Gary McLaren – Western Riding Coach                                    "our Ol' Timer"

 

G ary's knowledge and know how as it applies to western horseback riding is vast - he has many years experience horse training and rider coaching.  The Tombstone Tack Shop riding program is fortunate to have him join our team.

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I started and trained the mare in this photo in 2010.

 

I started riding September 1952 in Arnprior - getting close to 72 years. My first horse was terrible almost enough to make you quit. I never got hurt on him but I seen a lot of country I didn't want to see.

 

Second horse first training job 1954. An untouched standard bred stallion he was 2 and had never seen a halter. I traded for him the day I got him I rode him no buck no run away made him into a race horse sold him for big money.

 

Although I was young I had good success with every horse I rode. I stayed at it through the 50's .

 

In 62 I joined the RCAF. FIRST posting was in Ottawa, so I was home often to help my dad who  was now in the horse business, then I transferred to Goose Bay Labrador. I was home a lot and  helped Dad train race horses.

 

In ,1967 I got my dream transfer to Comox BC. Within A very short time I knew all the horse guys. I started calf roping then and started accumulating horses my idea has always been "you got to ride a lot to be good"  & I wanted to be a good trainer. I had my own facility stable round pen &  arena that my friends wife and family helped to build. I bought sale horses retrained and fed them to make good horses.

 

I rode every night until I couldn't see .

 

Made some money made some nice horses. In 1975 we divorced I lost every thing except my children stayed riding for others.

 

1978 returned home, bought a horse one night in a bar and I never slowed down until last year.

 

Now I am retired at 81 with 70 + years of experience and excited to be given the chance to help others .

 

My long time friend Lee Bandy was looking for a teacher - I applied.

l am not a horse whisper but what I do works or we try again.

My moto RIDE JUST RIDE.

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