The Tale of Two Laddies

The Tale of Two Laddies by: Robert J. McLardie Bob McLardie has worked for over thirty years with countless horses and their owners to repair relationships, calm fears, nurture and protect and above all else bring owners to a new understanding of their horses. He brings to you "The Cornerstone Approach - A Revolution in Horsemanship". The Tale of Two Laddies is a story about the challenges and obstacles that every human being and creature face throughout life and living. The two laddies in my life brought me to a greater understanding and depth of the words "never give up". As a horse trainer, coach and farrier, I have had the opportunity to meet many great people and horses. I first met Laddie while I was working on a little Arab at a 450 acre ranch in Northern B.C. There was another horse on the ranch named Laddie. He was a 10 year old appaloosa gelding and he had been running wild for 8 years on the ranch. Apparently as a 2 year old Laddie had been tied to what someone had thought was a secure object but Laddie had managed to pull and drag that object. The result was a broken halter and Laddie running off. For the next 8 years Laddie had no human contact, therefore no halter on, hooves not trimmed, unlimited feeding with the cattle and unlimited pasture which led to him being severely foundered. I learned later that Laddie had been put into a log corral and in trying to catch him that Laddie had reared up and dropped his body on the top log and it broke. Laddie was then able to scramble over the logs and was free again. I asked the owner if I could take on the challenge of repairing Laddie's foundered feet as well as training him to be ridden with the objective of saving his life and finding him a new home. Laddie was so sore that at times he would lie down and eat by pulling himself in a circle to eat the grass where he was laying. I was surprised that he had not been attacked and killed by the large pack of wolves that were known to travel and take calves from this ranch. An agreement was made between the owner and I for me to pick up Laddie on a Sunday afternoon. I thought the owner would have him in a corral or fenced area waiting for us. When my son and I arrived he was welding some farm equipment and I asked him where Laddie was, he pointed to the large whit butt that could be seen over the rise on the distant hillside. Although disappointed, I thought that catching Laddie would not pose a great challenge I told my son it wouldn't take long! After all Laddie had sore feet. We set off with a lead rope and halter in hand. Unknown to me was Laddie's in-depth knowledge of this 450 acres and his great desire not to be caught! Laddie knew every nook and cranny, every cow trail into the bush and pasture, and all the ways to evade capture. He would hide behind groups of cows and calves and as we got close he would scatter the cows. He would hide in small groves of trees, deadfall, brush and brambles. Laddie seemed just like a moose, he was that comfortable in the wilderness. It was hard to imagine that with his feet in such bad condition that he could continue to walk. After 2