| The Canadian Horse or Cheval Canadien was | | | | nearly disappeared during the 1970's when the |
| developed in Canada and has been relatively unknown | | | | numbers dropped to 400 horses again with fewer |
| in recent times due to its scarcity, but it has influenced | | | | than 5 registrations per year and by 1979 all horse |
| many other North American breeds, including the | | | | training programs were dropped since few foals were |
| Morgan, Tennessee Walking Horse, American | | | | being produced. In 1981, the administration closed its |
| Saddlebred, and Standardbred, and the Canadian | | | | Canadian Horse breeding program and auctioned off |
| Pacer, which had a profound impact on several gaited | | | | the remaining stock to private breeders. |
| breeds of today. It is a recognized horse breed, | | | | The number of living registered Canadian Horses in |
| indigenous only to Canada. It is so rare that several | | | | existence in 2006 was estimated to be 5746, down |
| times the breed almost went extinct, but now the | | | | from the 6374 that were surveyed in 2005, but if you |
| Canadian Horse has many supporters both inside and | | | | combine the number of stallions and geldings registered |
| outside of Canada and is Canada's National Horse. | | | | the total comes to considerably less than the number |
| The Canadian Horse originated from the Norman and | | | | of existing mares. Since males vs. females traditionally |
| Breton horses sent by King Louis XIV of France in the | | | | have a roughly equal registration ratio, it may mean |
| late 1600's to the New World. These French horses | | | | that a significant number of male horses have never |
| are believed to have been of Arab, Andalusian and | | | | been registered or reported. This could be due to |
| Barb ancestry since many traits of those breeds can | | | | geldings not being registered because of the cost of |
| still be recognized in the Canadian Horse today. Over | | | | registering a non-breeding horse, and because |
| several hundred years, the French horses were bred | | | | gelding-only owners often do not become breed |
| amongst themselves with little influence from outside | | | | association members so there would be no way to |
| breeds and eventually developed in the distinct breed | | | | report their horses. It is hoped that the total number of |
| known as the Canadian Horse or Cheval Canadien. | | | | existing Canadian Horses has been under-reported. |
| Since the breed was developed under the adverse | | | | Some breeders feel that it is a disservice to the breed |
| conditions of harsh inclement weather, scarce food, | | | | when horses are not registered because there is no |
| and hard work, they became tough, strong, tolerant | | | | way of accurately tracking the population, nor of being |
| horses that are extremely easy keepers. The | | | | able to track specific individuals to see if which ones |
| Canadian Horse is considered to be the sturdiest and | | | | are producing exceptional animals that may be |
| most acclimatized horse in Canada and their strength | | | | particularly suited to one discipline or another. In spite of |
| was legendary. It has been rumored that the Canadian | | | | this, the breed is continuing to gain in numbers and |
| Horse was capable of generating more power per 100 | | | | popularity, but the Canadian Horse is still classified as |
| pounds of body weight than any other breed and is | | | | "rare" on the American Livestock Conservancy list |
| often referred to as "The Little Iron Horse". | | | | which has only recently been upgraded from "critical". |
| In the mid-1800's, there were about 150,000 Canadian | | | | The Canadian Horse stands 14 to 16 hands high, |
| Horses and the breed could be found throughout | | | | weighs between 1000 and 1400 pounds and black is |
| Canada and the United States. The Canadian Horse | | | | often seen although chestnut, bay, and dark brown are |
| was used to improve the strength and hardiness of | | | | also available. The overall impression is of power and |
| other breeds and as founding stock for several North | | | | agility from a well-balanced and proportioned |
| American breeds. Canadian Horses were exported | | | | conformation and graceful carriage. The finely chiseled |
| out of Canada for many purposes and the number of | | | | head of the Canadian Horse is rather short and thin |
| horses began to drop rapidly. When mechanized farm | | | | with straight lines, carried high and slanting on a medium |
| machinery came to the country, the Canadian Horse | | | | length arched neck that is fairly arched. Eyes are large, |
| almost became extinct and during the 1860-1870's | | | | moderately convex, bright, kind, and active. Ears are |
| there were fewer than 400 horses left with 20 or less | | | | set well apart and are rather short. Both mane and tail |
| being registered per year. By the late 1870's the | | | | have an abundance of fine wavy hair with tail being |
| danger to the breed was finally recognized and efforts | | | | large at the root and attached rather high and carried |
| were made by diligent breeders to try to bring the | | | | well. Their short cannon bones often exceed 9" in |
| Canadian Horse back from the dead. | | | | circumference and the gait of the Canadian Horse has |
| Their efforts resulted in the first stud book in 1886 but | | | | a free and vigorous movement with, hocks, knees, |
| progress was slow and it was not until 1895 that the | | | | fetlocks, and pasterns bending well in higher |
| Canadian Horse Breeders Association (CHBA) or, | | | | harmonious movements. The hooves are exceptionally |
| Sociйtй des Йleveurs | | | | tough and rarely require little more than routine |
| de Chevaux Canadiens, was formed in the province | | | | trimming. |
| of Quebec. The Canadian Livestock Records | | | | The breed has an energetic and spirited temperament |
| Corporation has been the administrators of the breed | | | | without nervousness and is very calm and docile. It has |
| registry since 1904. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture | | | | been renowned for their sensible, sociable natures, high |
| set up a breeding program at Cap Rouge in 1913 | | | | intelligence and willingness to please, but they have |
| where one of the foundation studs for the recovery | | | | also been described as having a tendency to be "in |
| effort, Albert De Cap Rouge, was foaled. Other | | | | your face" and quite "opinionated" to the point of |
| breeding programs were set up in Quebec at St. | | | | encroaching on your own physical space which can be |
| Joachim and La Gorgendiere. After World War II, the | | | | an issue for someone who feels intimidated by horses. |
| Canadian Horse was on the verge of dying out again | | | | The Canadian Horse is considered to be a general |
| the 1950's with the breed having disappeared from | | | | utility horse and from the very beginning, it was |
| every Canadian province except Quebec, and this | | | | valuable not only for plowing, but also as a carriage |
| time the breed was resurrected by opening the stud | | | | horse. The breed is long-lived and still useful even at an |
| books to previously unregistered, but known to be | | | | advanced age. The mares are extraordinarily fertile |
| purebred Canadian horses. | | | | and able to reproduce regularly until the age of 20 or |
| Despite these efforts, the Canadian Horse once again | | | | older. |