CANADIAN HORSE HISTORY

"HERITAGE AND HEART"

    The Canadian Horse or Le Cheval Canadien originated from horses sent to Quebec by King Louis XIV in the late 1600's.  These horses, the best from the King's stable, were of French Norman, Breton, Arab, Andalusian and Spanish Barb descent.

    Under conditions of hard use, sparse feed, and extreme weather conditions, the Canadian eventually developed into the easy keeping and hardy animals that they are today.  It is said that the Canadian is capable of generating "more power per hundred pounds of body weight than horses of any other breed."  Traits such as these earned the Canadian their nickname "The Little Iron Horse".

    One of the few breeds to be developed and granted breed status in Canada, the Canadian Horse registry and stud book was first formed in 1886.  The Canadian Horse Breed Registry is now administered by the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation.

    The Canadian Horse was influential in developing other North American horse breeds such as the Morgan, Tennessee Walker, Missouri Fox Trotter, Standardbred, and the Saddlebred.

STATUS

    In the mid 1800's the Canadian Horse numbered more than 150,000.  Due to the desire for larger draft breeds, and the advent of farm machinery, their numbers dwindled throughout the 1900's.  By the early 1970's there were only approximately 400 left in existence.  At this time, the peril of the breed was recognized, and a concerted effort was made by diligent breeders to bring the Canadian back from the verge of extinction.  The breed has slowly grown to the point where there are now about 4000 in existence.  Since they are rapidly gaining in popularity, the demand tends to far exceed the availability of these still rare horses.
 

CHARACTERISTICS

       The Canadian Horse typically stands 14-16hh.  Most commonly black, they may also be chestnut, brown or bay.  They are recognizable by their finely chiseled heads, arched necks, and long, thick, and often wavy tails and manes.  They have sturdy legs with good bone, and have exceptionally hard, strong feet.  They are renowned for their kind, sociable natures, intelligence and willingness to please.
 

USES

    Good natured and truly versatile, the Canadian can be found doing almost any type of equine descipline.  Perhaps best known for their driving ability, Canadian Horses have won many prestigious driving awards including the 1987 North American Pleasure Driving Championship, the 1991 Grand Champion Whip at the Canadian Carriage Driving Classic, the Presentation Award at the 1997 Pairs Driving Championship, the Limit Preliminary Division at the 1997 High Country CDE, the 1998 Preliminary Single Division at Gladstone, and the 1998 Advanced Single Horse Championship at Fair Hill.

    Their calmness, hard working nature and people oriented personality makes the Canadian Horse ideal for use in the tourism industry.  They can be found working at Upper Canada Village, African Lion Safari, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Ross Farm Museum, Fortress of Louisbourg, Colonial Williamsburg, Heritage Park, and the Cardston Remington Carriage Museum.  Canadians are also used by the Montreal Mounted Police, Calgary City Police, and can be found pulling the Caleches of Montreal and Quebec City.

    Whatever the interest...Dressage, Hunter Jumper, Eventing, Endurance, Trail, Packing, Ranch Work, Mounted Patrol, Logging, Carriage Driving, Combined Driving, Wagon Rides.....There's a Canadian for Everyone!

 

All photos courtesy Tamie Eastman