Fresh Horses

Fresh Horses

Year: 1988

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: David Anspaugh

DramaRomance

A Cincinnati college student abruptly ends his engagement to a wealthy fiancée when he becomes infatuated with a backwoods Kentucky girl he meets at a party. He believes she is twenty, but discovers she is only sixteen and already trapped in an abusive marriage, forcing him to confront painful choices.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Fresh Horses (1988)

Trace every key event in Fresh Horses (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Picture-perfect life and the invitation

Matt Larkin, a University of Cincinnati senior, enjoys a picture-perfect life: good grades, a well-to-do family, and an engagement to Alice. After class, his friends Tipton and Sproles tell him about a wild night out at a countryside house owned by a woman named Jean and invite him to join them. With his upcoming marriage on his mind, Matt decides to check out the offer.

after class University of Cincinnati area
2

Arrival at Jean's house and meeting Jewel

The group drives to Jean's countryside house expecting a party, but they only find the aftermath from the previous night. In the kitchen, Matt grabs a beer and meets Jewel, a neighbor escaping her abusive stepfather, and he is instantly drawn to her. He returns to the countryside to spend more time with Jewel, starting a romantic connection.

that night Jean's countryside house
3

A growing romance and broken engagement

Matt and Jewel's bond deepens, and he ultimately breaks off his engagement to Alice. They begin spending more time together away from the expectations of their peers, fueling the romance. The relationship becomes the central focus of Matt's life.

weeks after first meeting Countryside / Jean's house
4

The revelation of Jewel's marriage and age

Tipton informs Matt that Jewel is married and sixteen years old. Jewel initially denies being underage but admits she is married to escape her stepfather. She also reveals that her husband, Green, is abusive and that she never consummated the marriage.

a few weeks after starting the relationship
5

Pursuing annulment and parental fallout

Matt asks Tipton for help in getting an annulment for Jewel and ends up in a heated argument with Tipton. Meanwhile, Matt is kicked out of his parents' house after his father discovers him and Jewel sneaking around, so he moves into a run-down shack where the lovers continue to meet.

soon after the confrontation Matt's parents' house; run-down shack
6

Diner confrontation and shifting loyalties

Tipton and Sproles meet Matt at a diner and insinuate that Jewel has manipulated him, pushing him toward doubt about her. He ends up moving back into his parents' house and even leaves money for Jewel to use toward her annulment.

later Diner; Matt's home
7

Shack scene: Jewel asks for a ride

Jewel barges into a gathering at the shack and asks to borrow Matt's car so she can meet Green. His friends urge him to leave with them, but Matt refuses and waits for Jewel to return. When she doesn't come back, he goes to Jean's house to learn that Jewel is at her mother's place.

that night The shack; Jean's house
8

Jewel's account and Sproles' defense

Matt meets Jewel to learn what happened the previous night. She says she met Green at a bar, tried to make him sign the annulment papers, and was assaulted in the back of Matt's car. She then says she saw Sproles, who she claims was one of her attackers, while Sproles insists he was a bystander and that his brother could have stopped abuse if it happened.

shortly after the confrontation
9

Confrontation with Green and the breakup

Matt confronts Green at his house, but Jewel interrupts and throws the annulment papers at Green, breaking off their relationship. The explosive truth about abuse leaves Matt and Jewel distant from each other, and Matt's trust is worn thin.

immediately afterward Green's house
10

A year later: Christmas reunion

A year passes as Matt returns home from graduate school for Christmas. He runs into Jewel at an ice-skating rink and learns she is divorced from Green, is back in high school, has quit smoking, and is dating a classmate named Steven. They part with Matt's tearful farewell as he watches her leave with mixed emotions.

one year later, Christmas Ice skating rink

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:24

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Fresh Horses Summary

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Fresh Horses Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Fresh Horses

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Fresh Horses

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