horse tv series on netflix

Ever sat down after a blustery hack across the South Downs, boots still muddy, tea steaming, and thought: “Right. I love horses. I love telly. Why’s 90% of ‘equestrian content’ written by someone who thinks a martingale’s a type of pasta?” We’ve been there, love. But hold fast—Netflix *has* stepped up. Not all of it’s spot-on (looking at you, that one show where the ‘dressage horse’ jumps a 5ft oxer *in full tailcoat*), but buried in the algorithm’s hayloft are gems that’ll make you snort your PG Tips with recognition. Whether you’re after tear-jerking realism, high-stakes competition, or just a handsome chestnut cantering in slow-mo across misty moorland—there’s a horse tv series on Netflix for that mood. Let’s saddle up and sort the *Thoroughbreds* from the *donkeys*.

First things first: the big hitter—the one everyone’s nattering about down the yard—is Heartland. Yes, it’s Canadian. Yes, it’s been running since 2007 (21 seasons and counting!). And yes, it’s *still* on Netflix UK as of November 2025—and no, it hasn’t jumped the fence into absurdity (yet). Set on a family-run equine therapy ranch in Alberta, it follows Amy Fleming and her knack for ‘natural horsemanship’—think feel-not-force, rehabbing traumatised horses and humans alike. The show nails the *rhythm* of stable life: mucking out at dawn, tack repairs with duct tape, that one pony who *always* escapes. Real talk? Some episodes lean into melodrama like a cob leaning into a nosebag—but the horsemanship? Surprisingly sound. For a horse tv series on Netflix, it’s the reliable old gelding in the field: not flashy, but steady, kind, and always there when you need him.

Fancy something *British*? Enter Free Rein—a YA gem filmed on the rugged coasts of Cornwall, where city girl Zoe (played by Jaylen Barron) is shipped off to her estranged gran’s yard for the summer. Cue: culture shock, a rebellious mare named Raven, forbidden beach gallops, and a brooding local lad who *definitely* knows how to plait a tail. What makes this horse tv series on Netflix stand out? Authenticity. The horses—especially Raven—are *real*. No stunt doubles for the liberty work. No CGI for the jump faults. One scene where Zoe quietly removes a stone from Raven’s hoof before a competition? *Chef’s kiss*. Even the tack’s correct (yes, we checked the girth buckles). It ran for three seasons, wrapped up neatly—and still holds a 7.8 on IMDb. Perfect for teens, but honestly? We proper adults wept at the series finale. Twice.

Right, let’s get serious for a mo’. Fancy swapping scripted gallops for *real* hoofbeats? Netflix’s got a handful of equine docs that’ll leave you equal parts inspired and reaching for the tissues. Top of the list: The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses—a stunning, cinematic love letter to the wild herds of the American West, narrated by Robert Redford (voice like warm brandy). Then there’s Seaspiracy… just kidding. But Rising Phoenix (Paralympic documentary) features equestrian Bebe Vio—and while not *horse-focused*, her grit’ll have you rethinking your warm-up routine. For pure UK relevance? Try Wild Horses: The Real Spirit of the West—yes, it’s American, but the Dartmoor parallels? Uncanny. These aren’t just add-ons to the horse tv series on Netflix catalogue—they’re the *bedrock*. Proof that truth, grit, and a well-angled slow-mo buck genuinely beat CGI every time.

Ah, the eternal mix-up. No, Slow Horses—Gary Oldman’s grumpy MI5 outcasts, dripping with dry wit and bureaucratic despair—is *not* about equines. ‘Slow Horses’ is slang for agents who’ve flunked out and been banished to Slough House (think: the Met’s naughty step, but with more whisky and existential dread). Zero stables. Zero hay. One *very* sarcastic tortoiseshell cat. That said? If you love tension, clever dialogue, and Oldman looking like he’s smelled gone-off marmalade for 12 episodes straight—it’s *excellent* telly. Just don’t queue it up expecting dressage tests. This ain’t that kind of horse tv series on Netflix. Unless, of course, you count metaphorical workhorses… and let’s be honest—we all do.

Fancy something *off the beaten bridlepath*? Dig into:

• H2O: Just Add Water (yes, mermaids—but one arc features a rescued beach pony named Storm, handled with surprising sensitivity)
• The Letter for the King—medieval fantasy with *actual* horse travel (no teleporting steeds!), proper tack, and a white stallion named Sorrow who deserves his own spin-off
• Grand Army—US teen drama, but one subplot follows a Black equestrian navigating elite showjumping circuits. Rare. Raw. Vital.

We’ve compiled our ‘yard rules’ for believable equestrian telly. A top-tier horse tv series on Netflix must pass *at least* four of these:

Bonus points for: correct hoof-pick direction, audible saddle creak, and a pony who *steals* someone’s sandwich. Heartland nails 5/5. *Free Rein*? 4.5 (lost half a point for *one* overly clean tail after beach gallop—come on, sand sticks!).

Let’s be real: most long-runners end up like a 30-year-old schoolmaster—well-meaning, but repeating the same stories. Not Heartland. Why? Three things:

• Continuity: Amy’s mare Spartan ages *with* her—grey hairs, stiffer joints, retirement arc. Respect.
• Consultants: Real horse behaviourists on set. No ‘horse whispering’ nonsense—just patience, pressure/release, and oats.
• No glamour over grit: Episode 12, S17? Entire plot revolves around repairing a broken water pump before the horses go thirsty. *Yes.*

Netflix’s in talks for a UK-set reboot of *National Velvet*—rumour has Florence Pugh producing, with equestrian choreography by Charlotte Dujardin’s team. Then there’s Wildfire (not the 2000s US show)—a gritty drama about a Welsh mountain rescue unit and their hardy cobs. Filming starts spring ‘26 in Snowdonia. Budget? £12M. Casting call for “horses with personality and *actual* mountain experience”. *Finally*. These upcoming titles could redefine what a horse tv series on Netflix *means*—moving beyond therapy ranches into grit, geography, and gallops where the weather’s as much a character as the humans.

Overwhelmed? Here’s our *foolproof* starter guide:

• 🪴 New to horses? → *Free Rein* S1 (light, joyful, *British*)
• 🐎 Seasoned yard rat? → *Heartland* S10+ (complex rehab cases, ethical debates)
• 🎬 Cinematic soul? → *The Mustangs* doc (stunning, haunting, 87 mins)
• 🚫 Avoid if: You can’t stomach slow pacing, emotional gut-punches, or horses *not* wearing glitter browbands.

References

• https://www.netflix.com/title/70143842
• https://www.netflix.com/title/80117715
• https://www.netflix.com/title/81040345
• https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/best-horse-movies-tv-shows