Scott Cardinal

Scott Cardinal is Heartland's veterinarian and close friend to the Fleming/Bartlett family.

Background
Scott has a long history with the Fleming/Bartlett family as one of Marion's "projects", having been where Ty is now as a troubled teen living in the barn loft. As teenagers, he and Lou had a huge crush on one another, which resurfaced once she returned home from New York when her mother died. But after some time dating, they broke up.

Season 1
We first see Scott attending Marion's funeral. Later, he's giving Jack an update on Spartan, and Scott thinks Spartan should overcome the physical injuries, but isn't so sure he'll overcome the trauma, so recommends putting him down. Ultimately, it's Jack's decision, so he helps Jack bring Spartan to Heartland. Scott goes by Heartland to check in and runs into Lou who opens up about how she feels about the business. (Coming Home) Scott goes over to Heartland to help Amy with Pegasus. He helps by going through some of Marion's journals to find some information to help Pegasus. He later dances with Lou and listens to her when she confesses she's disappointed that Tim didn't come to the open house. (Breaking Free) Scott brings Amy a horse to work with, a wild horse that needs to be gentled. Lou arrives and ropes him into helping with the video. He starts filming his part and is sweating with nerves. His acting is terrible and wooden and he insists he's bad and leaves. When Lou's finished filming and is feeling sorry for herself because she annoyed everyone, Scott takes her out. When they're talking at the bar they almost kiss until Lou asks for another drink. He drives her home when she confesses that she lost her job in New York and he tries to comfort her. (The Best Laid Plans) Lou is helping Scott de-worm the geese when a car pulls into Heartland and her boyfriend Carl steps out. As he's leaving he tells Amy that he'll try to find some information on Pirate. When he runs into Lou and Jack at Maggie's she invites him to dinner and to meet Carl but he makes an excuse of being at Sheep River. The next day Jack bumps into Scott at Maggie's and tries to invite him to dinner again but he declines. He gives Jack a leaflet for Red Rodeo Cowboy Girls and a trick riding saddle for Pirate. He shows up for dinner and sees Lou struggling with the icing for the cake. He helps her by showing Lou her mother's recipe for icing... icing in a can. When Carl interrupts all banged up from being bucked off Pirate. Scott tells them he's a trick horse and leaves. (One Trick Pony) When Mrs. Bell has a heart attack, Scott helps Lou collect Sugarfoot. He gets back to Heartland and checks over Sugarfoot saying he's never had his teeth floated, never seen a blacksmith and needs a Coggins test. He goes back to Lou when he gets Sugarfoot's results and comforts her when she gets upset about the horse leaving. (Ghost from the Past) When Lou and Nick are setting up a date, Scott interrupts which seems to make him happy. At dinner, he invites Jack to help get DNA tests for the mustangs and he accepts. After helping the mustangs at Big River he invites Lou to Mustang Meadow where his Grandpa used to take him. This creates a magical moment for the pair and leads to them holding hands. (Born to Run) When Scott is in Maggie's he overhears Lou telling Tim about her interview in New York, he leaves without talking to her looking disappointed. He goes to Heartland to deliver Lou's ticket to his college reunion, when there he mentions New York thus breaking the news to Amy. After the reunion he goes to Maggie's with Lou, they're starting to flirt when Lou mentions she has chosen to go to the interview. He tells her he's confused about her choices when Maggie receives a phone call about the fire. They rush back to Heartland and see Jack being taken to hospital. When Jack returns back from hospital Scott assures them that the horses are all ok because Jack managed to get them out. At the end of the episode he's with other friends and members of the community helping re-build the barn. (Rising from Ashes)  Scott helps pick up Lou from the airport. When Lou tells Amy and Jack that she has been offered the job in New York, Amy tells Lou that Scott's in love with her so she should talk to him. She tells him that she got the job and Scott plays it down and tells her he's happy for her. After the Fall Finale Scott builds up the courage to declare his love for Lou and tell her that is she goes to New York he'll go with her. (Coming Together)

Season 2
Scott arrives and Maggie's and tells Lou he's happy for her when she tells him she and Tim got the loan. Later at Amy's party he compliments her and they're about to sneak off together when they're interrupted. (Ghost Horse) When trying to spend time with Lou which promptly gets interrupted by Mallory. He's excited when Lou shows him the plans for the cabins and tries to show Jack who proves uninterested. He, Jack and Ty are helping Ghost and he explains to Ty that Ghost doesn't like Amy because mustangs don't like to have mares in charge. He goes to Maggie's and tries to get Lou to accept the fact that Jack said no to knocking down the old bunkhouses. When she later gets a job at Maggie's he sits by the counter to try to spend time together and they end up flirting. (Letting Go) When Shorty gets injured Scott goes by to check him out. He tells them that he's twisted his ankle and is on stall rest. He later, goes to see Lou and helps go with her to check out Tim's friends' high end horses. He agrees that they're good but that she doesn't need high end horses for trail rides. He starts to get frustrated when he and Lou can't seem to find time to be together, he makes her promise that they will find some alone times soon. (Gift Horse) Scott is excited about his weekend plans, to be alone with Lou. She is disappointed when his phone rings and he informs her he's on-call and has to leave. He returns as quickly as he can and is disappointed when the Dude Ranch guests show up a week early taking all of Lou's time to please them. He tries to help her out but becomes to realise that Lou puts him as a second priority. He talks to her and tells her something needs to change and suggests breaking up, while Lou, in contrast suggests getting married. (Dancing in the Dark)  Mallory calls Scott for help when Spartan gets ill but gets his voicemail. He arrives the next day to check him over and tells Mallory, Ty, Kit and Caleb that they did the right think and Spartan should be ok. (Corporate Cowgirls) Scott goes to Maggie's but upon seeing Lou and Nick he decides to have it to go. He arrives at the polo after being given the job of looking after the polo team. He thanks Nick and he tells him that he should thank Lou after her recommendation. He goes to see her at Heartland and is annoyed because he wants to get jobs based on his reputation not from her. Lou tells him that he did get the job because of his good work she just praised him. At the polo, Scott checks on the horses and Lou tries to talk to him again. She asks where they are in their relationship she wants to know if they're together or not. Scott can't give her an answer so Lou takes it as a break up. (Holding Fast) Scott tells Lou he's surprised to see her entering the rodeo queen competition, especially after Cherie Porter told him about what happened at the little miss rodeo competition. After the rodeo, Lou has a go at Scott telling him that he broke up with her and now is parading around with a new girl leaving him dumbfounded. (Sweetheart of the Rodeo) Scott arrives to check on the horses that were brought in. He talks to Amy, who's horrified, he tells her he'll call the RCMP to see what they say. Mark comes by and asks out Lou when Scott comes in. Mark tells them that there was nothing illegal about what they did and the only way to save the horses is to buy them from the auction house. Scott tells Lou that they need to move on, so they should find a new vet for Heartland. Later, Lou finds him and tells him that she doesn't accept his resignation because she, Amy and Jack need him because he's a great vet. He agrees to stay. (Summer's End)  Scott goes to Heartland to check out Pegasus, Amy tells him that she's worried as he's been getting slower and losing weight. He suggests feeding him separately as the younger horses will be beating him to the hay. He comes back after Pegasus spooked with Mindy. He tells Amy that he has a stone bruise and chipped bone in his hock, which is serious at his age. He tells Amy that he can give medication or might need surgery. (Starstruck!) Scott helps Ty and vets Money he tells him he looks good and finds a tattoo showing he's an old racehorse but warns Ty to check his stats before getting Jack's hopes up. Ty asks him about the Derby and Scott tells him that he mainly entered to prove to Lou that he wasn't just one of Marion's projects. Scott helps Ty source good feed for a racehorse at Maggie's and then suggests they stay for pie and coffee. Scott arrives, the day of the Derby with horse Eat My Dust, Lou mistakes him for being there to be the stand by vet. He corrects her and tells her he's a late entry for the Derby. At the first mile Scott's in 3rd and maintains his lead going to the halfway marker. At the 3/4 mark Scott's in second when another rider and their horse go down he pauses to check they're ok. Going into the final stretch Scott is 3rd behind Tim and Jack, he manages to pull himself into the lead winning the race with Tim and Jack tying second. Scott is awarded a weekend for two at the Dude Ranch, he jokes with Lou that he needs someone to share it with leading her to bid for a weekend partner from the crowd. (Dark Horse)

Season 3
Scott arrives at the accident and drags Ty to help him with other horses that are trapped in the trailers. Ty and Scott later go by to check on Caesar and Ty tells Amy that physically he's ok but Stewart Forrest wants her to go by to see if she can help him. Scott says he wants to call in another miracle. (Miracle) Ty goes to work with Scott for the day, he tells him that he hasn't told Amy yet but has had two offers for college. Scott teases him about one of his choices. They arrive at the Bailey Farm and Ty's not happy he didn't warn him. Kit's mare's in foal and he goes to check her out as Ty tries to start a conversation with Kit, unsuccessfully. Scott tells her that she looks ready and could give birth any day. Scott and Ty check out Daisy and they tell her that the foal's not in a good position as it's upside down. The next day, Ty helps Scott with the delivery but he unfortunately tells her that the foal's gone as he can't feel any movement. Scott makes a call and tells Kit he has a lead on an orphaned foal that Daisy might accept. Scott brings Merlin in and lets him and Daisy bond, Kit's nervous but he tells her it will take time but will leave bottles and milk in case she won't let him nurse. Later, Scott goes back and Ty and Kit tell him Merlin still hasn't nursed yet, he tells them that in the old days he would have called Marion for help. Amy arrives and suggests putting the blanket from the dead foal on Merlin so Daisy can pick up the scent. After waiting for a while Scott shows Ty how to make up a bottle. (Glory Days)  Scott pulls into Heartland and asks Amy and Ty to look after Merlin, since Daisy had rejected him, until he can find him a new home. Amy, Ty and Scott take Merlin into the barn and tells Ty about a part time job opportunity at the race track as a stable hand, when Lou arrives. He tells her that he's recently got his pilot's license and has joined the remote area volunteer vet group, she's impressed until she sees Merlin and questions if Amy and Ty have enough time to look after an orphaned foal. Scott comes by after a few days and collects Merlin to take him to a new home, and picks up "Tuffy" to take to the reserve, he asks if they want any more orphans and gives Mallory some chicks to her delight. (Growing Pains) Scott  finds Tim at the track timing Lightning Dexter, he's  happy with the times he's produced against Lisa's horse  Alberta Comet. After Dexter comes in last at the race, Scott checks him out. He tells him that he's water logged but otherwise fine. He finds that the hay has been salted, the cause of him drinking too much water. (The Fix) Scott arrives at Heartland to take Ty with him on some calls, while there he checks in with Lou about when to have him back for his surprise leaving party. Ty admits to Scott that he doesn't know what to expect from University as he hasn't been in a classroom for so long. Scott tries to put him at ease as the first week is frosh, but also tells him to keep a clear head for sheep brain dissections. He receives a call about a wild horse in B.C. so offers to drop Ty back home before going. Ty's determined to go with him as it's his last day of being his assistant. Scott gets his plane ready and the pair fly off. When they arrive, they drive with Jane to the hilltop where she saw the injured horse. They see one dead and one stallion with an arrow in his neck. Scott and Ty work their way closer before shooting him with a tranquiliser dart. They manage to cut out the arrow and clean up the wound before he comes back round. They watch the horse from a distance waiting for it to come around, Scott wants to leave to get Ty back but he wants to make sure it's ok first before leaving, as the horse jumps up looking better. At the hanger, Jane shows Ty one of her paintings and gives it to him as payment for his help. Scott tries to wrangle another one but is told he's already got one. They head off as to not be late for the party. The plane lies in a forest, broken and pouring with smoke. (Broken Arrow)  After the plane crash, Scott and Ty are unconscious, Ty slowly wakes and tries to wake Scott. He eventually comes round and notices he has a chunk of metal embedded in his leg. Ty makes him a tourniquet out of a belt while he starts looking for supplies. When he finds the transponder with no light from it, they are both devastated that no one knows where they are. Scott convinces Ty to go looking for higher ground to see if they can tell where they are, however they are gutted to learn they're in the middle of nowhere surrounded by trees. Scott begins apologising for his mistake, the downdraft caught him by surprise, Ty forgives him and assures him he kept them both alive. The next day they both get a glimpse of hope when a chopper passes by, Ty sets off the flare but the helicopter passes by with them going unseen. Scott begins to experience more pain and tells Ty his leg is infected so he must remove the metal, just as he had done with the horse a few days prior. Ty eventually gets past his nerves of operating on his friend and successfully removes the metal and stitches up his leg. When Ty continues to hear a wolf nearby it makes him nervous, Scott tells him that his Grandfather was an elder and would tell him that wolves are survivors and teachers. He insists he was stupid not to listen to him and stupid to let Lou go when he did. He tells Ty to make sure he and Amy stay true, right before he passes out from the pain. The next day, Amy, Peter and Lou find Ty and Scott, and manage to get him airlifted to the hospital. (Eye of the Wolf)  When Jack hears Ty up in the night again, he tries to check on him but he's not ready to talk. He reminds Ty that Scott has called and should call him back. Scott arrives at Heartland to help, when Lou calls after Max gets attacked by a porcupine. He manages to remove all the quills and says he'll be fine. Lou takes the opportunity to check on him after the accident and he tells her that he's been thinking a lot about regrets lately. He also asks Lou to see if she can get Ty to call him when he gets back from the fishing trip. When Ty returns he goes off to meet Scott, he asks if he too has been having dreams about the plane crash, Scott admits he has every night. (Catch and Release) Scott is called out to Heartland to check out Daisy. He tells Amy and Ty she has a fever of 39, he has to wait for the swab results but is sure it's strangles and places them under quarantine. When Pegasus starts to get ill, Scott come to check him out. He tells them it's important that he eats to stop him getting any weaker. After he takes a turn, Scott tells them that he suggests putting him down, Tim refuses. He returns to check on Tango after Ty performed a procedure on him. He tells him he's looking good. He also tells Tim that he'd have made the same decision with Pegasus. (Quarantine)

Romantic
Lou Fleming

Scott and Lou have a close connection and unspoken history. When Lou films her commercial Scott tries to cheer her up by taking her out and they almost kiss. This leads to Lou admitting to him that she got fired from her job in New York. Scott is devastated when Carl arrives and tries to stay as far away from them both while he's there. He tells Amy that he's sorry how things turned out with Carl and Lou but they both grin. After Carl leaves, things are awkward with Lou and Scott. Scott supports Lou when she gets upset about Sugarfoot leaving to go with Mrs. Bell's niece. Scott invites Lou to Mustang Meadow, it proves to be a magical moment for the pair and leads to them holding hands. When Lou has the opportunity to leave for a new job in New York, Scott declares his love for her and she must decide whether to stay or go. She decides to stay and goes into business with Tim with their Dude Ranch. They then begin a relationship and can be seen flirting a lot but also struggle a lot to find time to spend together. When Lou and Scott try to spend an entire weekend together, they are both disappointed when the other can't make them a priority. Scott is still on-call and leaves for a call out, while Lou's first guests turn up a week early and she tries to impress them for their blog review. Scott suggests they break while Lou suggests getting married.

Although not showing any doubts in ending the relationship, after the plane crash he admits to Ty that he was stupid to let Lou go.

Career
Vet

Scott is a vet from the first episode, he talks about how Marion saved him when he was younger as it could have gone either way and could have gone down the drugs path instead. He talks a lot about how he approved of Marion's methods and agrees with her alternate healing methods, although did often argue with her about some things she believed that he didn't.

Ty later starts to work with Scott as a vet assistant, teaching him all about vetting. He takes him out on calls and helps teach him everything he knows. They work on Kit Bailey's mare and help her birth only to deliver a stillborn foal. He tracks down an orphan foal in the hope of her taking it on but later rejects him. Scott takes Ty to work with him on his last day before going to university. They Scott flies them to B.C. to work on a wild horse that has been shot and later end up in a plane crash on their way home. Scott gets called out to Heartland where he has to place them under quarantine with a strangle outbreak.