Barbie Riding Club

by Mattel

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000JLQX
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: September 30, 1998
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,502 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"

Kids feel like they are really riding a horse in this new addition to the Barbie CDs. Not only is it the best horseback riding simulation available to children, but it's also the best of the Barbie titles released so far. After signing in at the Riding Club, kids pick one of four horses who are waiting in the stables. After choosing names for their horses, children can head out to the trails, or stay and feed, groom and saddle their ponies. The program includes some nice options that keep things interesting. A bulletin board in the stable posts Adventure Missions. Children may be asked to find a key or other object hidden somewhere on the trails, or to follow a series of clues that lead to a wild horse. Testers enjoyed the flower-sequencing and apple-sorting games but had trouble with a frog-hopping activity in which they must clear a path by jumping frogs over each other. The best part of the program is riding the horses. Using the mouse or keyboard, kids can easily ride fast or slow, stop, jump over objects and steer to the left and right. A map takes them directly to points of interest on the trails, or kids can ride at their own pace to their destinations. Once in a while, one of Barbie's riding buddies challenges children to race. Depending on how fast kids ride, they'll win a first or second place ribbon. Older children enjoyed going on the missions and the younger testers loved to ride and race their horses. The theme of a secret wild horse was very appealing to all, and kids were thrilled when they had a chance to spot it. Aside from wishing for a few more grooming options like mane and tail decor for their horses, testers ages three-to-eight loved the program and played it repeatedly.
Teaches: logic, memory, horses
Age Range: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Copyright © 2000 Children's Software Revue

Product Description

ages 5 and up, 1998

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Are you ready to saddle up with Barbie?, October 8, 2005

By 

Bonnie Sayers "autismfamily" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Barbie Riding Club (CD-ROM)

My son chose this CD-Rom when he was five years old. It's like riding a horse, only in your house.

I put the cd in the computer with eager eyes waiting and after filling out the forms to register we then were given the option to name a Horse. We chose the names from Black Beauty, a review to follow soon.

The horses are white, black and brown to choose from. They are in the stable waiting for the arrival of Barbie. You have the option of grooming your horse before a ride. Which makes lots of sense, horse sense, that is. You can click on carrots and/or apples for your horse to eat. Barbie talks during this and calls the horse by its name. The sounds are realistic too. My son likes the brushing part and does this over and over before we get to the next step.

Next you can put on a saddle and bridle and move (with the mouse) the Horse to outside the stable and opt for a race. Once the race starts it is quite exciting. I learned rather quickly that the horse will sit there when it comes to a lake, river, or tree branch or stump in the way. You must click on the mouse and your horse makes a sound and jumps over it. You really do get the feel for riding on a horse and must direct the horse, like one riding on an actual horse would do.

There are trails that you can take and one that rides right along the ocean and then the rocks are falling as well. There are forks in the road and you are given the choice of continuing on the ride or going back to the stable.

My five year old son has a hard time remembering to click when the horse needs to jump and I will find him sitting there waiting for something to happen. The age recommendation is five and up and it should be noted for those not knowing, my son is autistic and not at the age level mentally.

However, having a Mother who is an asthmatic allergic to horses and not knowing how his brother would react to Horses, we are starting with the CD and learning about Horses from the ground up.

There is a race option where Barbie races with Christie and Teresa and that is not as exciting for my son. I do enjoy that though. There is a section with ribbons, certificates and badges and you can print these out.

It comes with a very thorough User guide that goes into detail about the Horseback Ridiing Missions, a Frog Game, Apple Sorting Game and Vine tangle.

We have a nice horse icon on the computer and every time I sign on my son wants to know why the horse picture is there. He knows where the box is kept and when I am in another room, he slips the CD rom in and I find him racing away, usually waiting for a nudge from me at the jump section.

1.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunately, it wouldn't play for us on XP, January 21, 2011

By 

Lark (Eugene, OR) - See all my reviews

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barbie Riding Club (CD-ROM)

"Santa" bought this for my six year old daugher who is horse crazy. She was so excited to play it, but unfortunately, it crashed repeatedly on our Windows XP laptop, so we had to give it up. We've had good luck with other Barbie software, but not this one.

3.0 out of 5 stars Tried everything, doesn't work on Windows Vista, April 17, 2010

By 

S. Hardy (Crescent City, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barbie Riding Club (CD-ROM)

My 3 kids like this game, although they don't play it ALL the time. It is a nice break from the typical games they have. But I had to install it on my computer that has Windows XP. I tried it on my computer with Vista many different ways with the compatibility settings. Also searched online for a fix. Nothing is avalible that I could find. So don't get it if you have higher than XP is my recommendation. Thanks!