Hello everyone! Apologies for my absence, November was a busy time for me. In between despairing over the fate of western democracy (thanks, America!) and a very busy time at work, I didn't have much time for writing. Thankfully, things have started to calm down (in terms of work, not in terms of America) so I'll be having some more writing time pretty soon. Today's episode is Found Horse, the one where Stevie finds Belle. It stands out to me because I have a very distinct memory of one of the horsey magazines I loved as a tween writing about this very episode, and how it was irresponsible to depict Stevie just walking up to Belle and taking her home - despite having no knowledge of the mare's behaviour or temperament. As a kid, I definitely thought that article was the author being a stick in the mud. As an adult, I now see it as quality journalism. The episode opens with Pine Hollow hosting a Western riding clinic, and all of the kids are super pumped. Carole and Stevie tell Lisa that last year's clinic was an absolute blast, and that she's sure to love it, too. The girls are introduced to - wait for it - Johnny Brightstar. Despite what his name would lead you think, Johnny Brightstar is not in witness protection, he's the son of the man who's supposed to be teaching the clinic. Johnny's got a very obviously fake southern accent, which for some reason completely charms Kristi. Johnny then shares with Max that his father won't be able to teach the clinic because he was rolled on by a steer. This is handwaved very quickly with 'Don't worry, he's fine!' A little too quickly, I would say, given that he was ROLLED ON by a STEER! Nobody, not even Max, bothers to ask any follow-up questions, which makes them all look like assholes. At least have the decency to ask how he's doing!
The Pine Hollow kids don't care about the fact that Johnny's dad nearly died, all they care about is the fact that their fun clinic has been cancelled. They all make sad puppy faces at Max until he agrees to teach it himself. Deborah looks mighty unimpressed during this announcement, and proceeds to snap at Max that he's the most unromantic man alive. Turns out they were supposed to have a romantic weekend away together, which Max has now cancelled at the last minute. Now, we the viewers are supposed to be on the kids' side and think Deborah's being a prissy bitch, but I have to say that Adult Me is fully Team Deb on this one. All she's really asking for here is for her boyfriend to have some basic work-life boundaries, which has a) already been an issue in their relationship and b) is something he's told her he wants to improve. If anything, I think her behaviour here was an underreaction.
The clinic begins with the Pine Hollow students going out on a trail ride with Mrs. Reg. The kids are all supposed to be riding with Western tack (because, again, this is a Western-themed weekend), but I did spy a few horses in English bridles, so points off for that. While on the trail ride, Stevie spots a black mare off in the distance. She wonders if the horse is lost or wild, despite the fact she is visibly wearing a halter. Great powers of deduction there, Stevie! She and Carole ride over to look for the mare, but by the time they arrive she's ... mysteriously disappeared. (Did I mention that ~mysterious wind chimes~ are playing during this scene? It's all deeply, deeply mysterious. Sigh.)
After the trail ride, Max and Johnny put on a demonstration for everyone. Johnny cracks a stock whip and shows off his lassoing skills, and afterwards he and Max rope some steers together. Deborah shows up to watch, which is quite nice of her. (Personally, if I was in her shoes, I would've gone on the couple's vacation by myself and had a great time. She's a bigger person than I am.)
That night, the kids are having a campfire. Stevie tells Johnny about the horse she saw, and how it was totally wild. (Again, Stevie, the mare was wearing a halter. She clearly belongs to someone!) Johnny says that there's a story associated with that horse, and asks Max to tell it. Now, Max is still clearly trying to get back into Deborah's good books, so he tells this romantic story about Belle, the wild horse who belonged to a beautiful woman. The woman fell in love with a man she could never be with, so the secret lovers used to meet up in the mountains, until they were caught in a bad snowstorm and froze to death together. Super romantic, Max! Somehow, this works on Deborah, who makes eyes at him across the campfire. The Saddle Club, oblivious to this, ask about Belle's fate, and Max says that she roams the countryside, looking for her one true rider. Max says that anyone who tries to tame Belle will be cursed, and that only Belle can choose her next rider. That night, the girls are sleeping over at the stables, and Stevie declares that she's going to find the phantom horse and prove that she's real.
Kristi worries that the phantom horse will be creeping around at Pine Hollow, and Veronica tells her that Max was just telling a scary campfire story - a very reasonable take IMHO. Kristi points out that Stevie said she saw the phantom horse, and Veronica says that she's going to find out what Stevie's up to. Early the next morning, Stevie sneaks out to go looking for Belle. She inexplicably decides to head out on foot, instead of riding Comanche. Veronica hilariously creeps after her, unnecessarily ducking and diving behind bushes like she's in a spy movie. I'm imagining that she's humming the Mission Impossible theme song in her head while this is happening.
Stevie finds Belle, but Veronica decides now is a good time to stand up and start shouting about how Belle is 'the ugliest thing I've ever seen!' This causes Belle to run off. This is fair, I'd run away if a mean twelve-year-old called me ugly, too.
Stevie arrives back at Pine Hollow in time for breakfast. I do find it slightly concerning that two of the children were able to sneak out with none of the adults noticing, but that's Pine Hollow for ya! Veronica is suddenly super itchy, which she blames on fleas. Kristi tells Veronica that she's probably cursed because she followed Stevie. Veronica quickly develops a red rash, and Mrs. Reg tells her it's from poison ivy. She attempts to treat it with a homemade remedy, and Veronica snaps at her that, 'The only stuff that goes on this skin is bottled in Europe!' Hah, I do love a classic Veronica line. Veronica quickly changes her mind once she discovers Mrs. Reg's concoction works. However, her bad luck continues: Johnny trips her up with his lasso, her phone stops working so she can't ring her parents to come and pick her up, and clothes are dirty and her nails are a mess. Kristi (again) tells Veronica that she's probably cursed. With friends like these ...
Stevie again goes out on her own to look for Belle, and finds her because she's so special that they've somehow developed a psychic link. When she tries to get closer, Belle becomes skittish. Stevie puts some pieces of carrot on a nearby log, and waits for Belle to walk over to eat them. Belle eventually does, and Stevie is thrilled. She clips a lead rope to Belle's halter and gives her a pat. (I cannot stress how dangerous this is! DO NOT DO THIS!)
At Pine Hollow, Deborah's struggling to come up with an idea for her next article. Her boss calls her to push forward a deadline, and Deborah begins to freak out.
Kristi flirts with Johnny and tries to convince him to come back to Pine Hollow, when Stevie and Belle walk into the stables. Veronica immediately freaks out, yells the horse is cursed, and bolts. Lisa and Carole coo over how pretty Belle is, and ask about how Stevie managed to catch her. Mrs. Reg comes over, and wants to have a word with Stevie. Stevie seems to think that she can just keep Belle, but Mrs. Reg points out that Belle isn't wild, that she has clearly been domesticated, and that - most importantly - she isn't Stevie's horse. (THANK-YOU, finally! The voice of reason!) Stevie argues that Belle is half starved to death, that she hasn't been groomed, and her hooves are a mess. (None of these things are true. That's a perfectly healthy horse standing in that stall, Stevie!) Stevie says that she's going to call her parents because they'll let her keep Belle. That isn't how keeping a stray horse works! Why has nobody called the RSPCA? Mrs. Reg points out that Stevie hasn't got the best history when it comes to caring for pets, and refers to an incident involving the school goldfish. (What happened isn't specified, so I'm going to assume that Stevie managed to kill it.)
Stevie falters at having to ring her parents, and Lisa and Carole give her advice on what to tell them. Carole tells Stevie that she can tell her folks she'll work at Pine Hollow to pay for some of Belle's board, and Lisa offers to care for Belle when Stevie goes on holiday. We don't see any of this phone call (a pretty weird decision, considering how pivotal this moment is to the episode) and instead cut to the aftermath: Stevie hugging Belle and gleefully declaring, 'I can't believe you're really mine!' (She ISN'T yours, Stevie! That's not how adopting a stray animal works!)
Deborah is pacing in the lounge, still unable to come up with an article, when Max comes in and tells her that he's god a feel-good story for her: Stevie's saved an abandoned horse. They go to meet Stevie and Belle, and Deborah takes a photo of them. We then cut to Deborah's article, featuring a beaming Stevie and Belle on the front page together.
Aww, a happy ending for everyone! Or it would be, if this episode wasn't a two-parter. The music turns menacing, and we see a strange lady reading the article. She remarks, 'So that's where you got to.' Clearly, things are about to go haywire for Stevie and Belle ...
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