Amber Marshall on Heartland, Horses, and Building the Life She Loves

18 Years as Amy Fleming—and Counting

When Heartland premiered in 2007, Amber Marshall was just 19 years old. Now, after more than 13 years on the show—and seven years of marriage—she’s not only grown with her character, Amy Fleming, but built a deeply fulfilling life off-screen as well.

“Time flies when you’re doing what you love,” Amber shared as she looked back on her journey. Heartland has become one of Canada’s most beloved series, and for Amber, it’s more than just a job—it’s a second family.

A Family On and Off Screen

The cast of Heartland has always had a strong bond, but it’s the evolution of Amy’s character into motherhood that’s brought new joy to Amber’s time on set. She now acts alongside Ruby and Emmanuella Spencer—twin sisters who play Amy’s daughter, Lyndy.

“We’re so lucky to have them,” she said. “Their energy is so pure. They keep us all in the moment.”

It’s a kind of spontaneity that Amber says reminds her of working with horses. Both children and animals, she explained, require patience—and reward you with honesty. “You stop acting and just start living the moment,” she said.

The Horses That Shaped Her

Long before Heartland, Amber had already built a strong foundation with horses. That real-life knowledge translated seamlessly to her role as Amy, a young woman who heals troubled horses.

“I’d ridden both English and Western before the show, so it helped a lot,” Amber explained. “But horses don’t read scripts. You have to be present with them.”

Every equine actor is carefully chosen and prepared for filming, and over the years, hundreds have come through the Heartland ranch. Still, one holds a special place in Amber’s heart: Stormy, the horse who’s played Spartan since the beginning.

“We’ve spent a lot of long days together,” she said with a smile. “He’s something special.”

Life on the Ranch

Away from the cameras, Amber lives on a ranch in Alberta with her husband, Shawn. Their life is full—early mornings, barn chores, and quiet evenings spent watching their animals roam.

She wakes at 5am most days, checks on her animals, then heads to set. “We might film six to eight scenes a day,” she said. “Each one takes hours when you include rehearsals, blocking, and working with the animals.”

But even after long days of filming, Amber doesn’t unwind in the usual way. “I like to just sit and watch the animals interact,” she said. Their home is filled with creatures—horses, cows, chickens, dogs, cats, ducks, rabbits, and even an alpaca.

“When animals live naturally, with space and companionship, they thrive,” she said. It’s a belief that’s shaped how she lives her life—and how she’s stayed grounded through more than a decade of fame.

Counting Moments, Not Seasons

Amber doesn’t keep track of years or seasons. “I blink and another year has passed,” she said.

With Season 14 on the horizon (airing early 2021), she’s not slowing down. But more important than career milestones are the daily joys—the early mornings, the shared laughs on set, and the quiet bond between her and her animals.

That’s what she’s truly built: not just a career, but a life that feels whole. A life she loves.