The episode begins with Mrs. Reg teaching a clinic with Comanche. She's free lunging him, with Comanche obeying just her voice commands. The students are all super impressed, and even Veronica cracks a small smile. Mrs. Reg asks if any of the students want to have a go.
Deborah introduces Max to her friend Jerry, who produces a sports show for children. Max isn't thrilled when he learns that Jerry isn't just Deborah's friend, he's also her ex-boyfriend. The three stop to watch the end of Mrs. Reg's clinic. She's talking Kristi through free lunging Comanche. Stevie declares that Comanche won't jump without a rider, but he obeys Kristi's instruction and clears a jump. All of the students are impressed - and Jerry is, too.
After the clinic, Kristi takes Comanche back into his stall, and Jerry introduces himself to her. He tells her that she's probably seen his show, Kids' Sports Live. (Original name.) He was impressed by what he saw, and wants her to have a segment: 'Kristi Cavanaugh, Junior Horse Whisperer.' Kristi is thrilled, and Veronica - clearly used to being the star of The Veronica and Kristi show - is immediately shocked. Veronica is clearly angling to give Kristi some advice, but Kristi declares that she'll go to The Saddle Club for help.
Kristi asks Stevie, Carole, and Lisa for advice. She tells them they know everything about horses, they worked miracles with their own horses, and Max should renaming Pine Hollow to 'The Saddle Club Centre for Equestrian Excellence.' (I might've added the last one.) Kristi admits she needs their help because she has no idea what she's doing, but she won't admit it to Jerry because she won't give up the chance to be on TV. Stevie's enjoying making Kristi eat some humble pie, but Carole agrees to help her.
The girls watch Kristi walk around the arena with Comanche. She tries to get Comanche to follow her over a puddle, but he refuses. She tries again, this time walking through the puddle first to show him it's safe. Comanche follows her, and Kristi begins to believe her own hype. 'I'm a horse whisperer,' she excitedly tells Comanche.
Jerry is subtly insulting Max to Deborah, telling her that he never imagined her with a 'farmer.' Veronica interrupts, and strong-arms her way into hosting the show. She uses her experience being in Skye Ransom's movie an evidence of her acting experience. (She neglects to mention that she was kicked off the set.) Jerry likes Veronica's persistence, and offers the the role of host.
The Saddle Club quiz Kristi on equestrian body language. She knows the answers to their questions, and says that her show is going to be so good that she'll be hired as a professional horse whisperer. Veronica overhears this, and angrily points out that Kristi only took one class with Mrs. Reg, and now she think she's an expert.
Meanwhile, Melanie is having trouble with Dime, who attempts to bite her each time she tries to put on his saddle blanket. Kristi notices, and gives some completely unsolicited advice on how she can improve before swanning off. Melanie looks sad, and Mrs. Reg gives her a hug.
Max comes into his office to find Jerry there, sitting with his feet up on Max's desk. Rude! He tells Max about how the 'Debbie' he knew couldn't stand country life, and that the biggest mistake he made was letting her go. Vom.
The Saddle Club are pleasantly surprised by how nice and normal Kristi's been acting, and deduce that it's because she's been spending more time around horses, and less time around Veronica. Lisa shows Kristi the script she's written for her performance, but Kristi is unimpressed. The girls then hear Melanie shouting, and rush outside to help. She's fallen off Dime. Kristi says it happened because Melanie doesn't know what she's doing. (I agree, but harsh!) Lisa admonishes her, but Kristi says that Lisa doesn't know anything, either, and that she's the one who's going to be on TV.
Later, Kristi gives Lisa her script, and says it doesn't work for her. She wants a rewritten script within fifteen minutes. Stevie realises that they've created a monster.
The Saddle Club are in the lounge when Veronica comes in to apologise on behalf of Kristi's behaviour. Veronica seems to think that, since Kristi's being such a pain, she should attempt to befriend the girls. They all laugh once she leaves.
Melanie continues to have problems with Dime, and Kristi tells her that she'll fix Dime's issues for her.
Deborah's helping Jerry get the set ready, and asks him to check the sound levels. He begins merrily singing, 'Alas my love, you do me wrong, to case me off discourteously ...' Max overhears, and is mighty unhappy. He snaps at Jerry, then Deborah snaps at him - thankfully, the imminent lover's tiff is interrupted by the arrival of Kristi, who demands to speak to Jerry. He leaves to speak to her, and Deborah glares at Max.
Kristi tells Jerry that she wants to feature Dime instead of Comanche, so that her viewers can watch her work with a troubled pony. She tells Jerry that Dime has serious issues, and Carole points out that these include bucking and biting. (Gee, then why on Earth is Dime a school pony?) Kristi's confident that this will be way more impressive than working with Comanche, and that she can totally cure him.
Mrs. Reg visits Kristi to wish her good luck. Kristi tells her that she doesn't need it, because she's totally got this horse whispering thing down. Mrs. Reg tries to give one of her inspirational speeches, but Kristi doesn't care to hear it.
Max and Deborah continue their spat about Jerry.
The Saddle Club watch the live episode. Veronica deliberately stands in front of Kristi, blocking the audience's view of her. Honestly, it's a diva move. The show goes about as well as you'd expect: Kristi has no clue what to do, and Dime keeps biting at her.
Jerry calls for a commercial, and complains to his good pal Debbie about how the talent is eating the talent. Deborah finally puts him in his place, and tells him she's Deborah, not Debbie.
During the break, Lisa pats Dime, and notices that he flinches. She tries to suggest that he might not be scared of his saddle, but Kristi doesn't want to hear it, because she knows best.
Deborah confronts Max, and asks him what his problem is. Max asks with sad puppy dog eyes if she's still in love with Jerry, and tells her that Jerry's still in love with her. What an absolute drama queen. Deborah points out that Jerry's her ex and, even if he does still love her, it doesn't mean she loves him back. Max complains that Jerry's always hanging around her and reminiscing about the past. 'Gee,' Deborah exclaims, 'it's almost as if we're old friends!' You tell him, Deborah! Max finally cracks a smile and realises Deborah's right. I think Max is demonstrating the emotional maturity of a hamster but, luckily for him, Deborah think it's cute when he's jealous. The two kiss and make up.
The episode resumes filming. Kristi is still doing terribly. Stevie says that Kristi deserves it, but Carole says that Max doesn't - because the audience won't just make fun of her, they'll make fun of Pine Hollow, too. The Saddle Club arrive, and offer to help Kristi. They share the real reason that Dime has been acting up: his back hurts, which is why he doesn't want his saddle blanket put on. They say that horse whispering should be called horse listening. Subtle!
Later, the girls are rewatching their episode in the lounge. Kristi and Veronica discuss how their episode would've been way better if it was just the two of them, and that they should talk to Jerry about hosting their own show together. (You just know that 2025 Veronica and Kristi are hosting a podcast together.) Veronica and Kristi leave, and The Saddle Club all clap and cheer.
Overall, I don't have any major issues with this episode. I'm putting it in the 'good, but not great' category. The horsey plot line was okay. That said, Kids' Sports Live sounds absolutely terrible, and I cannot imagine it would've had enough of an audience to stay running. The romantic drama with Max and Deborah was entertaining enough. (Although, if an IRL bestie was having problems with her fiancee getting jealous over her exes, I would be telling her to call off the wedding.)
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