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The Saddle Club

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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)
TVNZ 2 (New Zealand)
PBS (US)
ReleaseApril 30, 2001 (2001-04-30) –
April 10, 2009 (2009-04-10)

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.

Premise

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The series follows the experiences of three girls, who establish a club called "The Saddle Club" after recognizing their mutual passion for horseback 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Australian Videos

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  • 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

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  • 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

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

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
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

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List of compilation albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak 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

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  • Special Mane Event (2004)

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[2]
"We Are the Saddle Club" 2002 —
"Hello World"/"Hey Hey What You Say" 20
"Wonderland" 2003 17
"Boogie Oogie Oogie"/"Undercover Movers and Shakers" 29
"Everybody Come On" —
"Undercover Movers and Shakers" 2004 42
"L.I.F.E." 34
"Welcome to the Saddle Club" —
"Sleeping Under the Stars" —
"These Girls" 2009 —

Read Along CD

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

Sophie & Kia

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Albums

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

Singles

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

Heli Simpson

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Albums

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Extended plays

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  • Princess Veronica Tour (2004)

Singles

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Ashley and Melanie

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Singles

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

Awards

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ARIA Music Awards

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Year Nominated works Award Result
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 Nominated

References

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  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.
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