'I'm an old-fashioned cowboy.' Meet Heartland's longtime stunt coordinator
Tom Eirikson has been with Heartland since the beginning and has even appeared as a character on screen
For 18 seasons, the TV series Heartland has captured the hearts of fans around the world with its moving stories about the Bartlett-Fleming family and their life on an Alberta horse ranch.
Many of the iconic moments in the series have featured incredible stunts involving horses. Heartland's talented production team brings those scenes to life under the guidance of their stunt coordinator, Tom Eirikson.
Eirikson is a real-life cowboy who spent over a decade competing in rodeo events like Tie Down Roping, Saddle Bronc and Steer Wrestling before he turned to the movie business. He was inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2003 for his work.
"Heartland has been a very interesting show to work on because of the variety of stunts mainly to do with horses," says Eirikson, "I've had the wonderful experience of having my two boys Wyatt and Sawyer be stunt performers through the years.
Watch | Tom Eirikson works on the set of Heartland on a carriage racing stunt
He lives In Okotoks, Alberta with his three sons who are all active rodeo competitors themselves. "Working with animals is such a career-building character for anybody, especially young kids, says Eirikson, "it teaches them respect, trust and responsibility."
In Season 3, he was offered the online role of McDuff, a cowboy who trained horses and competed in challenges. "It's always fun to be in front of the camera," remembers Eirikson, "but remembering lines and the dialogue was challenging."
Watch | Eirikson appears in Season 3 of Heartland
Eirikson says he's been lucky enough to work with several exceptional horses over the years but his favourite was Cowgirl. She was a broodmare who raised several nice colts that he used for rodeo and on set at Heartland.
He considers himself an "old-fashioned cowboy" with a genuine love for horses.
"The best advice I could give to somebody that doesn't have easy access to a horse is to try to go to a horse establishment and take riding lessons or have a horse that you can board at a facility. They can be your best friend."
Watch Heartland on CBC Gem.
