 An over-the-hill rodeo champion (Kenny Rogers) gets fired from his assembly line job in Texas. He and a buddy (David Andrews) then decide to head to Wyoming to get a job herding mustangs. His wife (Karen Carlson) gives him her his blessing, knowing he needs to find something which satisfies his spirit. They sign up for a roundup headed by a veteran cowboy (Ben Johnson). With the job, he finds himself cross-wise of a corrupt government official (Richard Masur), who is making big profits on the illegal sale of wild horses. He also finds himself in the affections of the daughter (Pam Dawber) of an old ranch owner (Richard Farnsworth).