Horses

The Canadian Horse is a rare and little known horse, more known for its genetic influence on other breeds such as the Morgan, the Saddlebred and the Standbred than as an important breed in its own right.? It has been near to extinction several times but remains popular with enthusiasts within Canada and Northern USA.

The Canadian Pacer was developed from the Canadian Horse, and in turn the Canadian Pacer has been used in the development of many other pacing breeds

Breed characteristics
The Canadian Horse in many ways resembles the Morgan horse in its compactness, it is stout with a muscular crested neck.? They are generally sound and hardy with good endurance.? The are willing horses and not high maintenance horses.

Usually bat or brown other colors exist.? Height varies wildly from 1.46m to 1.65m(14.3-16.2hh)

Canadian Horse History
The original breed stock for the Canadian Horse were horses sent to Canada b y Kin Louis XIV in the late 17th century.? Few of the original horses sent survived the journey so the original 1665 contingent of horses consisted of only 2 stallions and 12 mares.? 2 more shipments of horses follows bringing the total original breed stock to 40, a mix of Breton, Norman and Andalusian blood.

Farmers were permitted to lease a horse, in exchange for a foal being passed back to the King to be used in their breeding programme. By 1679 there were 145 horses and almost 500 by 1696.? Friesians were added to the breed stock in the late 17th / early 18th century to add trotting ability and feathering to the breed.? Breeders bred different types for different needs(the trotting type later becoming the new breed the Canadian Pacer)
The horse thrived regardless of the harsh conditions with included poor and unreliable fodder, cold conditions without suitable shelter and poor roads.? Many were exported to the West Indies where they had a major impact on local horse genealogy.

At the start of the 19th century demand for roadsters. Unfortunately, this lead to a drop of the breed in Canada in the 1870s, and the stud book was opened in 1886 to preserve the breed and prevent possible extinction. The Canadian Horse Breeders' Association was formed in 1895 and shortly thereafter numbers increased.

In 1913, the government began a breeding center in Cap Rouge, Quebec, closed in 1940 due to World War II. However, the government tried again later in Deschambault. They worked to breed a taller, more refined horse, suitable as a hunter or jumper. Other breeders worked to preserve the original type.

Once again the Canadian Horse Breeding program faltered and the Deschambault herd was sold at auction in 1979. The breed was in danger of disappearing for a second time, with less than 400 horses in the breed register before a dedicated breeders stepped in to rescue the Canadian Horse. There are now more than 4000 horses registered.

Uses of the Canadian Horse
Today, the Canadian Horse is predominantly bred for driving, at which they excel. There endurance and temperament ensure they are also good all-rounders, competing in dressage, jumping, ranch work, and long-distance riding.