Portia's Reins

Story Idea. Yeah, Another One.

A semi-autobiographical story about freedom: a young man, resentful of his family's overprotectiveness and eager to throw off the binding restraints, discovers when he moves abroad that too much freedom (in the absence of moderating discipline) can be a destructive thing).

Hmmmmm.

Have the moment of recognition come during a horseride. Therefore explore the art and techniques of breaking and riding horses, also of keeping a ranch. Have the story proceed from opening scene showing the sullen young man interacting with family, to his resolved flight abroad from the family hearth, to college in Montreal. Show his rapid ascent in business (and concurrent neglect of his essential studies) and discovery of the pleasures that come with released restraint.

Then show the beginning of troubles (though not of hsi stubbornness) and the eventual commitment to a rehab. center where, as one of the activities, he learns to ride a horse (Portia).

In the last scene, thrown from Portia's back, he lies alone on the stony ground on a trail high in the Poconos, with a broken ankle, and finally understands what his instructor tried to convey about the direction of the reins...