I Loved Her on Heartland, But Learning About Alisha Newton' Horses Made Me Love Her More

Alisha Newton, who plays Georgie on Heartland, has been a hit with fans since she joined the CBC show in season six. It's been great seeing her character (and Alisha!) grow up on screen, from learning to Roman ride to getting into all kinds of trouble.

A Childhood Love for Horses

Alisha’s love for horses began in childhood. 'When I was little my grandma had a horse,' she recalls, 'so whenever I visited my grandparents, we would always go out to the barn and I would ride her horse (western). I think that was what sprouted my interest and love for horses.' This early exposure sparked a passion that led her to English riding lessons at around age 10.

Aflame: Alisha's Partner in the Arena

Her current equine partner is Aflame, a Dutch Warmblood Pinto Gelding. 'I bought him in June 2015, and I love him to bits,' Alisha says. 'He’s super sweet and puts up with a lot of love and snuggles.' Together, they've progressed to jumping 3ft in shows, with home schooling reaching 3’3-4ft. While their focus has been on jumpers, Aflame has a history of success in hunters. 'He is so calm and sweet. I can stand on him, and I’ve given several little kids riding lessons on him, and he’s done great. Aflame is just an all-around Steady Eddy.'

Career and Future Aspirations

On Heartland, the portrayal of horses is a collaborative effort. As Alisha explains, multiple horses play each character’s horse. 'For example, for Georgie’s horse Phoenix, there are about four different horses with different specialties that play him. There’s a jumper Phoenix, a trail riding Phoenix, a Roman riding Phoenix, etc.' When it comes to jumping scenes, Alisha enjoys riding Conamore, the horse that usually performs those stunts. 'He’s actually a pretty spicy boy. It’s really refreshing to see such a firecracker on set.'

Balancing a demanding acting schedule with her riding goals isn’t easy. 'During the filming season from May to December, I’m lucky if I get to ride three days a week and usually only get one to two lessons in,' she admits. Despite these limitations, Alisha and Aflame have made significant progress. 'Aflame and I are now jumping higher than what I ever expected to be able to do on him, so I’m really happy.'

One of Alisha's favorite scenes to film was the final scene of season eight, where Georgie interacts with Trouble. 'It was great to be part of the liberty work that was involved, and it was also an emotional scene. I love liberty, and I love doing the emotional scenes.'

Looking Ahead on Heartland, Alisha has her sights set on eventing. 'Three-day eventing is so intense and hardcore,' she says. 'Riders that compete in eventing are incredibly talented athletes.' She's even attended prestigious events like Rolex in Kentucky and has experience with cross-country schooling. This passion fuels her desire to see Georgie take on more equestrian challenges on Heartland. 'I personally would like to see Georgie doing some more shows and maybe competing in a few events or competing in a cross country derby like other characters have in previous seasons.'

For Alisha, working with horses is a continuous journey of learning. 'No matter how long you work with horses, you are always learning new things.'

A Message to the Fans

Finally, Alisha extends a heartfelt thank you to the Heartland fans: 'You are what keeps the show going, and I am very grateful for that. Please continue to watch so that we can keep the show going for another 10 years!'