By Maggie Beamguard
When it comes to iconic friendships, many come to mind: Frodo and Sam of the epic fantasy Lord of the Rings; Goose and Maverick of the action drama Top Gun; Buzz and Woody of Toy Story fame; Hans Solo and Chewy in Star Wars.
Joining that legion of legendary companions: Bruce and Mowgli of 7 Lakes Stables.
An 87-year-old retired research engineer, Bruce MacDonald and fellow retiree Mowgli, a Belgian draft horse, go together like peas and carrots.
Stables Director Jenn Wallace said the friendship first blossomed when the stables received a message from MacDonald stating: “I’m calling to see if Mowgli needs a friend.”
Wallace first mistook the message. She thought MacDonald was offering to procure another horse to be a buddy for Mowgli. What she learned, though, was that MacDonald was offering himself.
MacDonald read a profile about the new draft horse, who arrived at the stables in February. In his early teens, MacDonald worked on a dairy farm that had two horses just like Mowgli. He would ride them after work, bareback.
He had a soft spot for those draft horses, Wallace said, because they had not been treated well
“He has donated to draft horse rescues since then,” she said. “So when he saw this horse come in, he very much reminded him of the horses he helped as a child.”
MacDonald became a regular stables volunteer in March, coming every Monday and Tuesday morning and pitching in with general chores but always taking care of Mowgli — grooming him and spending time with him.
“They’ve developed a really nice bond,” said Wallace. “Mowgli had a tough life. He was an Amish horse so he had worked hard all his life. He wasn’t used to having a relationship with a human, he was used to being used by a human. So this was new for him. And so these two forged this really sweet bond.”
The stables are an asset to the community, according to MacDonald.
“Having those stables there is very good for everyone’s value of where they live in Seven Lakes,” he said. “If I were a little kid driving by with my mother and father, and I saw a place that had horses — wow — I would want to live there.
“I enjoy being around the horses because they’re nice people.”
A man seemingly drawn to a thrilling ride, MacDonald sold his motorcycle in August, an Indian Scout Sixty. He rode with the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), a voluntary honor guard that participates in funerals for members of the U.S. military and first responders. Now he rides the original kind of horsepower.
After months forging a relationship with Mowgli, MacDonald took his first ride with his new pal in early September. Wallace and stable helper Ann Litton facilitated MacDonald’s wishes for his first ride in over 70 years.
At 17 hands, or five feet, eight inches at the withers, Mowgli is a big boy.
“It’s hard to believe anything that big can move around,” MacDonald said.
Mowgli, who can be a little nervous, planted his hooves and took a deep breath. Wallace said you could see that Mowgli knew what he needed to do. “And he just did it. And it was so beautiful,” she said.
Once mounted on Mowgli, MacDonald repeated, “This is the best. This is just the best.”
Wallace describes the relationship between man and horse as “kind of magical.”
“He was ecstatic. You could tell he was just moved. And we were moved, because the horse anticipated his needs. The bonds they made on the ground translated to the saddle.”
It went so well, MacDonald has signed up for more riding lessons.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s a nice way to fill the time. I like being around the horses. Like I said, they are nice people.”
For a man in his eighties, he is excited to be a beginner.
“I’m learning how to do it right,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun especially since I get to learn it with Mowgli. We get along pretty well together.”
Of his special bond with Mowgli, he said he enjoys treating the horse nicely and thoughtfully and receiving Mowgli’s appreciation in return.
And that is what friends are for. As the song from The Jungle Book goes, “We’re friends of every creature comin’ down the pike. In fact we never met an animal we didn’t like … Friends in need are friends indeed.”
Wallace said there are opportunities to befriend the horses for anyone who lives in Seven Lakes North and South.
“It’s their barn,” she said. “Come up and enjoy it. We’ve got home school and after-school lessons, volunteer opportunities, stables club, drill team and service projects. There is always something going on up there.” Even if someone wants to come sit with a horse, they can facilitate that.
“We’ve got kind of a beautiful barn,” said Wallace of the stables, whose youngest participant is five and whose oldest participants are in their ninth decade of life. “Everyone is sharing their gifts and skills and their stages of life. It’s a really cool atmosphere. It’s very heartwarming.”
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
