Carole fears her friends have forgotten her birthday amidst the excitement of a valuable show horse arriving at Pine Hollow. When the horse, Hugo, escapes, Carole, Stevie and Lisa find him, and then unveil Carole’s surprise party. Hugo’s owner, French dressage champion Dorothée Doutey, who fell months ago and shattered both her pelvis and self-confidence, becomes the girls’ riding instructor and learns lessons that heal her emotional wounds. ”The girls of The Saddle Club … have all become breakout stars,” Mariakay Chakos of Sue Procko Public Relations told TDmonthly. “The series has also been hailed by animal rights groups for its treatment and handling of the horses that play such an important part of the show’s success.” Launch date: August 7, 2007.