Parents' Guide to

Spirit Riding Free

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Courage, adventure, and a great role model in sweet series.

TV Netflix Kids' Animation 2017
Spirit Riding Free Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 68 parent reviews

Babies02
Babies02 Adult
November 13, 2020
age 6+

Wonderful

I have watched all the seasons really good
kristinanne
kristinanne Adult
February 7, 2021
age 12+

Great Preteen Show. Think of it as a new Lizzie McGuire.

This is definitely not for children under 10. I've watched this while babysitting younger children, and they're not able to comprehend and follow along the storyline other than appreciating the sense of adventure. I say it's like Lizzie McGuire, because the characters are the same age and the shows are for a similar target audience. I didn't like the show at first because the original Spirit movie was my favorite animation ever. After watching a few episodes, the characters grew on me. As the seasons progress, there is definitely an increased amount of lessons revolving around coming of age and changes. There is romance, there is loss, there is perseverance. It's definitely a different vibe from the original movie, but it has also be come a great show that I find enjoyable to watch even without children around.
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What's the Story?

When her dad's job with the railroad takes Lucky Prescott (voiced by Amber Frank) to the primitive western town of Miradaro, she's none too sure she will fit in. Caught between her Aunt Cora's (Kari Wahlgren) expectations that Lucky be raised a proper young lady and her own adventurous spirit that often stands in contradiction, she finds solace in the company of a headstrong wild stallion she names Spirit and soon befriends classmates Pru (Sydney Park) and Abigail (Bailey Gambertoglio). Together the three girls and their horses share adventures in the as yet untamed land of the American West.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (68 ):
Kids say (53 ):

Elder Spirit's legacy of courage and fortitude is alive and well in his offspring and in eager young Lucky, who together feel emboldened to take on the world. This sweet story of friendship doesn't quite match the original movie's powerful impact, but it presents a strong heroine in Lucky and lively stories that are both humorous and heartwarming. Besides the special connection between Lucky and Spirit, there's also much to like in the girls' relationship and in how they never let the pressure of their uppity classmate influence their own values.

Spirit Riding Free is mostly light on true villains, typically focusing on Lucky and her friends' relationship and adventures together. In cases where the show does introduce bad guys (and gals), it doesn't understate the danger they pose to the protagonists, and some exchanges and the lurking threats may frighten sensitive viewers. That said, the series does have similar themes that reflect the changing atmosphere of the 19th century American West as the railroad opened up the land to settlement, though usually without presenting a direct human impact.. Lucky and Spirit's struggles to adjust to their changing world can inspire discussions about courage and facing adversity.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what accounts for Lucky and Spirit's special connection. Which characteristics do they share? How does each one inspire the other even without being able to converse?

  • How do characters in this show demonstrate courage? Which other character strengths are important?

  • Who are Lucky's role models? How is she inspired by the memory of her mom? What is the value of having role models to emulate?

  • Were girls and boys treated differently in Lucky's time? How does Lucky deal with what's expected of her by her aunt vs. what she wants to do in life? Do you think this is an accurate example of what girlhood was like many years ago?

  • Are Lucky's adventures are always safe? She and her friends have a lot of freedom and sometimes get into scary situations. Do you think the consequences they face on the show would be the same in real life? Find more related discussion questions here.

TV Details

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