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Description

    “Hello world

    This is me

    Life should be

    Fun for everyone”

If these words bring back some serious nostalgia, I’m right there with you! When I was little, I used to watch reruns whenever they played. Yes, this is a piece to add to the Horses on the Screen series! Unfortunately, due to the show’s age, I can’t find much information on its production and filming. Here’s what I could find:

The Saddle Club was a TV series that ran from 2001-2009 based on the book series The Saddle Club and Pine Hollow by Bonnie Bryant. The Saddle Club was a Canadian-Australian co-production most famous for its horse-girl story, drama, comedy, and commentary on growing up. Like many children’s series, the main characters (and others) were recast after season 2, and some were recast after the end of season 1. In total, three groups of actors played the series’ characters. The iconic trio, Carole Hanson (Keenan MacWilliam), Stevie Lake (Sophie Bennett), and Lisa Atwood (Lara Jean-Marshall), ride together despite their backgrounds, traumas, and disagreements. The Saddle Club, as they dubbed themselves, are three inseparable friends, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. They are complimented by the prominent and wealthy antagonists, Veronica DiAngelo (Heli Simpson) and Kristy Cavanaugh (Kia Luby), who prove to be rivals in both riding and around the stables. They all have one thing in common – horses! Believe it or not, all of the actors were trained by the same group who taught the cast of Lord of the Rings how to ride, be around, and handle horses. Because of this, the actresses of The Saddle Club were sometimes able to perform their own stunts!



Anyone who knows The Saddle Club knows this trio from seasons 1 and 2 is famous for their horses, Starlight (owned by Carole), Prancer (owned by Pine Hollow Stables, ridden by Lisa), and Belle (owned by Stevie). However, these three only become regulars in season 2. In season 1, Carole owns and rides her beloved gelding, Starlight. Stevie works at Pine Hollow in exchange for a lease with the gelding, Comanche. Lastly, Lisa is paired with a ‘push-button pony’ gelding named Patch. A funny fact about the script is that for some reason, the writers in season 2 (and by extension, the characters Carole and Veronica) couldn’t seem to decide whether Starlight and Garnet were mares or geldings! In the first season, Starlight was a gelding and Garnet was a mare. I’m going to go by season 1’s Starlight haha.

With that being said, I decided to go for a more unique theme by portraying the first season’s horses as they are less famous than their season 2 counterparts. I realized way too late that I bit off more than I could chew with this piece… XD I had two goals: experiment with my realistic style and feature three full-body horses in the same piece. There are quite a few problems with this ‘simple’ set of goals… XD First problem: I haven’t used my realistic style since some 2021 works like my first profile image, The Twins, Falling, and likely my best attempt, Breyer’s Hakan. XD Second problem: Starlight, Comanche, and Patch have very specific markings. For obvious reasons, Patch’s markings were going to be a nightmare. Starlight had dapples and subtle countershading that didn’t compromise the brightness of his coat. Comanche’s markings have mapping and a splotch of color in his blaze. Third problem: near as I can tell, Starlight was played by two horses (one for riding shots and one for up-close scenes), Comanche was played by at least three horses (one for up-close shots, one for riding and action scenes, and one for the season 1 cover and some shots where he is in the distance), and Patch was played by one or two horses. It would be pretty hard to find two dark bay tobiano paint horses with nearly identical markings. XD Fourth problem: once I finished with the background, I realized these boys needed shading which I hadn’t originally planned.

All in all, this piece was a rollercoaster ride! I didn’t bother to go through and count all the visible layers so it may be a new record and it may not. XD Comanche is the bright bay horse in front, Patch is the tobiano in the middle, and Starlight is the pale buckskin toward the back. I had the most fun with Comanche’s shading and Patch’s bay light spots, and Starlight’s countershading and dapples! I think I managed the realistic style quite well for having not used it for a year. Recreating their markings was very challenging but a lot of fun! For references, I used the horses for the up-close shots as they were most prominent in the show. My original idea was to leave them flat-colored, but after completing the background (namely the grass XD), they looked really strange without shading. So, of course, I had to fix that. Even though it was spur-of-the-moment (haha, see what I did there?), I really enjoyed doing the shading. Thanks to KaiPonpon ’s advice, I was able to get a feel for how the light would interact with a horse’s musculature. This shading is definitely not perfect, but it’s a wonderful start to learning! If the rest of 2023 will be as fun as this piece (artblocks and all XD), it’s going to be a good year!



So where are these iconic girls now?

- Keenan MacWilliam, now 34, has every bit of flair she had as Carole. She has experience in nearly every field of creative art including graphic design. Some of her biggest achievements are being a freelance director and creative director and working as a creative director for Apple! Today, MacWilliam’s current adventure is taking on the job of a film director. She has a profile on Instagram where she further demonstrates her well-rounded career.

- Sophie Bennet, also 34, still takes the world by storm just as she did as Stevie. She is a prominent figure on Instagram where she is known as Sophie Maude. She has been a producer, project manager, and social media specialist for several large companies, and her presence in the Instagram world is a powerful one. In addition to her impressive career, she enjoys keeping up with the latest trends in fashion and cosmetology.

- Lara Jean-Marshall, 34 going on 35, kept every bit of the kind and caring nature she had as Lisa. She remains a beloved figure in the performing arts industry, and she stays true to her equestrian side. She leads a diverse career while being down-to-earth and friendly with fans. She has made numerous appearances on many different shows and talk-shows. Her achievements include being a social media specialist, a brand ambassador for Krispy Kreme Donuts in Australia and New Zealand, and a news reporter for a radio station. She now works as a radio announcer for a local network, 103.1 Power FM in Victoria, Australia and enjoys interacting with her community. She also creates podcasts and studies entertainment journalism

- Heli Simpson, 36, is now Doctor Heli Simpson, and like Veronica, she can capture anyone’s attention though for much different reasons. It’s not her attitude that stands out – it’s her will to change lives. With an undergraduate degree in medicine, Dr. Simpson worked in several emergency departments over the course of seven years. She decided to make a career change to a social worker and early childhood educator which she adores to this day. She also works as a case manager in a program that supports adults experiencing long-term homelessness. So far though this program, she has helped ten clients find stable housing, reconnect with their families, address and reach their physical and mental health goals, and find sustainability in many aspects of their lives. She is greatly appreciative of the opportunities she has been given, she speaks French fluently, and she is always ready to take on a new challenge.

- Kia Luby, now 33, still has all of her trademarks as Kristy – her smile, blue eyes, and determination. After her acting in The Saddle Club, she started working behind the scenes in season 3 as a co-producer and director. She continued her career as an actress and singer for several additional years before retiring. Sadly, there is not much more information on her aside from the fact that she now volunteers for the Riding for the Disabled Association.

MacWilliam, Maude (previously Bennet), and Marshall remain good friends as well with as Dr. Simpson and Luby. It does not matter to them who was ‘good’ and who was ‘bad’ on the show. When seen together, it is as if no time has passed making them truly “The Saddle Club forever!”

Curious about The Saddle Club and want to watch it for yourself? Seasons 1 and 2 can be found on YouTube! That’s how I reembraced my childhood LOL. Happy trails!



P.S.: An adorable detail in the show just needs to be shared. Elizabeth Regnery, owner of Pine Hollow Stables with her son, Max, is the ‘mom’ figure of the series. She provides wisdom, perspective, and love. She occasionally shows her strong and sassy side when the situation calls for it. The students lovingly call her Mrs. Reg. I love this so much.

Description

    “Hello world

    This is me

    Life should be

    Fun for everyone”

If these words bring back some serious nostalgia, I’m right there with you! When I was little, I used to watch reruns whenever they played. Yes, this is a piece to add to the Horses on the Screen series! Unfortunately, due to the show’s age, I can’t find much information on its production and filming. Here’s what I could find:

The Saddle Club was a TV series that ran from 2001-2009 based on the book series The Saddle Club and Pine Hollow by Bonnie Bryant. The Saddle Club was a Canadian-Australian co-production most famous for its horse-girl story, drama, comedy, and commentary on growing up. Like many children’s series, the main characters (and others) were recast after season 2, and some were recast after the end of season 1. In total, three groups of actors played the series’ characters. The iconic trio, Carole Hanson (Keenan MacWilliam), Stevie Lake (Sophie Bennett), and Lisa Atwood (Lara Jean-Marshall), ride together despite their backgrounds, traumas, and disagreements. The Saddle Club, as they dubbed themselves, are three inseparable friends, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. They are complimented by the prominent and wealthy antagonists, Veronica DiAngelo (Heli Simpson) and Kristy Cavanaugh (Kia Luby), who prove to be rivals in both riding and around the stables. They all have one thing in common – horses! Believe it or not, all of the actors were trained by the same group who taught the cast of Lord of the Rings how to ride, be around, and handle horses. Because of this, the actresses of The Saddle Club were sometimes able to perform their own stunts!



Anyone who knows The Saddle Club knows this trio from seasons 1 and 2 is famous for their horses, Starlight (owned by Carole), Prancer (owned by Pine Hollow Stables, ridden by Lisa), and Belle (owned by Stevie). However, these three only become regulars in season 2. In season 1, Carole owns and rides her beloved gelding, Starlight. Stevie works at Pine Hollow in exchange for a lease with the gelding, Comanche. Lastly, Lisa is paired with a ‘push-button pony’ gelding named Patch. A funny fact about the script is that for some reason, the writers in season 2 (and by extension, the characters Carole and Veronica) couldn’t seem to decide whether Starlight and Garnet were mares or geldings! In the first season, Starlight was a gelding and Garnet was a mare. I’m going to go by season 1’s Starlight haha.

With that being said, I decided to go for a more unique theme by portraying the first season’s horses as they are less famous than their season 2 counterparts. I realized way too late that I bit off more than I could chew with this piece… XD I had two goals: experiment with my realistic style and feature three full-body horses in the same piece. There are quite a few problems with this ‘simple’ set of goals… XD First problem: I haven’t used my realistic style since some 2021 works like my first profile image, The Twins, Falling, and likely my best attempt, Breyer’s Hakan. XD Second problem: Starlight, Comanche, and Patch have very specific markings. For obvious reasons, Patch’s markings were going to be a nightmare. Starlight had dapples and subtle countershading that didn’t compromise the brightness of his coat. Comanche’s markings have mapping and a splotch of color in his blaze. Third problem: near as I can tell, Starlight was played by two horses (one for riding shots and one for up-close scenes), Comanche was played by at least three horses (one for up-close shots, one for riding and action scenes, and one for the season 1 cover and some shots where he is in the distance), and Patch was played by one or two horses. It would be pretty hard to find two dark bay tobiano paint horses with nearly identical markings. XD Fourth problem: once I finished with the background, I realized these boys needed shading which I hadn’t originally planned.

All in all, this piece was a rollercoaster ride! I didn’t bother to go through and count all the visible layers so it may be a new record and it may not. XD Comanche is the bright bay horse in front, Patch is the tobiano in the middle, and Starlight is the pale buckskin toward the back. I had the most fun with Comanche’s shading and Patch’s bay light spots, and Starlight’s countershading and dapples! I think I managed the realistic style quite well for having not used it for a year. Recreating their markings was very challenging but a lot of fun! For references, I used the horses for the up-close shots as they were most prominent in the show. My original idea was to leave them flat-colored, but after completing the background (namely the grass XD), they looked really strange without shading. So, of course, I had to fix that. Even though it was spur-of-the-moment (haha, see what I did there?), I really enjoyed doing the shading. Thanks to KaiPonpon ’s advice, I was able to get a feel for how the light would interact with a horse’s musculature. This shading is definitely not perfect, but it’s a wonderful start to learning! If the rest of 2023 will be as fun as this piece (artblocks and all XD), it’s going to be a good year!



So where are these iconic girls now?

- Keenan MacWilliam, now 34, has every bit of flair she had as Carole. She has experience in nearly every field of creative art including graphic design. Some of her biggest achievements are being a freelance director and creative director and working as a creative director for Apple! Today, MacWilliam’s current adventure is taking on the job of a film director. She has a profile on Instagram where she further demonstrates her well-rounded career.

- Sophie Bennet, also 34, still takes the world by storm just as she did as Stevie. She is a prominent figure on Instagram where she is known as Sophie Maude. She has been a producer, project manager, and social media specialist for several large companies, and her presence in the Instagram world is a powerful one. In addition to her impressive career, she enjoys keeping up with the latest trends in fashion and cosmetology.

- Lara Jean-Marshall, 34 going on 35, kept every bit of the kind and caring nature she had as Lisa. She remains a beloved figure in the performing arts industry, and she stays true to her equestrian side. She leads a diverse career while being down-to-earth and friendly with fans. She has made numerous appearances on many different shows and talk-shows. Her achievements include being a social media specialist, a brand ambassador for Krispy Kreme Donuts in Australia and New Zealand, and a news reporter for a radio station. She now works as a radio announcer for a local network, 103.1 Power FM in Victoria, Australia and enjoys interacting with her community. She also creates podcasts and studies entertainment journalism

- Heli Simpson, 36, is now Doctor Heli Simpson, and like Veronica, she can capture anyone’s attention though for much different reasons. It’s not her attitude that stands out – it’s her will to change lives. With an undergraduate degree in medicine, Dr. Simpson worked in several emergency departments over the course of seven years. She decided to make a career change to a social worker and early childhood educator which she adores to this day. She also works as a case manager in a program that supports adults experiencing long-term homelessness. So far though this program, she has helped ten clients find stable housing, reconnect with their families, address and reach their physical and mental health goals, and find sustainability in many aspects of their lives. She is greatly appreciative of the opportunities she has been given, she speaks French fluently, and she is always ready to take on a new challenge.

- Kia Luby, now 33, still has all of her trademarks as Kristy – her smile, blue eyes, and determination. After her acting in The Saddle Club, she started working behind the scenes in season 3 as a co-producer and director. She continued her career as an actress and singer for several additional years before retiring. Sadly, there is not much more information on her aside from the fact that she now volunteers for the Riding for the Disabled Association.

MacWilliam, Maude (previously Bennet), and Marshall remain good friends as well with as Dr. Simpson and Luby. It does not matter to them who was ‘good’ and who was ‘bad’ on the show. When seen together, it is as if no time has passed making them truly “The Saddle Club forever!”

Curious about The Saddle Club and want to watch it for yourself? Seasons 1 and 2 can be found on YouTube! That’s how I reembraced my childhood LOL. Happy trails!



P.S.: An adorable detail in the show just needs to be shared. Elizabeth Regnery, owner of Pine Hollow Stables with her son, Max, is the ‘mom’ figure of the series. She provides wisdom, perspective, and love. She occasionally shows her strong and sassy side when the situation calls for it. The students lovingly call her Mrs. Reg. I love this so much.