The Saddle Club

The Saddle Club
Also known as	Saddle Club
Genre	Children's television series
Created by	Bonnie Bryant
Starring	Keenan MacWilliam Sophie Bennett Lara Jean Marshall Heli Simpson Kia Luby Victoria Campbell Lauren Dixon Ariel Kaplan Marny Kennedy Aisha Dee
Opening theme	"Hello World Music" (series 1–2) "Hello World" (series 3)
Ending theme	"Hello World" (series 1–2) "Together We Are" (series 2) "Wonderland" ("Show Ponies Part 2") various (series 3)
Country of origin	Australia Canada
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	3
No. of episodes	78 (list of episodes)
Production
Location(s)	Yarra Valley, Australia (series 1–2) Daylesford and Victoria, Australia (series 3)
Running time	24 mins
Production company(s)	Crawford Productions Protocol Entertainment Connecticut Public Television American Public Television
Release
Original network	ABC TV (series 1–2) Nine Network (series 3)
Picture format	576i (SDTV) (series 1–3) 1080i (HDTV) (series 3)
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	30 April 2001 (2001-04-30) – 10 April 2009 (2009-04-10)
External links
Website	www.saddleclubtv.com

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.

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. In series 1, The Saddle Club are 12 years old. In series 2, The Saddle Club are 13 years old. By the events of series 3, The Saddle Club are 14 years old.

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

Cast

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. 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 29 September 2008 to 10 April 2009. A new Saddle Club CD, Best Friends, was sold in Australia in stores and on The Saddle Club's website and in the USA and Canada as a digital download.

Broadcast

The popularity of the series soon after its premiere on the ABC promoted international syndication, and it was aired in North America on Horse Racing TV, in Canada 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. The Saddle Club is available on Hulu in the United States.

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

• Princess Veronica (2004)
• Princess Veronica Tour EP (2004)

Singles

• Don't Ask Me (2004) #16 Australia

Ashley and Melanie discography

Singles

• "Trouble" (2003) Australia

Awards

External links

• The Saddle Club
• The Saddle Club on IMDb
• The Saddle Club at TV.com
• The Saddle Club at Horse Racing TV
• The Saddle Club at Australian Screen Online
• The Saddle Club at AustLit