Saddle Up: Time to Ride

Saddle Up: Time to Ride is the fourth game in what is known in France as the Alexandra Ledermann series, horse racing/caring games endorsed by the French equestrian champion. In this edition, Aventures au Haras, players assume the role of the young girl Lucy who is appointed by Alexandra to become a part of her team. She needs to prove herself in six tests to win championships for the farm. Strange things have been happening to the horses however and Lucy needs to find out who is responsible.

Before being able to race, Lucy has to learn how to take care of the horses. She can train up to eight different horses and walk around on the domain to visit locations such as an office, different rooms and the stables, or talk to other characters, such as the team leader Mathieu, Mr. Gantois the local veterinarian, and Garance, a stuck up princess who is also part of the team. To get a horse in shape, it needs to be taken care of every day. This includes brushing, showering, petting, feeding, picking the hooves, shoeing, vetting, mucking the stall, and of course riding. These improve various statistics such as cleanliness, health, morale and endurance. Other characters also often interact with questions, challenges, or they ask to help with their horses.

For the riding aspect, there are two main disciplines: jumping and cross-country, each with different courses and tracks. The entire game is split up into eighteen days with different events and encounters. Players can design custom tournaments as well. There is also a number of puzzles to solve, based on items and riddles in the environment.