The Canadian Horse is known to have a gentle, wise, and kind nature, which combines with a draft-like hardiness, baroque-like beauty with compact, well balanced and muscled build and endless amounts of mane and tail, and a consistent and surprising level of athleticism rarely seen in baroque type breeds. These horses are the living "unicorns" that equestrians from all walks of life are ever seeking (and rarely finding). On the verge of extinction, this impossibly fantastic breed, the Canadian Horse, needs our help to survive.

​

The Canadian is well known and respected as a pleasure and combined driving horse and as a riding horse, both English and Western, for recreation and competition. Canadians have proven their versatility in a number of disciplines, from working equitation, jumping, three-day eventing, and dressage, to driving and pulling, to ranch work, back country trail riding, and cow work.

​

Ranging, on average, from 14-16.2 hands and 1000 to 1400 lbs, they are most frequently black but also may be brown, bay, silver bay, palomino, or chestnut. They are hardy easy-keepers, strong and willing to work all week long, yet still exhibiting the presence, style and multi-talented nature to draw a fine carriage or win a recognized event, working equitation, jumping or dressage competition on the weekends.

​

Once you experience the magic of a Canadian Horse, your life will never be the same. As an upper level rider and trainer who has been blessed to sit on hundreds of horses of all breeds and mixes, in both America and Europe, there remains no doubt in my mind that Canadian Horses are truly special. Which is why I am adamantly dedicated to raising awareness and doing what I can to preserve these special horses. 

​

​

​

​

1665 was when the first horses were sent over to Canada by King Louis XIV of France, a royal gift. The breed developed in Quebec from foundation Spanish, Norman, and Breton stock. Only the fittest survived the harsh winters, scarcity of feed and hard work, earning them the nickname “Le Petit Cheval de Fer” or “The Little Iron Horse”.

A calm and willing disposition, excellent feet, stamina and strength, made it an ideal cavalry horse, and by the mid 1800’s Canadians were sold by thousands to the U.S. Army. They found their way into the early stud books of the Morgan, Fresian, Standardbred, and Tennessee Walking Horse breeds.

​

Throughout the 1900’s, the breed number diminished to the point to where, outside of the province of Quebec, the Canadian Horse became virtually unknown. During the 1970’s, the breed hit an all time low when only approximately 400 registered Canadian Horses remained in existence, and less than 5 registrations were being recorded per year. Fortunately, since that time, dedicated breeders have worked diligently to save the breed from extinction and to preserve it according to the traditional and historic breed standards. The breed has slowly made a comeback and the population now stands at approximately 6000 horses. Most notably, today’s Canadian Horse still retains the same qualities that made them famous throughout North America centuries ago.