Horse Sense is a 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie, written by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes, and directed by Greg Beeman. It stars brothers Joey and Andrew Lawrence. Joey Lawrence was also a co-producer for the film. The film was followed by a 2001 sequel titled Jumping Ship.
Plot
Michael Woods is a lazy, preppy 20-year-old living off his parents' wealth in Los Angeles, while struggling through college classes and dating a spoiled heiress named Gina, whom his family dislikes. Michael learns that his 11-year-old cousin Tommy Biggs, whom he has not seen since a family reunion several years earlier, will soon be arriving from Montana to visit. Michael casts Tommy aside during his visit, prioritizing his social life and the demands of his girlfriend over his guest.
On Tommy's last day in California, the family housekeeper Arlene makes Michael aware of his mistreatment toward Tommy and threatens to tell his parents about it. Michael decides to take Tommy to Disneyland to make up for it. However, in route to the theme park, Michael receives a phone call from Gina pleading for him to meet her at a racetrack so she can introduce him to her father. Michael capitulates and leaves Tommy at a children's daycare center, then drives to the track for a brief visit. Michael charms Gina's father over the course of a couple hours. When Michael realizes how late it is, he hurries back to pick up Tommy, and accidentally collides his Porsche Boxster with another vehicle, belonging to a woman named Diedre White. Afterwards, Michael learns Arlene had picked up Tommy several hours earlier. Coming home, Michael is confronted by Arlene again and Tommy vows to get back at him someday.
Tommy returns to Montana. During dinner, Michael's mother, Jacey, informs him that she got a call from his aunt, Jules, complaining how Tommy never got to do anything. Glenn agrees, mentioning that Arlene told him about Michael's selfish decisions in leaving him at a children's daycare center and is furious. He confronts Michael for his maltreatment of his cousin and demanded to know why he didn't ignore Gina and spend time with Tommy. Michael tries to defend himself, but it further annoys Glenn and Jacey. Soon, the cops make a visit looking for Michael and they soon learn about his accident at the racetrack. Even though he did the right thing by giving Diedre his information, she wrote down his license plate numbers on her pad. Fed up with his selfishness, Glenn and Jacey determine that the appropriate disciplinary action is to have him work on his aunt Jules' ranch in Montana for a month. If Michael's parents get a negative telephone call from the Biggs regarding him, they intend to cancel his upcoming trip with Gina to the French Riviera. Michael arrives at the ranch, where he meets Jules' ranch hands, Twister and Mule, as well as Tommy.
Michael is put to work early the next morning, although every task he is assigned by Tommy is deliberately sabotaged to make his labor harder, as revenge for his earlier neglect. Michael eventually confronts Tommy regarding his behavior, and reveals that he only got along with him at their family reunion years ago because they were the only children at the event. Michael, no longer caring if his parents cancel his trip, demands Tommy to leave him alone. The next morning, Twister reprimands Michael for his lazy behavior and his treatment toward Tommy. During their discussion, Michael is surprised to learn that the Biggs are suffering financial problems. He wonders aloud why no one told him this. Twister points out that his family thinks Michael is too spoiled and lazy to understand this. He tells Michael off to reexamine his attitude at once.
Michael realizes how selfish he has been and begins adapting to life on the ranch. He mends his relationship with Tommy, who reveals his father was terminally ill, and his medical bills combined with the loss of labor from his death snowballed into financial woes. Later, Michael is upset when Jules tells him that the ranch will be foreclosed soon because of late mortgage payments as the result of low profits. The bank plans to auction the family's ranch and personal property at the end of the month. This makes him feel a lot worse upon realizing why Jules sent Tommy to Los Angeles and further regretting not putting his social life on hold for family.