Each year, horse trainers journey to Reno, Nevada to compete for one of the most challenging equestrian championships in the world. For the trainers, winning means putting food on the table and hay in the barn for another year; but it also means another year of survival for a culture of horsemanship that dates back to the early Spanish mission days of California. Reined cow horse—a discipline of horsemanship—was born out of a practical need for partnership, but the bond between horse and human and the community that grew around that bond is so strong that, defying the odds, it remains unbroken in the modern world. Down The Fence profiles horse trainers on their journey to compete for the national championship, revealing their challenges and a rare glimpse into their unique lifestyle along the way. It is a documentary about passion, perseverance, community, and the enduring power of the human-animal connection.