The Saddle Club Episode 1.14: Over the Bit

The episode begins with Lisa cramming for a geology test. She explains she's got the test on Friday, a report due on Thursday, a ballet recital on Saturday, and clarinet lesson tomorrow night. Personally, the thought of such a packed week makes me need to have a lie down. Red reminds Lisa she's got a riding lesson in five minutes, too, and that he's tacked Prancer up for her. He warns Lisa against burning herself out. While all of this is happening, someone is watching everything going on from up in the loft. Phil's the first one to notice, and the girls investigate upstairs with him. They pull back a pile of hay to reveal ... a boy!

The Saddle Club Episode 1.13: Set Up

The episode was another one that I had on VHS as a kid, so I saw it a couple of hundred times. It opens up with a montage of horsey things going on at Pine Hollow. 

The Saddle Club Episode 1.12: Jumping to Conclusions

The episode opens with Veronica being stroppy because she’s been assigned Patch for a group lesson when she wanted Prancer instead. I’m not sure what she’s so miserable about, Patch is gorgeous. In fact, I remember going on horse riding camp at thirteen and being super excited that I was assigned the paint horse to ride (his name was Mitch!) because all the other girls (and the one boy who attended) wanted him, too. 

The Saddle Club Episode 1.11: Greener Pastures - Part 2

The episode opens on Max and Mrs. Reg holding a memorial for Cobalt. Mrs. Reg explains that they are planting a tree in Cobalt’s favourite paddock to symbolise new life, and Max gives a sincere eulogy, both of which are very sweet. I do rag on Max for a lot of things including the many occasions he was criminally negligent, but I do find it really sweet that he and his mother held a horse funeral service to help all of these children process their grief. 

The Saddle Club Episode 1.10: Greener Pastures - Part 1

One question: were you even a real horse girl if you weren’t absolutely traumatised by Cobalt’s death as a child? Anyway, the episode begins with Carole and Starlight doing some jumps. Everyone is cheering for them, and Carole’s dad, Mitch, is videoing her lesson. Carole thinks it’s cringe, I think it’s completely endearing. Doctor Judy pops by the stables to check on Delilah and tells Carole that her work study has been approved, and she gets to be a trainee vet. Carole is thrilled. Cue opening credits. 

Book Review: Pony Pals #20 - Stolen Ponies

 

'One day while the Pony Pals are at their secret hide-out they hear thunder and it starts to rain. Anna goes to check on the ponies and discovers that all three ponies are missing! 

The ponies may be in great danger! The Pony Pals are afraid for their ponies. Did the ponies run away? But how could they untie their leads? Have the ponies been stolen?' 

Now, not to be too snarky too early out given the title of the book is literally Stolen Ponies, I feel that last question in the blurb has already answered itself. I also feel like it's a somewhat misleading title, given that the pony stealing doesn't happen until halfway through the book.

The Saddle Club Episode 1.9: Herdbound

Max is teaching a lesson, and tells the students to go over the cross country course. Lisa is nervous, but Max encourages her, and she and Patch end up doing well and Max says she's ready to join the jumping class. After the class, Mrs. Atwood arrives at the stables looking angry — so same business as usual. Lisa raves about how she cleared the cross country jumps and casually drops that she NEVER LEARNED TO JUMP BEFORE. (And Max told her to just have a go at them anyway??!) Max, that is a BAD. IDEA.