Canadian Horse

The story of the Canadian Horse began in 1665 when King Louis XIV sent the first three shipments of horses from his royal stables of Breton and Norman ancestry to aid in settling the colonies of New France, now Quebec.

The Canadian Horse may have had royal blood, but they quickly became a horse of the people. With their compact, muscular bodies, thick winter coats, and rock-hard feet, they could outwork much bigger horses. They could pull a sleigh up to 80 miles in a day – and live on “almost anything – or almost nothing.” They were used for everything from farm work, to transport, to riding and racing. It was said that they could excel at any task they were put to. This legendary toughness earned them the nickname le petit cheval de fer: the “Little Iron Horse.” Thriving in the Canadian landscape, they were elegant, dashing, brave, strong, and rugged enough to survive in the most challenging environments.

But it is the Canadian Horse’s temperament that makes him truly special. The breed standard says that the Canadian Horse should be ‘of docile temperament, but full of vigor and spirit without being nervous.’ It is this intelligence, work ethic, and kind, calm nature that rounds out the truly admirable qualities of this exemplary breed.

Americans discovered the Canadian Horse in the 1700s, coming down through the East Coast before making their way west on the Oregon and California Trails. They were used extensively as carriage and stagecoach horses, pack and draft animals, and gained fame as trotters and pacers as the sport of harness racing, which originated on Canada’s frozen lakes, gained popularity. They were also used for crossbreeding in the United States, contributing to the Morgan, Standardbred, and many American gaited breeds.

The Canadian Horse became so popular throughout the 1800s, that thousands were exported from Canada to the United States, with many of them becoming cavalry horses for riding and pulling heavy cannons during the Civil War. So many horses were lost that by 1880 the breed was nearly extinct. By 1976, fewer than 400 horses remained. Since then, various organizations have worked to preserve the Little Iron Horse and have been successful at promoting the breed as a family horse and national treasure all across Canada. There are now an estimated 2,000 alive today, with various organizations working to keep that number growing to save the Canadian from its current “at risk” status. The breed excels at jumping, upper level dressage, working equitation, and endurance events.

Demonstration presented by Canadian Horse United. In association with Raindance Canadian Horse of Oregon and California Canadians of Northern California.