Lion Forge Acquires Rights to Beyond the Paddock

Lion Forge Entertainment has acquired the rights to Beyond the Paddock, the debut novel from Kimberly Ann Harrison (Washington Black) for a YA series adaptation.

The story follows the lives of two teenagers from the Los Angeles foster care system who are forced to relocate to Lexington, Kentucky, where they turn their love for street racing into a passion for competitive horse riding. Harrison, who will serve as showrunner and executive producer, was inspired to write the novel after watching her sons compete in English equestrian showjumping.

“When I first read Beyond the Paddock, it hit close to home for me,” said David Steward II, founder and CEO of Lion Forge. “My son rides, and over the years, the equestrian world has become a big part of our family’s life. We’ve spent countless hours around barns, competitions and that incredible community, so I immediately recognized how authentic Kimberly’s story feels. What she’s written isn’t just about the sport. It’s about belonging, discipline and young people discovering who they are. That’s what made us fall in love with this project and why we’re so excited to bring it to television.”

“From the moment we read the novel, we saw incredible potential for a series that feels both grounded and aspirational,” added Stephanie Sperber, president and chief creative officer at Lion Forge. “The story captures the thrill of discovering a passion while navigating the complexities of growing up, the discovery of an entirely new culture, first loves, victories and defeats, and Kimberly’s voice brings authenticity and emotional depth to these characters.”

Harrison commented, “Being able to share an equestrian story from such a unique perspective is both fulfilling and empowering for so many people. I’m grateful to be partnering with Lion Forge to bring this heartfelt story to life. Their team has been incredibly collaborative and truly aligned with the vision I set out to achieve with this project.”