The story is set in 1954. After their flight from East Prussia following WW II, the orphaned sisters Angela, Barbara (nicknamed Dick) and Brigitte (Dalli) have settled with their grandmother Jantzen near Eutin in Schleswig-Holstein. The Jantzens have been owning the 18th century manor house "Immenhof" for over a 100 years, breeding and selling ponies. Only recently, Jochen von Roth has returned from POW camp and is now trying to establish a stud farm in the old forester's house about 5 kilometers from the manor house. Both Oma Jantzen and von Roth are struggling with finances. Owing to debt, Jantzen may have to face the auctioning off of all her possessions. Into this situation arrives Ethelbert, the sisters' posh cousin from the big city (we never learn which). He is making quite a fool of himself in his red and white riding dress, falling off ponies and into traps, but Dick feels drawn to him nevertheless. Romance is also blossoming between Angela and Jochen von Roth.