Hank McLaughlin, who inherited and runs his brother's Wyoming ranch, only meets his teen daughter Carrie when the city grandmother who raised since her mother's death falls too ill. The brat is hostile to the father who never got a chance to learn how to become one and hates rustic 'hick' life. Having been saved from a rattle snake bite by the bitten, untamed mustang Flicka, whom only her cousin ever rode, she bonds with her over a taxing recovery process. Cute, patient juvenile ranch-hand Jake, who dreams of a Nashville country career and his own ranch, bonds as her riding instructor and only friend. She meanly dumps him, jealous of rich neighbor rancher HD Walker's dressage champion daughter Amy's bond with him. Tragedy lures as Flicka gets away and into great trouble, and soon Carrie.
