Search - The Saddle Club - Adventures at Pine Hollow on DVD

Cowgirls Only Sometimes Get the Blues

mrsfaganselves | huntington, ny United States | 06/29/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A mean girl, horses, handsome young men, horses, girlfriends, boys, horses--this movie has everything a young girl on the verge of her teenage years could want. My daughter discovered this movie last weekend, just after returning home from a combined swimming pool/horseback riding birthday party and right before uncovering her case of chicken pox. (mild, fortunately.) Since we've been encountering some problems with a mean girl in school, the nasty, spoiled rich girl in the story who has nothing kind whatsoever to say to anyone, except when she's trying to manipulate people, held my attention. I confess, I cheered (quietly but vociferously) when she fell off her horse. But that's not really the main focus of the movie. Here's what this movie, based an Australian TV series, which itself was based on a series of books by Bonnie Bryant--none of which we'd read or even heard of until now-- is about: Three likable girls, Stevie, Carol, and Lisa, all try to perfect their riding skills at an Australian riding club while
coping with the nasty Veronica whose stubbornness leads to the
death of her horse, their own changing interests,the impending birth of a foal, various other horse health crises, and the presence of handsome young fellows who work as stablehands. Oh, and a boy their age who is, in his own fumbling way, trying to figure out how to let one of the girls know that he likes her. Carol is still contending with the loss of her mother, a veterinarian whose shoes she'd hoped to fill, though she encounters doubts. Stevie is trying to stay out of
Veronica's way while maintaining her interest in horses, even as some of her friends strike out in other directions and Lisa is just trying to figure out life. The girls go through their paces with their horses, try to
ignore Veronica and her pal, await the arrival of the foal and visit with an old friend whose interests have changed. There are moments of bravery and derring-do, a little skulduggery (Veronica just has to do things her way, and the death of her horse slows her down only temporarily), and some rather wise, no-nonsense adults who pop in and out of scenes, offering mostly good advice. Thank goodness there were no truly idiotic adult types that we see so often on TV.

It is a pretty tame movie overall, but with great appeal to preteen girls. (Preteen boys would rather take out the garbage than watch it, I suspect.) We, or at least the junior person in the house, has seen it six times so far. There's nothing untoward in this movie, nothing to keep parents from letting their daughters see it, with the issues of developing friendships and rivalry sure to catch their attention. Because of the death of the horse, some younger girls may not want to watch this, though there's no actual death scene. Overall, it's a pleasant enough story with a few lessons for girls, and a wonderful musical theme called Hello World."

I Can't Stop Watching This Movie!

mrsfaganselves | 11/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow! What more of an amazing movie could be created? I loved this movie more than any other I've seen yet! (And believe me, I've seen many.) I've read some of the books included in the Saddle Club series and the movie is mostly focused on the 2nd and 3rd books. I would mostly reccomend this movie to horse riders/lovers. Even if you don't ride or just enjoy the company of horses you'll enjoy this show. If you absolutly dislike horses may I say that you shouldn't buy this movie. Try taking it out of a rental store. I'm a rider/lover and dream of owning a horse. I also do other sports and this is one of my favorites. I would think that due to the fact that I ride it does help to the fact that I absolutly love/enjoy this movie. The entire movie is not all about horses. The "Saddle Club" is group of 3 best friends who are entirely devoted to horses and each other. The 3 girls, Lis Artwood, Stevie Lake, and Carole Hanson are just like anyother girls who love horses, and face the many problems with life and horses. In this movie a horrible accident occurs that ruins the life of a horse and a rider. With help the girls can always work through their troubles and always have eachother. To me the reason is quite clear to why I love the movie and why I truly believe that you buy this movie. Like I explained in my title, I've watched this movie enough that I can act out the entire movie and say every line in the script! I hope you buy this video because it's definetly worth it!"

Saddle Club: Adventures at Pine Hollow.

stormrider90 | The Shire with Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin... | 02/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you love horses, this movie is for you. It is GREAT. It's based on a TV show airing in the US, Canada and Australia. I watch the show every night, and I see the movie about 3 times a month. If you are intrested in this series, you can watch it on Discovery Kids.(In the USA) I am the biggest fan of the Saddle Club and I love this movie. This movie got me intrested in horses and I am now taking riding lessons. The movie is great... In conclusion, I give it five stars. It is a great movie."

Good Kids Movie

Flame_926 | United States | 08/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think that this movie would be an ideal gift for a girl between the ages of 7 and 14. The movie is definitely for an audience that is familiar with the Saddle Club books by Bonnie Bryant although any horse-crazy kid would like it. There are also a lot of boy English riders in the film which is pretty unusual for a horse film. I have shown this film to some of the younger riders that I teach at the barn and they all like it.There are tons of horse scenes and it deals with a lot of problems that young girls face. I wish that I knew where the stable in the movie was because it is incredible! The film was evidently filmed in England so it's kindof funny to hear the American East-coast (from the books) girls using English terminology with the British accents but overall it was very well done.Good gift for a kid going to horse camp, taking lessons or discovering their first interest in horses."