Free Rein is a British horse series that has streamed on Netflix since June 2017. It follows an American teenager and a wild black horse on an island off the English coast. Here is the full guide: plot, characters and cast, the 3 seasons, the two specials, and what a rider thinks of the riding on screen.
What is Free Rein?
Free Rein is a family series produced by Lime Pictures for Netflix. The first season went online on June 23, 2017. In France the show is called “Zoé et Raven”, after the heroine and her horse.
The show is aimed at tweens and young teens, with a strong focus on riding, friendship and family, and a mystery that runs across three seasons. Episodes last about 25 minutes, short enough to binge in a weekend.
Plot and setting
Zoe Phillips, a 15-year-old from Los Angeles, spends the summer with her mother and her little sister Rosie at her grandfather’s house in England. The story takes place on Bright Island, a fictional island off the British coast based on Anglesey in Wales, with cliffs, beaches and a riding stable.
At Bright Field Stables, Zoe meets Raven, a black horse that nobody can handle. To everyone’s surprise, he calms down with her. That bond drives the series: where does Raven come from, and why does he trust Zoe?
The series mixes several threads: riding (show jumping, dressage, cross-country), a family mystery (who owns Raven, and why does he react to Zoe this way?), teen friendship with the other girls at the yard, and first romances.
Main characters and cast
A handful of characters carry the show:
- Zoe Phillips (Jaylen Barron): the American heroine, brave and sensitive, with a natural gift with horses. She falls for riding over the seasons.
- Mia MacDonald (Céline Buckens): an experienced rider at the yard, first Zoe’s rival, later a friend.
- Becky Sidebottom (Kerry Ingram): Zoe’s loyal friend, funny and easygoing.
- Pin Hawthorne (Freddy Carter): the stable boy, who seems to know more about Raven and the island’s secrets than he says.
- Marcus Greenbridge (Bruce Herbelin-Earle): a rider from a wealthy family and part of the love story.
- Raven: the black horse at the center of everything. Several trained horses share the role on set.
Free Rein seasons at a glance
The series has 3 seasons released between 2017 and 2019, plus two specials, for 32 episodes in total.
Season 1 (2017)
Released June 23, 2017. 10 episodes that set up the story: Zoe’s arrival on Bright Island, her first meeting with Raven, the first shows, friendships and rivalries. The mystery of Raven’s owner unfolds step by step and gets a partial answer at the end of the season.
Season 2 (2018)
Released July 6, 2018. 10 episodes. The competitions get bigger, characters return, and a new threat hangs over Bright Field Stables. The tone turns more dramatic.
Season 3 (2019)
Released July 6, 2019. 10 episodes that close the story. Zoe faces a last big riding challenge, and the main storylines come to an end. This is the final season.
The two Free Rein specials
Between seasons, Netflix released two stand-alone specials:
- “Free Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas” (December 7, 2018): a Christmas episode with Zoe and her friends on Bright Island.
- “Free Rein: Valentine’s Day” (February 1, 2019): a Valentine’s special built around the group’s love stories.
Both work on their own: you do not need to have seen every season to enjoy them.
The riding in Free Rein: what is accurate and what is not
This is where a rider’s eye helps. What matches real stable life, and where does the script take liberties?
What rings true
- Daily care: grooming, picking out feet, tacking up with saddle, bridle and stirrup leathers are shown correctly in most episodes.
- The feel of an English yard: wooden stalls, tack room, sand arena, indoor school. The look matches an ordinary British riding stable.
- Respect for the horse: the series avoids scenes of rough handling. Work is shown as a partnership.
- The disciplines: show jumping, dressage and cross-country, the three phases of eventing, the Olympic horse sports.
What the script exaggerates
- Fast-track learning: Zoe starts with almost no experience and competes at a good level within weeks. In real life, reaching that level takes years of regular riding, the kind of progress that Pony Club tests in the UK or ratings in the US measure step by step.
- The “magic” bond with Raven: the horse that only trusts one person is a romantic cliché. A well-trained horse answers the aids of any competent rider.
- Falls and gallops without a helmet: some scenes skip the helmet for filming reasons. At a riding school or a show, a certified helmet is required (ASTM F1163 with SEI certification in the US, PAS 015, VG1 or ASTM in the UK).
- Teens at shows on their own: the series shows young riders competing with little adult help. At real shows, junior riders compete with a parent or trainer in charge.
If you ride every week, you will spot these gaps quickly. For the target audience, young beginners and non-riders, the show remains a warm introduction to the horse world without gross mistakes.
Where to watch Free Rein
The full series streams on Netflix (subscription required) in the US, the UK and most other countries, with:
- The original English version, with English subtitles available.
- Dubbed versions in many languages, French included.
The two specials are in the Netflix catalog too. As a Netflix original, the show has no free legal streaming option.
More horse shows for fans
If you liked Free Rein, these series are worth a look:
- Heartland (Canada, since 2007): a family and their ranch in Alberta, now past 17 seasons. More adult, more dramatic, beautifully filmed.
- Spirit Riding Free (Netflix, animation, from 2017): the animated series for younger kids, set in the world of the film Spirit.
- The Saddle Club (Australia, 2001 to 2009): three friends at a riding stable, a cult show for 2000s teens.
- Ride (2016): a young American rider joins a British riding school. Close to the Free Rein world.
Frequently asked questions
How many seasons of Free Rein are there?
The series has 3 seasons (2017, 2018, 2019) and 2 specials (Christmas 2018 and Valentine’s Day 2019), all on Netflix.
Will there be a Free Rein season 4?
No. Season 3 (2019) closed the story, and no follow-up has been announced.
How old is Zoe in Free Rein?
Zoe is 15 in season 1. Each season covers a few months, so she ages slowly over the three seasons.
What breed of horse plays Raven?
Raven is a black horse played by several trained horses, as is usual on film sets. The production has not published their breed, so be wary of sites that name one with certainty.
Is Bright Island a real place?
No, Bright Island is fictional. It is based on Anglesey, an island off North Wales, and the series was shot in North Wales and the North West of England.
Is Free Rein suitable for kids under 10?
Netflix lists it in its family catalog. The tone is gentle, the drama stays mild, and there is no violence. Some of the mystery and teen tension can feel heavy for the youngest viewers.
Can you learn to ride by watching Free Rein?
The series gives a good overall picture of the horse world: the yard, horse care, competitions. It does not teach technique. To learn, book lessons at a well-run riding school.
For young horse lovers
→ Choosing a riding school: what to check on an open day before you sign up: Riding club open days
→ First rides outside the arena: the mistakes beginners make on the trail: Trail riding for beginners
Sources
- Netflix catalog, title page Free Rein
- English-language Wikipedia, article Free Rein (cast and release dates)
- Lime Pictures, production company of the series
