Roshni Edwards
Priya
Overview
In a small Western town a young girl from the city forms a tight bond with wild horse Spirit while having adventures with her friends.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 2 seasons
- Episodes
- 16 episodes
- First aired
- Mar 20, 2020
Cast
6 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Quiet Rebellion of Growing Up
I remember the first time I left home—not for college, not for a job, but for a summer camp where I knew no one. The train ride felt endless, the landscape blurring into something unfamiliar. That same mix of excitement and dread hums through Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy, a show that understands something fundamental about childhood: growing up isn’t just about getting older; it’s about learning to carry your past with you while stepping into something new.
The series picks up where Spirit Riding Free left off, following Lucky Prescott, Pru Granger, and Abigail Stone—the PALs—as they trade their small-town roots in Miradero for the hallowed halls of Palomino Bluffs Riding Academy. It’s a classic coming-of-age setup, but what makes Riding Academy special is how it refuses to rush the discomfort of that transition. The show lingers on the awkwardness of new friendships, the sting of missing home, and the quiet panic of realizing that the rules you’ve always known no longer apply.
There’s no villain here, no grand adventure to distract from the real work of growing up. Just three girls, their horses, and the slow, sometimes painful process of figuring out who they are when no one’s watching.
The show’s greatest strength is its willingness to sit with uncertainty. In one early episode, Lucky—ever the impulsive one—tries to force a connection with a group of popular girls by mimicking their behavior, only to realize she’s betraying her own instincts. The moment isn’t played for laughs or wrapped up in a neat lesson.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A charming continuation of the Spirit series with engaging animation and relatable themes for young viewers, though some find it repetitive."
Viewers appreciate the show’s vibrant animation and the focus on friendship and adventure, which resonate well with its target audience of younger children. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, some note that the storylines can feel predictable or overly familiar to fans of the original *Spirit Riding Free* series, lacking the freshness of earlier seasons.
What viewers praise
- Engaging animation The colorful and dynamic animation style is frequently praised for its appeal to young audiences.
- Relatable themes Friendship, teamwork, and perseverance are highlighted as strong points that resonate with children.
- Familiar cast The return of beloved characters and voice actors is well-received by fans of the original series.
Common complaints
- Predictable plots Some viewers feel the storylines follow a formulaic pattern, making episodes feel repetitive.
- Limited depth The show is seen as lacking complexity, which may not engage older viewers or those seeking more nuanced storytelling.
Recommended for
Young animation fans Spirit Riding Free enthusiasts Kids who love adventure stories Fans of horse-themed shows
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy—The Low-Key Drama Behind the Scenes
Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy (2020) arrived as a spin-off of the beloved Spirit Riding Free series, trading the open frontier for the structured world of a prestigious equestrian school. latestnetflix.com's view is that while the show kept its core cast—Roshni Edwards, Duncan Joiner, Georgia Dolenz, Amber Frank, Bailey Gambertoglio, and Sydney Park—the shift in setting brought new challenges, Easter eggs, and a few behind-the-scenes quirks worth digging into.
A Fresh Setting, Familiar Faces
The Riding Academy arc marked a bold pivot for the franchise. After years of wild adventures with Spirit and the PALs (Lucky, Pru, and Abigail), the series transplanted its characters into the halls of Miradero’s elite equestrian academy. The move wasn’t just a narrative twist—it reflected a deliberate effort to modernize the show’s appeal. According to the French review site SensCritique, the series retained its signature blend of youth-friendly animation, action, and adventure, but with a sharper focus on teamwork and competition 
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv-dDq2xj6g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FV3cUmzTPU
What didn’t change? The core cast. The original voice actors reprised their roles, ensuring continuity for longtime fans. However, the academy setting introduced new dynamics, including rivalries, mentorship, and the pressures of structured training—elements that gave the show a Glee-meets-Heartland vibe. Netflix’s trailers for Riding Academy leaned hard into this shift, teasing "Part 1" and "Part 2" arcs with dramatic flair .
Easter Eggs and Hidden Gems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDLJ9scaM1I
For eagle-eyed fans, Riding Academy was a treasure trove of callbacks and inside jokes. A YouTube deep dive highlighted five hidden Easter eggs, including nods to the original Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron film and recurring gags from earlier Spirit Riding Free seasons . One standout detail? The academy’s uniforms and decor subtly mirrored the aesthetic of the 2002 movie, reinforcing the franchise’s lore.
The show also played with meta-humor. In one scene, characters reference a fictional "Riding Academy" book—a cheeky wink to Norman Thelwell’s real-life satirical cartoon collection of the same name . Whether this was a deliberate joke or a coincidence remains unclear, but it added a layer of charm for older viewers.
Fan Reactions: Love It or Leave It?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPHOX2NxGmU
Not all fans were on board with the academy shift. A YouTube rant video titled "Spirit Riding Free: RANT" criticized the new setting as too formulaic, arguing it stripped away the series’ adventurous spirit (pun intended) . Others, however, praised the show for maturing alongside its audience, with Riding Academy introducing more complex themes like ambition, failure, and friendship under pressure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti-9zAZq7WA
Netflix’s own promotional clips, like the "Parents Weekend" episode teaser, leaned into the drama, showcasing high-stakes competitions and emotional confrontations . The mixed reception suggests Riding Academy walked a tightrope between nostalgia and innovation—a gamble that paid off for some, but left others longing for the wild frontier.
The Unanswered Questions
Despite the buzz, details about the show’s production remain scarce. Unlike its predecessor, Riding Academy didn’t generate the same volume of behind-the-scenes content. No interviews with the cast or creators surfaced in the available evidence, leaving key questions unanswered:
- Was the academy setting a response to fan demand, or a creative pivot by the show’s writers?
- Did the voice cast record together, or were sessions remote (a common post-2020 practice)?
- Why did the series seemingly fade from the spotlight after Riding Academy?
For now, these remain rumors—unconfirmed but tantalizing for fans craving more.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.