The Canadian Horse is a horse breed of Canada. The Horse is strong, muscular, and generally dark in color. The Horse is mainly used for pleasure riding and driving. The Canadian Horse was developed more than 400 years ago from the light draft horse and racing horse. During the 18th century, the Horse was spread throughout the United States and North America. The Horse has a significant role in the development of several horse breeds. The Canadian Horse acted as a cavalry horse during the American Civil war.
Necessary Information on Canadian Horse
Canadian horse breed is one of the most versatile horse breeds in Canada. Over the years, the Horse has developed in a harsh environment and lived on scanty feed. This breed is considered the most substantial horse breeds in Canada. In my article, I shall discuss the most common information about the horse for you.
1. Origin and History
The ancestors of Canadian horses from French Andalusian, Arabian, Barbs, and Normans. King Luis XVI provided 20 mares and two stallions in 1600 AD to Canada. Two more shipments were made in 1667 and 1670, comprising a mix of trotting, pacing, and a draft horse. The Horse’s living condition was deplorable, and animals struggled a lot; that’s why they referred to as “the Horse of Steel” or “the Little Iron Horse.”
During the 18th century, the French Canadian horse population increased and spread throughout Northern America (Illinois, Michigan) and liver as a feral horse. The Horse was utilized in the agricultural field as a draft horse, plowing, pulling. In the 19th century, the population drastically decreased due to modernization in the farm field. The first studbook of Canadian Horse was established in 1886 by Dr. Joseph Alphonse Couture. The Canadian Horse Breeder Association was established in 1895.
2. Physical Characteristics
The Canadian Horse is a medium-sized, light draft horse breed. The forehead is broad, short, and high-set head. The neck is the arched, crest, back, and the loin is muscular. The shoulder and coup are slopping, and the tail is relatively short. The Horse looks strong and agile. The heavy and wavy tail, arched back, muscular crest looks like Andalusian and Barb horse of the Iberian Peninsula.
3. Height and Weight
The Horse is a medium-sized horse breed with an average height of 14 to 16.2 hands (56 to 66 inches). A Canadian stallion’s average weight is 480 to 600 kg (1050 to 1350 pounds), and mares weight from 450 to 550 kgs (1000 to 1250 pounds).
4. Color and Markings
Canadian horses are mainly dark in colors like bay, brown, or black. Few horses are found with chestnut colors with flaxen mane and tail. Cream gene is present for a variation, and there is no grey gene present in the breed. Head and leg markings are used to identify the horses.
5. Behavior and Temperament
The Canadian Horse is a sensible, intelligent, pleasant, calm, and versatile horse breed. The Horse is neither a pony nor a big horse. The Horse is ideal for kids, pleasure riding, and excellent in the agricultural field. You can train this Horse efficiently, and he shows gentle behavior in any condition.
6. Care and Management
The Horse requires standard care and management like other ordinary horses. The Horse requires daily grooming, quarterly clipping, regular deworming, and vaccination. The Horse is medium-sized and accommodates any horse stable. As a horse owner, you must ensure the horse welfare points for Canadian Horse.
7. Diet and Nutrition
The diet and feeding requirement of Cheval Canadian is like other horses and even require less feed. They are adapted to the harsh environment of Canada and live on very little feed. The Horse lives on corn, gram, cowpea, grass, and hay. You can add some feed supplement with their daily diet. The daily requirement of feed depends on the purpose, workload, and environment.
8. Health Issues of Canadian Horse
The Cheval Canadian is generally healthy, equine disease resistant, and robust as they developed in the harsh environment. The Horse typically suffers from Arthritis, Equine Infectious Anemia, and other degenerative joint diseases. You must ensure regular health check-ups by an equine veterinarian. You must maintain a regular deworming, vaccination, hoof care, hoof trimming, and feeding schedule prescribed by your vet.
9. Distinguished Features
The Canadian Horse is one of the distinguished horse breeds of Canada. The Horse has very prominent and exciting features. The most common features of the Horse are:
- King Louis XVI gifted the Horse to Canada in 1600 AD.
- The ancestors of the Horse are the Arabian, Andalusian, Barb, and Normans of Spain.
- The Horse DNA test found that the Horse has similarity with Clydesdale, Belgian Draft, and Percheron horse of French.
- The Horse has declared as the National Symbol of Canada in 2002 and Canada’s National Breed in 1909.
- The Horse is also a gaited horse with a Flashy Trot gait.
- The Horse has a specific identification system recommended by the Canadian Livestock Record Corporation.
- The Horse has a significant influence on many horse breeds like Paso Fino, American Saddlebred horse, Morgan, and Standardbred horse.
- The Horse was widely used in the American Civil war and the Boer War.
- Quebec province named the Horse as Heritage breed of the region.
- Mares of the Cheval Canadian is extraordinary fertile and can gove birth foals up to age 20.
- There are three distinct sub-types of the Horse like racing type, draft type, and pacing type.
10. Versatile Uses of Canadian Horse
The Cheval Canadian is a native horse breed of Canada and is considered a national symbol of Canada. The Horse has versatile uses and utilities. The expected benefits of the Horse are:
- The Horse was initially used in the agricultural field for light Draft works like plowing and pulling the carriage.
- The Horse is also used for jumping, leisure horse, trail riding, and driving.
- The Horse was widely used as a Cavallery horse in the American Civil war.
- The Horse is seen in many competitions and equestrian sports.
- The Horse is docile, gentle, and easily trainable, and ideal for kids riding.
Concluding Remarks on Canadian Horse
The “Little Iron Horse” came to Canada more than 400 years ago and has now become Canada’s national symbol and national animal. Many horse lovers searching for the horses through the internet but receive very little and scanty information. In my article, I have tried to accumulate all possible information about the Horse in one item. I think this will serve your purpose and you will be benefitted. If the above information helps you, please share it with your friends.