Jump to content

The Saddle Club

From Alfawiki
The Saddle Club
Company typeTelevision series co-production
IndustryTelevision
Founded2001
FounderSarah Dodd (developer)
Headquarters
Victoria
,
Australia / Canada
Area served
Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, France
ProductsTelevision series, music albums, DVDs, computer games

The Saddle Club is a children's television series co-produced by Australia and Canada, developed by Sarah Dodd and adapted from Bonnie Bryant's book series. This live-action show chronicles the lives of three close friends who train for horse riding competitions at the fictional Pine Hollow Stables, while navigating various personal issues. It was broadcast from 2001 until 2009.

Premise

The narrative revolves around three girls who establish "The Saddle Club" as a result of their mutual enthusiasm for horseback riding. Their primary competitor is Veronica DiAngelo, another young equestrian at the stables.

Throughout the series, viewers witness their competitive dynamics, preparation for equestrian events, and the social interactions among the friends and staff at Pine Hollow Stables. Each episode focuses on overcoming obstacles, underscoring themes of friendship and collaboration.

Cast

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
Note: Grey cells denote seasons in which the character did not appear.

Production

Filming for the original series took place in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Australia, and featured a diverse cast with various national backgrounds. In 2007, a casting announcement confirmed production of a third season, which was shot from late 2007 through early 2008 in Daylesford, Victoria.

Broadcast

Spanning three seasons with a total of 78 episodes, the series aired from 2001 to 2009. The third installment was broadcast between 7 September 2008 and 10 April 2009. The cast also produced music albums such as Friends Forever, On Top of the World, Secrets & Dreams, and Hello World – The Best of the Saddle Club. They performed live at events including the 2004 Sydney Royal Easter Show. The Best Friends album was made available in Australian retail outlets, online platforms, as well as digitally in North America.

After premiering on ABC in Australia and YTV in Canada, international distribution expanded significantly. The United States saw its debut on Discovery Kids in January 2002, followed by airings on Horse Racing TV and public television stations through Connecticut Public Television and American Public Television networks including PBS. Later reruns appeared on The Hub channel.

In Canada, broadcasts were on YTV; in the United Kingdom, it aired on CITV, Horse & Country, and Pop Girl; while French audiences viewed a dubbed version on Gulli.

The third season launched on Discovery Kids in the US on February 22, 2009, preceded by preview episodes during December 2008’s "Saddle Club Sundays." In Australia, Channel Nine and WIN TV began airing it on March 7, 2009.

Since 2017, WIN Television has annually presented a compilation movie featuring episodes "Horse Shy," "Mystery Weekend," and "School Horse" (season one, episodes six through eight) each Christmas Day.

Australian Videos

  • The Saddle Club: Adventures At Pine Hollow (2001)
  • The Saddle Club: Horse Crazy (2002)
  • The Saddle Club: The Mane Event (2003)
  • The Saddle Club: The First Adventure (2003)
  • The Saddle Club: Friends Forever (2004)
  • The Saddle Club: Storm (2004)
  • The Saddle Club: Saving Pine Hollow (2005)

Australian DVDs

  • The Saddle Club: Adventures At Pine Hollow (2002)
  • The Saddle Club: Horse Crazy (2003)
  • The Saddle Club: The Mane Event (2003)
  • The Saddle Club: The First Adventure (2003)
  • The Saddle Club: Friends Forever (2004)
  • The Saddle Club: Storm (2004)
  • The Saddle Club: Saving Pine Hollow (2005)
  • The Saddle Club: Series 1 (2005)
  • The Saddle Club: Series 2 (2006)
  • Earlier titles were reissued between 2009 and 2010, including Back in the Saddle, Horseback Riders, Ride Free, Staying the Distance, and Happy Trails

Computer game

  • The Saddle Club: Willowbrook Stables (2002)
  • The Saddle Club (2010)

Studio albums

Studio albums with release information, chart rankings, and certifications
Title Album details AUS Certifications
AUS
Fun for Everyone
  • Released November 2002
  • Label: Shock (TSC02)
  • Format: CD
 45
On Top of the World
  • Released May 2003
  • Label: Shock (TSC03)
  • Format: CD
 20
  • ARIA: Gold
Friends Forever
  • Released September 2003
  • Label: Shock (TSC06)
  • Format: CD
 38
Secrets & Dreams
  • Released April 2004
  • Label: Shock (TSC12)
  • Format: CD
 49

Compilation albums

Compilation albums with selected release details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
Hello World – The Best of the Saddle Club
  • Released November 2004
  • Label: Shock (TSC14)
  • Formats: CD
 59
Best Friends
  • Released 2009
  • Label: Shock (TSC 301)
  • Formats: CD
 —

Extended plays

  • Special Mane Event (2004)

Singles

Singles with highest chart rankings and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
"We Are the Saddle Club" 2002 —
"Hello World"/"Hey Hey What You Say" 2002 20 Gold (ARIA)
"Wonderland" 2003 17
"Boogie Oogie Oogie"/"Undercover Movers and Shakers" 2003 29
"Everybody Come On" 2003 —
"Undercover Movers and Shakers" 2004 42
"L.I.F.E." 2004 34
"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, a 3-CD collection totaling 3 hours, narrated by Lucy Bell

Albums

  • Planet Tokyo (2005) – Released in Australia
  • He's Everything (2005) – Released in Australia
  • Raw Beauty (2005) – Released in Australia
  • Spin (2005) – Released in Australia
  • Raw Beauty Acoustic Sessions (2005) – Released in Australia

Singles

  • "Planet Tokyo" (2005) – Peaked at No. 41 in Australia
  • "He's Everything" (2005) – Reached No. 40 in Australia

Albums

Extended plays

  • Princess Veronica Tour (2004)

Singles

  • "Don't Ask Me" (2004) – Achieved No. 16 on Australian charts

Singles

  • "Trouble" (2003) – Charted at No. 30 in Australia

ARIA Music Awards

Year Work nominated Category Outcome
2003 On Top of the World Best Children's Album Nominated
Best Original Cast/Show Recording Nominated
2004 Friends Forever Best Children's Album Nominated
2009 Best Friends Best Children's Album Nominated

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=The_Saddle_Club&oldid=51897"