Breed History courtesy of Roxanne Salinas, Legacy Canadians in Mission, BC
The story of the Canadian Horse begins in 1665, when the French sun king, Louis XIV sent the first horses to New France to be distributed among the military officers of the Carignan-Salieres regiment, government officials, and religious communities of the colony. The first fourteen royal horses destined for the New World left Le Havre on the ship Le Marie Therese on May 10, 1665. After nine perilous and stormy weeks at sea, two stallions and twelve mares set hoof on the shores of New France at Tadoussac on July 16th. Another shipment of 15 royal horses arrived on September 25, 1667, with similar shipments reported in 1668, and 1669 (Thomas Chapais 1914). In 1670, a stallion and twelve more mares arrived to be distributed among the gentlemen of New France. A final shipment of thirteen horses arrived in 1671, for a total of eighty-one horses. While no one yet knows with certainty the lineage of these royal stallions and mares, we do know that France has a history of breeding distinguished horses dating back to antiquity. Several hundred years before Christ, horses were used in Gaul for military purposes and in 58 B.C., Julius Caesar noted the elegant, well-bred horses of the region in his diary. Small Asturian horses (Asturcones) from the Pyrenees mountains that were highly prized in their mountainous home territory for sure-footedness became popular as carriage ponies in Paris and throughout Europe, and many were were exported to the British Isles where they contributed to founding the Galloway and Fell ponies. The now lost medieval 'destrier', the Norman Horse, when crossed with the oriental blood of the Arabian and Barb, contributed to the later development of the Percheron ánd Spanish-Norman breeds, renowned for their excellence on the battlefield. The Canadian breed became renowned for its abilities as a roadster, racer and stylish harness horse. By 1820, classes for Canadian Horses were being held at agricultural exhibitions in Lower Canada and in New York. Over the next decades, increasing numbers of Canadian horses, including the best stallions, were sold to the United States. Many found their way into the foundation stock of other breeds such as the Morgan, Tennessee Walker, American Saddlebred and Standardbred. With the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War in 1861, Canadian Horses once again were used for miltary service when thousands were exported to supply the Union Army. By the end of the war in 1865, at least 30,000 Canadian Horses had been exported for military service. Later, in 1874, Canadian Horses took part in the historic North West Mounted Police Great March West, in the Northwest Rebellion of 1885 and are even said to have served in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Canadian Horses sent to serve in the Boer War in South Africa did so well that hundreds were subsequently purchased for the British Imperial forces and shipped overseas. During World War I, more Canadian Horses were shipped off to battle in France, never to return. Ironically, the popularity and availability of the Canadian Horse almost caused its demise as a distinct breed. In 1895, the Canadian Horse Breeders Association ( La Société des Eleveurs de Chevaux Canadiens) was formed, took over registrations and proceeded to validate the integrity of the stud books entries and inspect the horses registered therein. Although still endangered, thanks to the efforts of dedicated breeders, owners and admirers, the Canadian Horse is making a remarkable recovery, and now claims almost 5000 registered individuals. In spite of dwindling to only a few hundred in the 1970s, a genetic study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph, Ontario in 2000, shows that the breed still maintains better genetic health than some other breeds with higher numbers, and is free from any known genetic defects. A Canadian Horse typically stands 14 to 16 hands high, weighs 1000 to 1300 pounds, and is generally black in color with few, if any, white markings. Bays, chestnut, and occasionally rare champagne colors are found within the breed. The ideal Canadian has a finely chiseled head, strong arched neck, a long sloping shoulder, short back with well-muscled hindquarters, strong, flat-boned legs and exceptionally hard, strong hooves. The distinctive hallmark of the breed is its long, thick wavy mane and tail. The mane is often so thick that it falls on both sides of the neck and hangs below its shoulder, its tail so long that it touches the ground. Canadian Horses are confident, intelligent, hard-working, and sociable, and still have all the endurance and adaptability of their ancestors. The Canadian Horse is excelling in all disciplines as horsemen and women across rediscover its timeless qualities of style, durability, intelligence and loyalty. Canadians consistently excel in Combined Driving Events and can be found successfully competing at the international level. They can also be found in all under-saddle disciplines - from reining, cutting, and endurance riding, to dressage and jumping. The Canadian Horse’s powerful hindquarters and athletic ability make it an ideal candidate for ranch work or collected movements. The national Canadian Horse Breeders Association (CHBA) boasts almost one thousand members, nine- tenths of those living in Canada. For a more in depth historical background please visit Roxanne's History pages.
