Toronto’s GS New Media is developing a virtual world for The Saddle Club, an Australian/Canadian co-pro (Crawford/Protocol)live-action series based on the bestselling books by Bonnie Bryant which currently airs on Discovery Kids and pubnet TVO in Canada. The Saddle Club Rides Again! will premiere Tuesday, September 2 at 6 pm on TVOKids (also 6 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and 10:30 am on Saturday).

Shemi Levi, CEO and co-founder of GS New Media, says the plan is to ‘create a truly unique 3D world that will connect with millions of young fans of The Saddle Club TV series and horse lovers everywhere.’ The Saddle Club Virtual World prototype is expected to launch in September, with the full site launching in early 2009.

The Saddle Club is the world’s most popular book and television series targeting girls and boys who love horses. Virtual worlds for tweens and teens developed off the backs of established mainstream brands have been successful (think Webkinz), so watch for this virtual stable.

A version of this story appeared in Kidscreen Daily.