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
GenreChildren's television series
Adventure
Comedy drama
Family
Created byBonnie Bryant
Developed bySarah Dodd
StarringKeenan MacWilliam
Sophie Bennett
Lara Jean Marshall
Heli Simpson
Kia Luby (Seasons 1–2)
Victoria Campbell
Lauren Dixon
Ariel Kaplan
Marny Kennedy
Aisha Dee (Season 3)
Opening theme"Hello World" (Instrumental) by Belle Perez (Seasons 1–2)
"Hello World" (Season 3)
Ending theme"Hello World" (Seasons 1–3)
Various songs (Seasons 2–3)
ComposersDale Cornelius (Season 1)
Stephen Skratt
Jack Lenz (Seasons 2–3)
Country of originAustralia
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes78 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerLynn Bayonas
Running time24 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkYTV (Canada)
ABC TV (Australia)
Nine Network (Australia)
ReleaseApril 30, 2001 (2001-04-30) –
April 10, 2009 (2009-04-10)

Overview edit

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 edit

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 edit

CharactersSeason 1Season 2Season 3
Carole HansonKeenan MacWilliamVictoria Campbell
Stephanie "Stevie" LakeSophie BennettLauren Dixon
Elizabeth "Lisa" AtwoodLara Jean MarshallAriel Kaplan
Veronica DiAngeloHeli SimpsonMarny Kennedy
Kristina "Kristi" CavanaughKia Luby
Desiree "Desi" BigginsAisha Dee
Melanie AtwoodMarisa SiketaJessica JacobsElla-Rose Shenman
Ashley TaylorJanelle Corlass-Brown
Jessica "Jess" CooperKaiya Jones
Elizabeth "Mrs. Reg" RegneryCatherine WilkinBriony Behets
Maximillion "Max" RegneryBrett TuckerRichard Davies
Dorothee DouteyMatylda Buczko
Jackson "Jack" O'NeilTroy Lovett
Phillip "Phil" MarstenGlenn MeldrumCosmo Feltham
Murray RichardsTroy LovettRory Donegan
Deborah Hale RegneryCathy Godbold
Andrew "Drew" RegneryNikolai Nikolaeff
Redford "Red" O'MalleyNathan PhillipsJames O'Dea
Brian "Scooter" MucahyAlex Marriott
MeganSophie Hensser
Samuel "Sam"Anthony Hammer
Simon AthertonConnor Jessup
Dr. Judith "Judy" BarkerMaggie KingLeverne McDonnell
Ashley "Chewie" BeckerJackson Gallagher
Eleanor AtwoodMarie-Louise Walker
Colonel Mitchell "Mitch" HansonChristopher Kirby
Helen DiAngeloMelanie Ryder
Frances "Frank" DiAngeloAnthony Hawkins
Orlando CooperGerard Kennedy
John BrightstarNick Russell
Note: A grey cell indicates the character did not appear in that series.

Production edit

The original series was filmed in Yarra Valley, Victoria in Australia, but involved a cast of mixed nationalities.[1]

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. The third series was filmed in Daylesford, Victoria.[1]

Broadcast edit

The show was broadcast from 2001 until 2009, with 78 episodes over three series. The third series broadcast from 7 September 2008 to 10 April 2009. 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. 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.

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

In the United States, the series later aired on Horse Racing TV and was distributed independently by Connecticut Public Television and American Public Television through public television stations nationwide, most notably PBS. The series also briefly aired in reruns on The Hub.

In Canada, it aired on YTV, and in the United Kingdom on CITV, Horse & Country and Pop Girl. 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 February 22, 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 March 7, 2009.

WIN Television airs a compilation movie of “Horse Shy”, “Mystery Weekend” and “School Horse” (episode 6-8 of series 1) every Christmas Day since 2017.

Other media edit

Australian Videos edit

  • 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 edit

  • 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)
  • The Saddle Club: The First Adventure (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: Adventures at Pine Hollow (2009 Re-release) - Released as "More Adventures at Pine Hollow"
  • The Saddle Club: Horse Crazy (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: The Mane Event (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: Friends Forever (2009 Re-release)
  • The Saddle Club: Storm (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 edit

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

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
AUS
[2]
Fun for Everyone
  • Released: November 2002
  • Label: Shock (TSC02)
  • Formats: CD
45
On Top of the World
  • Released: May 2003
  • Label: Shock (TSC03)
  • Formats: CD
20
Friends Forever
  • Released: September 2003
  • Label: Shock (TSC06)
  • Formats: CD
38
Secrets & Dreams
  • Released: April 2004
  • Label: Shock (TSC12)
  • Formats: CD
49

Compilation albums edit

List of compilation albums, with selected details and chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[4]
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 edit

  • Special Mane Event (2004)

Singles edit

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertifications
AUS
[2]
"We Are the Saddle Club"2002
"Hello World"/"Hey Hey What You Say"20
"Wonderland"200317
"Boogie Oogie Oogie"/"Undercover Movers and Shakers"29
"Everybody Come On"
"Undercover Movers and Shakers"200442
"L.I.F.E."34
"Welcome to the Saddle Club"
"Sleeping Under the Stars"
"These Girls"2009

Read Along CD edit

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

Sophie & Kia edit

Albums edit

  • 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) – No. 41 Australia[6]
  • "He's Everything" (2005) – No. 40 Australia[6]

Heli Simpson edit

Albums edit

Extended plays edit

  • Princess Veronica Tour (2004)

Singles edit

Ashley and Melanie edit

Singles edit

  • "Trouble" (2003) – No. 30 Australia[2]

Awards edit

ARIA Music Awards edit

YearNominated worksAwardResult
2003On Top of the WorldBest Children's AlbumNominated
Best Original Cast/Show RecordingNominated
2004Friends ForeverBest Children's AlbumNominated
2009Best FriendsNominated

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Back in the saddle", The Age, 12 March 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d "Discography The Saddle Club". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  3. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 242.
  5. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Discography Sophie & Kia". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.

External links edit