Though she is fond of her people, a girl prefers to live among the wild horses where she is truly happy and free.

Ellen is a spunky--and occasionally misbehaving--young riding student. Her teacher Abby Lovitt is a high school student who introduces her to jumping, dressage techniques, and most importantly, Ned. Ned is a colt who used to be a racehorse, until he hurt his leg and moved to Abby's ranch. Ellen discovers that she can have conversations with Ned in her imagination, where she is able to sort out some of the issues that confuse her.

When substitute middle-school history teacher Rush Revere takes his students back in time to eighteenth-century Massachusetts, they witness the Battle of Lexington and learn about the Declaration of Independence.