If, like me, you are a sucker for a both a good drama series and/or a classic horsey show, you will know how difficult it is to find a decent combination of the two. I grew up watching cheesy, girly horsey flicks like The Saddle Club, which is all very well if you're of a certain age, as are the countless horse-themed movies out there (think Black Beauty, Secretariat, The Horse Whisperer- don't get me wrong, I still totally love them). Again, all great movies, but there seemed to be a big gap in the market: an equestrian drama series that could be enjoyed by all ages. Then, I stumbled across Heartland; a little late on the bandwagon, I know.
Set in the gorgeous mountains of Canada, the scenery of Heartland is as beautiful as the horses. To put things very, very simply, it is a show about a healing ranch where horses are rehabilitated and re-homed by the gifted main character, Amy Fleming, who is something of a horse whisperer herself. It was originally based on the book series by Lauren Brooke, but has taken some free rein (horsey pun intended!) with the characters, branching out into a gripping seven- soon to be eight- seasons of pure, absorbing, horse-fuelled drama. I personally can't get enough of it! Admittedly, my summer has so far consisted of curling up on the sofa watching back-to-back episodes of each season on Netflix (although not Season 7, which sadly isn't up yet. Why, oh why do I not live in Canada??)
The characters are all great, and I feel as if you really get to know them, and so you root for them as they face their various troubles. Even if you don't like horses (in which case, may I just ask, what on Earth is wrong with you!?) you could still enjoy the drama of the series, or just sit back and soak in the beautiful setting. Seriously, a visit to Canada is now pretty high up on my Bucket List. If only I could conjure up £700 or so for the flights, I would hop on the plane tomorrow.
Another thing that I find really refreshing about Heartland is that the horsey details are actually up to scratch. It's obvious in many TV shows that the actors (and sometimes writers!) know nothing about horses, and so the riding looks forced and unnatural, as does the use of lingo and interaction with the horses, etc. But in this series, all the knowledge seems genuine, and if stunt doubles are used, then it is never obvious. Amber Marshall, who plays Amy, is a brilliant rider in real life, and this reflects in the quality of the scenes. Consequently, Heartland is all-round simply a better quality horsey show than any other I have come across.
And okay, okay, I will just hold my hands up and admit it now- another thing that makes this show amazing is the eye candy. I mean, c'mon; Graham Wardle as Ty Borden! (See picture above) He is just perfect for the role; as is Kerry James, who plays Caleb O'Dell. Some of my favourite moments of all time have involved the Amy/Ty/Caleb love triangle of the first couple of series. But this is more than just a Twilight-esque affair- the characters are each equally endearing and loveable, and the addition of horses totally seals the deal in my opinion.
I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say I can't wait for Season 8 to be aired in the UK(and to actually get to watch Season 7 in my case!), and if you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, then you need to check out this series. NOW!
You can find out more about it on the official Heartland site
*Please note that I obviously do not own the image above, or anything to do with Heartland as I am just an avid fan. All copyright goes to the original owners*
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