CANADIAN HORSE / CHEVAL CANADIEN
BREED HISTORY
The Canadian Horse is a true national hero. It is a heritage breed older than Canada itself, descending from the first horses to set hoof on the shores of New France in 1665. Like the habitants who depended on it for their survival, the Canadian Horse has struggled for its survival and identity in the face of mechanization, market forces and acculturation. Long ago dubbed “Le petit cheval de fer” or ‘the Little Iron Horse” because of its ability to out-pull pound for pound, any other kind of horse, the Canadian deserves to be respected, conserved and treasured as a living part of our nation’s history. In April 2002, the breed was recognized, by law, as the National Horse of Canada.
Just what kind of horse is the Canadian? Surviving books and artwork from the past tell us that the Canadian Horse was just like us – a spunky, tough breed unsurpassed for its ability to survive and flourish in harsh conditions. Eighteenth century historian Etienne Faillon, perhaps best captured the image of the breed with his words “small but robust, hocks of steel, thick mane floating in the wind, bright and lively eyes, pricking sensitive ears at the least noise, going along day or night with the same courage, wide awake beneath its harness, spirited, good, gentle, affectionate, following his road with finest instinct to come surely to his own stable.”
Far from being our best kept secret, the Canadian Horse was well-known and respected throughout the North American colonies. Ironically, the Canadian’s reputation and popularity almost caused its demise as a distinct breed. In the 1800s, horse-trading between Quebec and New England flourished. The development of good roads south of the border created a demand for quick, stylish roadsters. The sport of harness racing, born on the ice near Montreal, attracted American sportsmen who came to Canada to purchase Canadian Horses, particularly stallions. Canadian Horses sold to the United States soon found their way in to the stud- books of the early American Saddlebred, Morgan, Standardbred, Tennessee Walker, and other breeds. The U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) brought Union Army buyers to Canada to purchase horses by the thousands.
Even today, as evidenced by a genetic similarity study conducted by the University of Guelph, Ontario, in the year 2000, the Canadian Horse and the Morgan are still close genetic cousins.
Beauport de Cap Rouge
As the 19th century drew to a close, Canadian Horse breeders began to realize the impact of losing their prize stock, as well as the undesirable effects of crossbreeding. Efforts began to find, conserve and record the pedigrees of the remaining horses and all exports were banned. Distinguished Quebec agronomist, Edouard A. Barnard, who had successfully championed the preservation of the Canadien cow, and Dr. J.A. Couture, turned their attention to saving the Canadian Horse from extinction.
In spite of dedicated efforts to find suitable foundation stock of the old type to replenish the breed, progress was slow. Successive generations of indiscriminate outcrossing with heavier, larger horses had taken their toll and few representatives of the horse that Faillon described could be found. The idea of a horse registry was fairly new and its purpose not well understood by horse-owners. Nevertheless, in 1886, the first registry was established, and Edouard Barnard’s stallion ‘Lion of Canada’ became #1 – the first registered Canadian Horse.
In 1895, the Canadian Horse Breeders Association (La Société des Eleveurs de Chevaux Canadiens) was formed, but in following years, under pressure to crossbreed for big agriculture, the bright, lively, Canadian Horse once more succumbed to mongrelization. With the passing of the federal Livestock Pedigree Act in 1905, all breed associations in Canada were encouraged to incorporate under one umbrella, to standardize registration procedures, and scrutinize their existing herd books. Dr. Couture seized this opportunity to obtain support for the preservation of the old Canadian Horse and appealed to J.G. Rutherford, Canada’s first Veterinary Director General and Live Stock Commissioner. Dr. Rutherford agreed with Dr. Couture’s assertion that registration practices had been too lax in preceding years allowing too many foreign influences in to the Canadian breed. He called for dissolving the existing Canadian Horse stud book, and creating a new book of foundation stock. Only those horses that could pass inspection by a strict committee would be permitted entry, and height would be limited to no taller than 16 hands for exceptional individuals.
When questioned by the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture and Colonization in the House of Commons in 1909, on why the size of the Canadian Horse should be limited, Dr Rutherford replied: “It is to discourage the almost universal tendency on the part of breeders to increase the size of horses. You keep on increasing the size until you get a horse which is altogether different from what you started out to get.“
Dr. Rutherford succeeded in impressing the government on the merits of the traditional Canadian Horse. In 1913, the federal government established a stud farm in Quebec at Cap Rouge, followed by a second at St. Joachim in 1919. For two decades, a large-scale breeding program continued, but by the end of 1940, Canada was heavily involved in WWII. The government lost interest in the project and the federally sponsored stud farms were disbanded.
Albert de Cap Rouge - One of the most influential sires of the breed.
The Quebec Department of Agriculture purchased some stock and continued with a smaller breeding program at Deschambeault research farm. The rest were sold to private breeders. As horses were replaced on the roads by cars and trucks, pressure to develop the breed as a medium draft for farm use set the Deschambeault farm on a course to produce larger heavier horses. No one then foresaw the role of the horse as a companion or pleasure animal. By the mid-1960s, the role of the general utility horse was finally recognized, and plans were undertaken to produce once again a light all-purpose horse suitable for driving and riding. However, with the rise of the pleasure horse market and the development of other popular light horse breeds, national awareness of our own unique Canadian breed declined. By the late 1970s only about 400 registered individuals remained.
In November 1981, the remaining forty-four Canadian Horses at Deschambeault (La Gorgendiere) farm were sold at an auction reserved for members of the Canadian Horse Breeders Association.
Today, the Canadian Horse has made a remarkable recovery and although still endangered, registered individuals exceed 4,000. Formerly found only in any numbers in eastern Canada, the breed has been rediscovered by horse enthusiasts across North America and can now be found in every province territory, and in the United States. Despite pressures over the previous decades to breed larger, heavier horses, quality individuals of the original type could still be found, and were recognized and treasured by dedicated private breeders.
Over the past 30 years, changes in demographics and trends in the horse industry have created new challenges for the breed, and differing opinions and goals among Canadian Horse breeders. While this has been a source of conflict in the past, there is room in the breed for diversity. There have always been several types within the Canadian Horse breed, from trappy roadsters to compact, muscular animals suitable for farm, ranch and backcountry work. Today, the Canadian Horse Breeders Association Web site recognizes two types that nevertheless fall within the breed standard:
“A shorter and stockier build, with substantial bone (sometimes referred to as the ‘old type,’ but we prefer using ‘traditional type’ to highlight their timelessness);
“A slightly longer, lighter and more agile build, also with substantial bone, good balance and all the breed characteristics (commonly called the ‘sportive type’).” (Canadian Horse Breeders Association 2022).
The past 20 years have also seen the formation of active provincial and regional groups, each dedicated to the stewardship and conservation of this heritage breed. These groups have instilled pride in the Canadian public over what a unique national treasure we have, while increasing awareness of the Canadian Horse amongst our neighbours to the south. One such group, CHHAPS (the Canadian Horse Heritage & Preservation Society) incorporated in the province of British Columbia in 2002, now boasts members across the continent, and holds educational events in both BC and the United States. With the economic downturn of 2008, the horse industry suffered a major hit, and rare breeds like the Canadian Horse suffered most of all. This makes the work of organizations like CHHAPS more vital than ever.
Despite the trials and tribulations of its long history, through mechanization, war, and changing fashion, the Canadian remains “A People’s Horse”, sound, tough, enduring, capable of inspiring our greatest passion, pride, and determination.
CHHAPS is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of Canadian breeders, to ensure that the remarkable Canadian Horse will live on not only in the words captured by Faillon’s pen, but in our barns, and in our pastures for our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to appreciate and enjoy.
(Original article by Roxanne Salinas, 2004. Edited by Ken Morris, 2023)
Tobacco Card circa 1890