Based on the novel by Donald Miller, If I Could Ride Again tells the story of two young women: Bridgett (Eva Igo) and Jodie (Alexis Arnold). Bridgett Van Heusen, a former equestrian champion, has had her life unraveled following a serious back injury that ended her riding career. She returns home to her family’s struggling farm, weighed down by chronic pain and a growing addiction to illegal street oxycodone. Bridgett then finds that her best friend, Jodie, is riding her horse, Barkley, for competition. More on this later. To make matters worse for Bridgett, her parents have just signed over the power of attorney to their long-time friend and financial advisor, who immediately stole the equity of their farm, and now the farm is on the verge of foreclosure.
Jodie, in contrast, lives a privileged life with her mother, Sandy (Sheri Jacobs), and grandparents on a prosperous neighboring farm. After Bridgett’s injury, Jodie seizes the chance to train with Barkley under the guidance of Jimmy (Tom Vera). She’s lost her love of competition while struggling with insecurities and the growing distance between her and her mother. Since the passing of her husband, Sandy has worked extra hours to keep Jodie in competition and to attend competitions. Complicating matters further, Sandy is dating a racecar driver named Ricky.
As Bridgett and Jodie battle the frustrations with their personal lives, they are surrounded by old and new friends to help them through. Bridgett is interested in Dylan, a young man working at the local diner. Dylan used to associate with Bridgett’s current drug dealer. Jodie makes a friend in David (Ashton Dunford), who is blind and moved to the area with his mother, Rebecca (Amanda Williams Pfeiffer). David’s dream is to one day ride a horse. Then we have Jimmy, who is trying to reassemble his life since the death of his wife and daughter in a car accident, and is being let go by Bridgett’s parents due to the foreclosure.
Eva Igo as Bridgett shares a tender moment with her horse, Barkley, in If I Could Ride Again.
“Bridgett Van Heusen, a former equestrian champion, has had her life unraveled following a serious back injury…”
I’m going to classify If I Could Ride Again in the YA Drama genre. The film explores relationship issues that older teenagers struggle with. Both Bridgett and Jodie are in that phase where they’re pulling away from their families and have to make their own decisions about the future. Any help from parents is not appreciated, but they eventually learn the value of their parents’ wisdom. The biggest message that everyone learns is that we don’t have to struggle through life alone, as our friends and family are there to learn from and teach as well.
As a film, it’s pretty standard for the Family Channel and Freeform fare. The film is overly optimistic, but we travel down a few dark but safe turns along the way. The storyline of Bridgett’s drug addiction stands out, as well as Jodie regaining her passion by helping others. Eva Igo and Alexis Arnold are fantastic as Bridgett and Jodie, and they carry the film with impressive skill.
My only complaint is in the beginning. Right away, it was difficult to tell the relationships between all of the characters. In the beginning, I just assumed that Bridgett and Jodie were sisters. Then, realizing that it’s two separate families was confusing; now, add Jimmy as the girls’ trainer, not one of their parents. Once everything got cleared up, the story was easy to follow, but a lot of head scratching to that point.
If I Could Ride Again tells a touching story of friendship, healing, and redemption. Strong performances from Eva Igo and Alexis Arnold anchor a film that shows how even life’s setbacks can lead to new beginnings.
"…We don't have to struggle through life alone..."
