The Saddle Club

The Saddle Club is an Australian–Canadian children's television series developed by Sarah Dodd, based on the books written by Bonnie Bryant. Like the book series, the scripted live action series follows the lives of three best friends in training to compete in equestrian competitions at the fictional Pine Hollow Stables, while dealing with problems in their personal lives. This series debuted in 2001 and ended in 2009.

The Saddle Club
Also known asSaddle Club
GenreChildren's television series
Adventure
Drama
Family
Created byBonnie Bryant
Developed bySarah Dodd
StarringKeenan MacWilliam
Sophie Bennett
Lara Jean Marshall
Heli Simpson
Kia Luby (Season 1 - Season 2) Victoria Campbell
Lauren Dixon
Ariel Kaplan
Marny Kennedy
Aisha Dee (Season 3)
Opening themeHello World (Instrumental) (Season 1 - Season 2)
"Hello World" (Season 3)
Ending theme"Hello World" (Season 1 - Season 2)
"Together We Are" (Season 2)
Various songs (Season 2 - Season 3)
Composer(s)Dale Cornelius (Season 1)
Stephen Skratt and Jack Lenz (Seasons 2 and 3)
Country of originAustralia, Canada
Original language(s)English
No. of series3
No. of episodes78 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time24 minutes
Production company(s)
Release
Original network
Picture format
Audio formatStereo
Original release6 February 2001 (2001-02-06) –
10 April 2009 (2009-04-10)
External links
Website

Overview

The series revolves around the experiences of three girls, who form a club named "The Saddle Club" after recognizing their shared love for horse riding. Their rival is another young rider at the stables named Veronica DiAngelo.

Throughout the series, The Saddle Club navigates their rivalry with Veronica, training for competitions, horse shows, and the quotidian dramas that arise between friends and staff in the fictional Pine Hollow Stables. In each show, The Saddle Club prevails over its adversities, usually sending a message emphasizing the importance of friendship and teamwork.

Episodes
Main article: List of The Saddle Club episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
12630 April 2001 (2001-04-30)4 June 2001 (2001-06-04)
22628 April 2003 (2003-04-28)2 June 2003 (2003-06-02)
3267 September 2008 (2008-09-07)10 April 2009 (2009-04-10)

Cast
Main article: List of The Saddle Club characters
Characters Season 1 Season 2 Season 3
Carole Hanson Keenan MacWilliam Victoria Campbell
Stephanie "Stevie" Lake Sophie Bennett Lauren Dixon
Elizabeth "Lisa" Atwood Lara Jean Marshall Ariel Kaplan
Veronica diAngelo Heli Simpson Marny Kennedy
Kristina "Kristi" Cavanaugh Kia Luby
Desiree "Desi" Biggins Aisha Dee
Melanie Atwood Marisa Siketa Jessica Jacobs Ella-Rose Shenman
Ashley Taylor Janelle Corlass-Brown
Jessica "Jess" Cooper Kaiya Jones
Elizabeth "Mrs. Reg" Regnery Catherine Wilkin Briony Behets
Maximillion "Max" Regnery Brett Tucker Richard Davies
Dorothee Doutey Matylda Buczko
Jackson "Jack" O'Neil Troy Lovett
Phillip "Phil" Marsten Glenn Meldrum Cosmo Feltham
Murray Richards Troy Lovett Rory Donegan
Deborah Hale Regnery Cathy Godbold
Andrew "Drew" Regnery Nikolai Nikolaeff
Redford "Red" O'Malley Nathan Phillips James O'Dea
Brian "Scooter" Mucahy Alex Marriott
Megan Sophie Hensser
Samuel "Sam" Anthony Hammer
Simon Atherton Connor Jessup
Dr. Judith "Judy" Barker Maggie King Leverne McDonnell
Ashley "Chewie" Becker Jackson Gallagher
Eleanor Atwood Marie-Louise Walker
Colonel Mitchell "Mitch" Hanson Christopher Kirby
Helen diAngelo Melanie Ryder
Frances "Frank" diAngelo Anthony Hawkins
Orlando Cooper Gerard Kennedy
John Brightstar Nick Russell
Note: A grey cell indicates the character did not appear in that series.

Production

The show was broadcast from 2001 until 2009, with 78 episodes over three series.[1] Regionally, the cast of the television series released a series of music albums such as Friends Forever, On Top of the World, Secrets & Dreams and Hello World – The Best of the Saddle Club, and appeared in live performances such as the 2004 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

In 2007, a news release announced a casting call and the production of a third series, which was filmed from late 2007 to early 2008, and broadcast from 7 September 2008 to 10 April 2009.[1] A new Saddle Club CD, Best Friends, was sold in Australia in stores and on The Saddle Club's website and in the US and Canada as a digital download.

Broadcast

The popularity of the series soon after its premiere on the ABC promoted international syndication and it made its American debut in January 2002 on Discovery Kids.[2]

It later aired on PBS Kids and Horse Racing TV in the United States. In Canada, it aired on YTV, and in the UK on Horse & Country. It was broadcast by the French children's specialty channel Gulli, dubbed into French.

Series 3 was broadcast on Discovery Kids in the United States starting on 22 February 2009, while sneak views has been shown on "Saddle Club Sundays" in December 2008. In Australia, the new series commenced on Channel Nine and WIN TV on 7 March 2009.

Other media

Home videos
  • The Saddle Club: The First Adventure (2003)
  • The Saddle Club: Horse Crazy (2003)
  • The Saddle Club: Adventures At Pine Hollow (2001)
  • The Saddle Club: The Mane Event (2003)
  • The Saddle Club: Storm (2004)
  • The Saddle Club: Friends Forever (2004)
  • The Saddle Club: Saving Pine Hollow (2005)
  • The Saddle Club: Horse Of A Different Color (2007)
  • The Saddle Club: Series 1 (2009)
  • The Saddle Club: Series 2 (2009)
  • The Saddle Club: More Adventures at Pine Hollow (2009)
  • The Saddle Club: The First Adventure (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: Horse Crazy (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: The Mane Event (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: Storm (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: Friends Forever (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: Saving Pine Hollow (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: Back in the Saddle (2010)
  • The Saddle Club: Back in the Saddle (Handle Case) (2010)
  • The Saddle Club: Horseback Riders (2010)
  • The Saddle Club: Horseback Riders (Handle Case) (2010)
  • The Saddle Club: Ride Free (2010)
  • The Saddle Club: Staying the Distance (2010)
  • The Saddle Club: Happy Trails (2010)

Computer game
  • The Saddle Club: Willowbrook Stables (2002)

Discography

There have been a number of The Saddle Club albums released in Australia with the actors from the series. The albums were released by Shock Records. Each of the albums has made the top 50 of the Australian album charts and the first three records achieved gold record status.

Main albums
Albums
  • Fun for Everyone (2002) – #45 Australia
  • On Top of the World (2003) – #20 Australia
  • Friends Forever (2003) – #38 Australia
  • Secrets & Dreams (2004) – #49 Australia
  • Hello World – The Best of the Saddle Club (2004)
  • Summer with the Saddle Club (2008)
  • The Saddle Club – Greatest Hits (2009)
  • Grand Gallop – Hello World (2009) – Released in France only.
  • Best Friends (2009)
  • Grand Gallop – Meilleures Amies (2009) – Released in France only.
Singles
  • "We Are the Saddle Club" (2002) – Australia
  • "Hello World" (2002) – #27 Australia #8 France
  • "Hey Hey What You Say" (2003) – #20 Australia
  • "Hello World"/"Hey Hey What You Say" (2003)
  • "Wonderland" (2003) – #17 Australia
  • Special Mane Event EP (2004)
  • "Boogie Oogie Oogie" (2003) – #29 Australia
  • "Everybody Come On" (2003)
  • "Undercover Movers and Shakers" (2004) – #42 Australia
  • "L.I.F.E" (2004) – #34 Australia
  • "Welcome to the Saddle Club" (2004)
  • "Sleeping Under the Stars" (2004)
  • "These Girls" (2009)

Read Along CD
  • The Saddle Club: Horse Sense - (2002) - ABC Audio 3-hour, 3-CD set read by Lucy Bell

Sophie & Kia discography
Albums
  • Planet Tokyo (2005) – Australia
  • He's Everything (2005) – Australia
  • Raw Beauty (2005) – Australia
  • Spin (2005) – Australia
  • Raw Beauty Acoustic Sessions (2005) – Australia
Singles
  • "Planet Tokyo" (2005) – Australia
  • "He's Everything" (2005) – Australia #40 AUS

Heli Simpson discography
Albums
Singles

Ashley and Melanie discography
Singles
  • "Trouble" (2003) Australia

Awards

ARIA Music Awards
Year Nominated works Award Result Lost to
2003 On Top of the World Best Children's Album Nominated Hi-5 - Celebrate
Best Original Cast/Show Recording Nominated Mick Harvey - Australian Rules
2004 Friends Forever Best Children's Album Nominated Hi-5 - Holiday
2009 Best Friends Nominated The Wiggles - Go Bananas!

References
  1. "The Saddle Club (TV Series 2001-2009)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  2. "Discovery Kids Saddle's Up New Series". 26 December 2001. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
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