Heartland: Season 1, Part 1

Lauren Brooke's Heartland series of young adult novels bear the tagline “healing horses, healing hearts,” which offers an accurate blueprint for this seven-episode compilation from the 2007 debut season: in helping the four-legged creatures, the characters here learn to help themselves. Set in the fictional town of Hudson and filmed in Alberta (the books take place in Virginia), this CBC adaptation opens with a tragic accident—involving the rescue of an abused horse named Spartan—that takes the life of the mother of 15-year-old Amy (Amber Marshall). While Amy, whose father left years ago, struggles to rebound, her grandfather Jack (Shaun Johnston) and older sister Lou (Michelle Morgan) try to save the Heartland ranch with the assistance of pre-teen neighbor Mallory (Jessica Amlee) and new hired hand Ty (Graham Wardle), who's on probation for an unspecified crime. Disagreements run rampant until the core trio come up with a plan: Jack will run the ranch, Amy will train the horses, and Lou will handle business affairs. At first the better-funded Briar Ridge attracts the bulk of Hudson's equestrian business, but the locals ultimately return to Heartland, drawn by reports that Amy shares her mother's acclaimed way with horses. Nonetheless, further challenges lie ahead in the form of Ashley (Cindy Busby), a conceited competitor; the reappearance of Amy's father Tim (Chris Potter), who claims to be a changed man; and some rather ornery clients. DVD extras include five behind-the-scenes featurettes. Recommended. [Note: Heartland: Season 1, Part 2 is also newly available.] (K. Fennessy)