Free Rein

A 15-year-old from LA spends the summer at her mom's childhood home on an island off the coast of England, where she bonds with a mysterious horse.

Free Rein (2017-2019) is a British family fantasy series created by Kirstie Falkous, Anna McCleery and Vicki Lutas and distributed on Netflix. Jaylen Barron plays Zoe, a fifteen-year-old from Los Angeles who spends a summer at her mother's childhood home on an island off the coast of England. There she bonds with a mysterious horse, and the ties to the island and its community draw her deeper into local life. Céline Buckens and Freddy Carter appear among the principal young cast alongside Manpreet Bambra, Carla Woodcock and Kerry Ingram, and the friendships and rivalries among the local teens give each episode its shape. The engine of the series is a stranger finding her footing, with the animal as both companion and a source of quiet mystery. Across three seasons of ten episodes each, the show moves between stable-yard routines, riding lessons, and small island dramas. Its tone is gentle, warm and wholesome, with hints of the uncanny around the horse. Set in a present-day English coastal community, it suits viewers who enjoy family-friendly animal stories in the vein of Black Beauty and H2O: Just Add Water.

Viewers found the warm, horse-centred family drama charming, with mixed overall reception and strongest praise for the early seasons.

• Black Beautygentle family fantasy with a mysterious animal bond and coming-of-age warmth
• H2O: Just Add Wateryoung protagonist, rural island setting, magical animal connection, family-friendly tone
• Heartbeatfamily drama with a teen heroine, British coastal setting, and wholesome emotional arc

Created by

Kirstie Falkous, Anna McCleery, Vicki Lutas

Release Date

2017-06-22

Episode runtime

26 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (219)

What is Free Rein about?

A Los Angeles teenager spends a summer on an English island where she bonds with a mysterious horse.

What is Free Rein like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Free Rein as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Free Rein violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Free Rein.

What did critics think of Free Rein?

Viewers found the warm, horse-centred family drama charming, with mixed overall reception and strongest praise for the early seasons.

Which shows are like Free Rein?

Shows with a similar feel include Black Beauty, H2O: Just Add Water, and Heartbeat.

How long is Free Rein?

Free Rein: 3 seasons, 30 episodes.

Is Free Rein still running?

No, Free Rein was canceled.

Where can I watch Free Rein?

In United States, Free Rein streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.