Amber Marshall: Horse Girl Who Lives the Dream

For over 15 years, Amber Marshall has been a familiar and one of the most beloved face on Canadian television. As Amy Fleming in the popular CBC series Heartland, she’s shown us how to train wild horses, navigate family challenges, and find strength in quiet resilience.

But while the show has earned millions of fans from Alberta to Australia, it's Amber’s story that goes beyond the screen. She's not just playing a horse girl – she is one. Want to learn more about how Amy Fleming has grown over the seasons?, explore her character journey here.

A Lightning Storm and a Crash that changed everything

Amy’s journey started with a devastating event: a crash that changed everything.

In the very first episode of Heartland, viewers are immediately thrown into a tense rescue attempt. Amy and her mother, Marion, are trying to save an abused horse named Spartan during a thunderstorm, but their truck crashes. Amy wakes up in the hospital, and tragically, her mother doesn’t survive. Spartan did.

This loss becomes the foundation for Amy’s healing process – both her own and the horses’ – and it’s the emotional core that has made Heartland so captivating.

"I knew I was home" - The Role She Was Born to Play

A Role She Was Destined For
Amber grew up in London, Ontario, surrounded by horses and helping out at a local veterinary clinic. By the age of 12, she had a talent agent, and by 14, she landed a role in a made-for-TV movie. But it wasn’t until her late teens, after countless auditions and rejections, that she finally landed her dream role.

She almost missed out.

“I was filming another show and completely forgot about the Heartland audition,” she recalls. “But my agent called and urged me to record something. All I had was a VHS tape – it was grainy and slow. But once they saw it, they knew they had found the right person.”

It was a perfect fit. She already owned horses. She already knew the life. And she was exactly what the producers had been searching for: real, unaffected, and horse-smart. What followed was years of emotional storytelling, especially in Amy’s relationship with Ty Borden—a fan-favorite couple that still touches hearts today.

It was a perfect fit. Amber already loved horses, knew the lifestyle, and embodied the authentic, down-to-earth qualities the producers were looking for. Over the years, she’s brought emotional depth to the show, particularly through Amy’s enduring relationship with Ty Borden – a couple many fans adore.

The Language of Horses

Why horses understand more than we think
Amber’s life off-screen isn’t all that different from her character Amy Fleming. She lives on a ranch near Calgary with her husband, Shawn Turner, and a whole host of animals – horses, cows, dogs, and chickens.

“When I’m home, I just want to sit on a fence and watch my animals graze,” she says. “I don’t really want to act.”

Beyond the show, Amber has also built a successful lifestyle magazine, a merchandise line, and a strong online community focused on genuine connection rather than celebrity.

“People started asking about apparel and jewelry, and it grew from there. But I’ve kept things local – Canadian-made, small-batch. It’s about heart, not profit.”

“We Don’t Whisper. We Listen.”

Amber prefers to describe her approach to horses not as “whispering,” but as listening.

“You don’t whisper to horses. You earn their trust. Every horse is unique, just like every person.”

The show’s emotional reach has surprised her.

She’s been surprised by the show’s impact on viewers. “I’ve heard from people going through difficult times – cancer treatment, grief, trauma – who say Heartland has helped them. It’s something I never imagined when I started acting.”

Bullies, Barns, and Becoming

Amber’s own teenage years weren’t always easy. She faced bullying and felt like an outsider. But the barn was always a place of comfort and grounding.

“I’d spend hours at the barn after school. It really helped me. The animals needed me, and I needed them.”

She knows not every kid has access to riding lessons—but she also knows that a connection with animals can be life-changing.

She knows that not everyone has access to riding lessons, but she believes in the life-changing power of animals. “You can often trade time spent mucking stalls for lessons. You can help at a barn. Horses have a way of helping you find your footing.”

Not Everyone Stays

Heartland has been on television for more than 15 seasons, and while cast members have come and gone, Amber remains a constant. The departure of Ty Borden (played by Graham Wardle) shocked fans. Amber acknowledges that some actors seek different paths.

“Some actors don’t want the lifestyle – the long days in Alberta, being away from the city. I get that. But for me? This is what I dreamed of.”

"I still love it every day"
She isn’t interested in fame or action roles. She never sought celebrity. In fact, she didn't even own a television until her husband insisted!

“I don’t need a flashy career. I’ve already got the one I wanted.”

And for millions of viewers around the world, Amber Marshall isn’t just Amy Fleming.
She is Heartland.