Horse helps family be true to themselves

After whipping up a scrumptious soufflé and a tantalizing apple tart, your son is rising to the top of his gourmet cooking class. But after getting teased by his buddies for his new cuisine craze, he gives up his cookbooks for comic books in order to fit in. You fear that giving up his passion for the wrong reason is a recipe for disaster.

Being true to yourself is the lesson in the film Flicka, released on home video February 6. After watching the film, lasso your family into a conversation about being proud of your passions, no matter how off-the-beaten-path they may be. Then play our group game, “Hold Your Horses,” for some film-themed family fun!

The movie is based on the novel My Friend Flicka. Sixteen-year-old Katy McLaughlin (Alison Lohman) returns home from boarding school, where she spends more time daydreaming than studying. Although Katy's parents are intent on prepping her for college, Katy wants nothing more than to run the family ranch one day—a job destined for her unwilling brother.

Katy comes across a mustang on the ranch and names her Flicka, which means “beautiful girl.” Against the wishes of her father (Tim McGraw), Katy tries to tame the wild horse. When Flicka throws her, Katy's irate dad sells the horse to the rodeo.

Katy decides to disguise herself as a cowboy and ride Flicka in a dangerous rodeo event. She hopes to win enough prize money to buy back Flicka and prove to her dad that she is capable of handling the horse. When her plan goes awry, family members are forced to see one another in a new light.

Talk Together

Take turns sharing a time when others had high expectations for you. Did your chemistry teacher expect you to be a periodic table whiz just because your older sister won the science fair? Did these expectations intimidate you or make you try even harder? Talk about why both Katy and her brother were afraid to share their true passions with their father. Is there anything you would like to do, but you're afraid of what others will think of you? Now's the time to open up!

Share strategies that you can use to help others see you for who you really are. For example, if your band buddies are upset that you're choosing track over trombone, invite them to a track meet so they can see your new skills and your smiles when you compete.

Play Together: Hold Your Horses
Pony up your prize should your tongue slip!

You will need:
• Horse-themed stickers (available at most craft stores)
• Ribbon or string
• Construction paper
• Hole punch

Have each family member place a horse-themed sticker on a small circle of construction paper. Punch a hole in the top of the paper. Lace the horse charm onto a ribbon or string and tie it around the neck. Once everyone is wearing a charm, begin the game. The object of “Hold Your Horses” is to end up wearing the most horse charms.

Play during a set family time, like dinnertime or family movie night. Together, come up with a word or words you will ban during this time. For example, you can forbid the word “popcorn” during movie night, or using each other's names during dinner.

When you catch someone using the banned word, he must take off the horse charm and hand it over to you. If you've won someone's charm but get caught saying the banned word, you must give up as many charms as you have around your neck. Whoever has the most horse charms at the end of family time is the champion!