My Heartland Obsession: How a Cheesy Horse Show Got Me Through 2020

The 2020 TV Marathon

"Like many others in 2020, I was stuck at home, endlessly scrolling through Netflix. My husband and I were on a mission to conquer every series we could find. We were practically professionals at binge-watching. It felt… excessive. Who watches this much TV? But honestly, the world felt like it was falling apart, and those Netflix binges were a much-needed escape.

Heartland: A Show I Avoided

• Horse Show Stereotypes
• Too Cheesy?

I’d heard whispers about Heartland, the Canadian show based on the Heartland book series by Lauren Brooke. My horse friends were always surprised I hadn't seen it. "It's about a girl and her family who love horses!" they'd say. But as any horse person knows, Hollywood (even the Canadian version) often misses the mark when it comes to portraying equestrian life. Most horse-themed shows are full of inaccuracies that are glaringly obvious to anyone who's spent time around horses.

more accurate version of the horse meme
byu/McLeamhan inUmbrellaAcademy

Plus, Heartland just seemed… cheesy. I was looking for something more sophisticated, more critically acclaimed. (Image suggestion: A collage of posters from popular dramas/thrillers from 2020). I might have been a bit of a snob, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Giving Heartland a Chance (on Netflix)

• Wholesome Cheese and Believable Horses
• From Background Noise to Full Immersion

When I saw all 13 seasons of Heartland pop up on Netflix, I decided to give it a shot. With nowhere to go and nothing to do, I clicked "play."

It took a couple of episodes to get into it. Yes, it was cheesy, but in a good way. The characters, especially Jack Bartlett, started to grow on me. And surprisingly, Heartland did a decent job of portraying horse care and riding in a realistic way. I started having it on in the background while I worked from the couch or did chores. But then, something shifted. I found myself actually invested in the story. I even cried during certain scenes, like the plane crash and Spartan's injury.

Hooked on Heartland: Seasons 1-14 and Beyond

• Emotional Moments and Relatable Characters
• A Welcome Escape

Now, with season 14 on Netflix, I’m right back where I started—completely hooked. Heartland provided a much-needed dose of wholesome horse content during a very strange time. It was the next best thing to being at the barn with my own horse.

What's Next? Maybe Yellowstone?

Who knows, maybe we’ll give Yellowstone a try next."