Tears, hope, and a goodbye fans aren’t ready for. 💔

After 20 seasons, beloved Canadian drama Heartland appears to be heading toward an emotional final chapter. The new trailer shows Amy Fleming beginning a new life with Nathan Pryce — and a touching moment that hints at a new generation continuing the family legacy.

For longtime viewers, it feels like the story may be coming full circle… and many fans are already saying they’re not ready to say goodbye. 👇

Heartland: how the wholesome Canadian horse drama spurred me to grab life by the reins Amy Fleming (played by Amber Marshall) in the TV series Heartland

 Alberta mountainscape. The setting is like a beloved character, the Heartland ranch a sprawling property with woodlands and streams.

Watching Amy “join up” in the round pen with a troubled horse, her cowboy hat in place, spoke to my own latent desire to escape the hustle and bustle of full-time city office work and immerse myself in nature.

Or it may have been the romantic depiction of the horse-human bond. Amy’s personal horse, Spartan, is a rescue who she saves with her mother before her mother’s fatal car accident. Amy deals with her grief by bonding with Spartan, turning him from a wild, dangerous, abused animal into a champion showjumper. The plotline may be dubious (I’ve seen many a troubled horse rehabbed and they rarely go on to successful competitive careers), but I still yearned for the bond the pair shared.

When I started watching Heartland I was taking lessons at a riding school. But when I bought my first horse, she was a handful and a half, and part of my perseverance through the falls, broken bones and knocks to my confidence was a result of channelling Amy Fleming.

Amy and Logan, played by Drew Davis, in season 17 of Heartland
Amy and Logan, played by Drew Davis, in season 17 of Heartland. Photograph: David Brown/CBC

I bought my second horse when she was a six-month-old filly. She was wary of strangers and, due to a fear of being touched on the face, it took me three months to get a halter on her. Once again, I asked myself WWAD (what would Amy do?) and educated myself in natural horsemanship techniques to introduce the filly to being touched all over her face and ears. She’s now almost three, about to start being worked under saddle and adores face pats.

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And when my third horse suffered a mystery illness and I was uncertain over whether he was going to live, I rewatched episodes of Heartland where Spartan is in hospital and Amy has to decide whether to pursue surgery or let him be euthanised. My guy pulled through and we now have a diagnosis and a treatment plan. Amy’s relatable struggles helped me through the stress of it all.

Even if you’re not horsey, there’s a lot to love about a family drama that is super PG, has an array of sweet characters and features slow shots panning over sun-kissed fields. Do yourself a favour and give it a stream – but don’t complain to me if you end up Googling “horse riding for beginners”. I have warned you.