Happy Birthday to the Canadian Horse!

This year marks the 350th anniversary of the Canadian Horse, so we thought we’d take some time to learn about this magnificent Canadian animal.

Research has told us that this particular animal is a riding and driving breed that is a strong, well muscled breed [of light horse], and usually dark in colour.

http://www.hiddentrails.com/pub/extension.aspx?id=2193&region=yes

It is a type of horse that was brought over to Canada in the 1600s and is considered a versatile, sturdy and mild-tempered breed.

It is said that this Canadian Horse is capable of generating “more power per hundred pounds of body weight than any other horse breed.” Traits such as these earned the Canadian its nickname “The Little Iron Horse”. (1)

An article from CBC News BC says that the Canadian breed is a descendent of the first horses given to Canada by King Louis XIV in 1665. (2)

Not only that, but the Canadian Horse is facing a true crisis: extinction, according to the Canadian Horse Heritage and Preservation Society, after an international watchdog raised its status from threatened to critical.

Roxanne Salinas, a horse breeder in Mission, B.C., said the following about the beautiful breed:

"They contributed so much to the development of our country, they were used in the fur brigades, they helped peoples settle in the prairies." (3)

"They're a part of our heritage." (4)

http://canadreamfarm.com/en/sales/sales-Canadream_Norwester-Lad_Uluvme.htm

I’ll be the first person to admit: I didn’t even know there was such thing as a Canadian Horse until recently, so writing this was both enlightening and pretty heartbreaking all the same to learn the breed faces extinction. I’m also super excited to be working with Horse Experience 2015 to do something very special related to the remarkable Canadian Horse.

This historic birthday of our Canadian national horse is a time to reflect on some of our country’s memorable moments and celebrate one of the country’s lesser known treasures.

1. http://canadianhorsebreeders.com/

2, 3, 4. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canadian-horse-on-verge-of-extinction-warns-watchdog-1.3069822

#blog