Second Chances

Second Chances (1998)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The only title of the 3 movie "horse lovers" feature that I recognized, this was by far the best of the lot. A little girl and a horse save each other, in the processes helping many people around them and teaching their own lessons in life. It's adorable, relate-able, realistic, and tugs on the heart strings. Throw in some good rodeo scenes and some good lessons on friendship and you have a touching movie that is good for the entire family. Some may still obviously enjoy the focus more than others (my husband isn't nearly the horse person my daughter and I are, while my son is too young to have an opinion yet). I think of any of the three movies, this is the one most likely to be watched again.

Natalie's Rose

Natalie's Rose (1998)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Another part of the 3 movie feature that Healed By Grace was part of. This film also has a religious aspect, but not overly focused on like the first movie. In this one, Natalie is trying to learn to deal with her mother's death. In doing so, she falls in love with a horse... who might not really have been a horse at all. Lots of symbolism and confusion in this one. Not the best story line with the hoedown hallucination thrown in the mix. It can get a little confusing, though all the characters mean well.

Healed By Grace

Healed By Grace (2012)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I got this as part of a 3 movie feature set for "horse lovers." Previously, I had never heard anything about this movie. While both the dance and horse aspects were good tie-ins and definitely had my daughter's attention, the constant harping on "good Christian," "bible thumper," and other God related things made it grating. A little bit goes a long ways in these types of movies without having it shoved down your throat every other line, and that's coming from someone who is religious. Apparently there is a sequel in the works that is supposed to come out sometime this year. It may or may not end up on our watch list just to see what is done with the horses, but the story itself dragged, so I can't say this one goes in my favorite pile.