Noted horse whisperer, Marion Fleming and her daughter, have a truck accident during the rescue of an abused horse named Spartan. Marion is killed, Amy wakes up in the hospital, and the family is left with a troubled ranch to run if they wish to carry on Marion's legacy. Marion's father pitches in. Amy's older sister, Lou returns from New York, but must overcome Amy's resentment over Lou's abandoning her roots. Meanwhile, it becomes apparent that Marion was rescuing more than just horses when Ty, a young man with a criminal record shows up to serve his probation period on the ranch. Soon Lou discovers that the family's financial woes may be more serious than anyone knew. Troubled horses, troubled teens and troubled times, can it all work out in Canada's heartland?

Spartan, that horse that Amy and her mom rescued, is stolen. When Spartan turns up at a horse auction and is bought by Wes, the man who tried to burn down the Fleming's barn, Amy is determined to get him back, despite not having the proper bill of sale. Meanwhile Lou tries to keep it quiet that she's dating the oilman, Peter.

When Spartan starts to refuse jumps, Amy takes him to a first nations horse trainer that used to work with her mom. Meanwhile Ty struggles to gentle Harley, his new horse, on his own. Peter books the entire dude ranch and while Lou is still trying to keep their relationship a secret, she learns something about Peter's past that throws her.

Scott discovers that Spartan has a broken leg and Amy is forced to make the toughest decision of her life. As Amy searches her soul for the right path to take, Ty and Scott prepare for the possibility of major surgery on the horse. Meanwhile, Mallory throws herself into her job at Maggie's, avoiding Amy and the guilt that's eating her up inside - she blames herself for Spartan's injury. And Georgie decides to quit jumping Phoenix, fearful that he could suffer the same fate as Spartan.

When fears of holding on or letting go grip the family, they look to each other for support through dangerous challenges.