does it take to become highly skilled in any sport or endeavor?

  • The theme of a group of people coming together to save the day is very popular in movies, especially for kids. What about the concept makes such a movie a "feel good" experience? What are some of your favorite films that fit this genre, often referred to in movie patter as "let's put on a show"?

Movie Details

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