Hengstparade (2005)

The self-assured court reporter Hella Fischer travels to the countryside at the request of her jealous daughter Karin to keep an eye on Karin’s new boyfriend, Harry. Hella checks in incognito at the Schloss Mühldorf riding stable. Harry and the attractive professional rider Sabine Lex go for a ride. Harry had described his riding companion to his girlfriend Karin as old, ugly, and bow-legged. Hella overcomes her phobia of horses and follows the two in a small horse-drawn cart. During her surveillance, Hella’s horse is startled when another horse suddenly gallops out of the undergrowth without a rider. Hella loses control of her cart, hits her head, and loses consciousness. When she wakes up, she finds herself looking into the eyes of Kurt Schleyer, who is taking care of her. What Hella does not yet know is that Marga Lex, co-owner of the riding stable, has suffered a fatal accident in the woods. On the way back to the stable, Kurt and Hella pass the supposed accident scene. The police consider what happened an accident, but Hella’s instincts tell her it was no ordinary accident. Despite her original assignment, Hella tries to find out what is wrong. She finds clues suggesting that Marga’s brother Olaf, a money-hungry businessman, had something to do with his sister’s death. But Hella’s new acquaintance Kurt, who was divorced from Marga, is also under suspicion. He claims Marga left him the stable, but he cannot produce a will. The local notary, Dr. Bruno Stoll, who is in cahoots with Olaf, had concealed it. Hella is unsure who is responsible; all she knows is that Marga’s horse, Freeman, was frightened by a large dog and bolted as a result. Because Karin is dissatisfied with Hella’s findings about her boyfriend Harry, she follows her mother to the countryside to see for herself. From then on, Karin and Hella try to solve the case together. One night, they break into Notary Stoll’s office and happen upon the missing will behind a picture on the wall. The next day, the two also find the dog at a farmer’s place. It had served Olaf as a “tool” to frighten the horse. Hella and Kurt then confront the unsuspecting Olaf and the notary with what they have discovered. Olaf loses his nerve and confesses that he only wanted to prevent Sabine from taking part in a competition. The notary claims to be innocent. Olaf is arrested, and the stable ends up in the right hands. Hella says she wants to stay at the stable with her new love, Kurt. Karin and her boyfriend Harry announce that they want to get married. Finally, everyone learns that Hella and Karin are mother and daughter.