NORTH GOWER -- A breed that was in danger of disappearing a few decades ago, has not only been well reestablished, but was recently recognized by the Senate as the National Horse of Canada.
This happened with a lot of help from Canadian Horse breeders such as Alex Hayward and the Canadian Horse Breeders of Ontario.
Hayward became familiar with Canadian horses as a child growing up at Stoneham, north of Quebec City, where there were Canadian horses at the home farm, and while visiting his uncle George Atkins at Cap Rouge, a village outside Quebec City and Port Neuf, west on the north shore. Atkins worked with the federal and provincial governments as a foreman of Canadian horses in reestablishing the breed.
During the 1970's, Hayward moved to the North Gower area, where he has a 15-acre property at Pierce's Corners and he and his partner Donnie Prosperine started looking for the horses, after discussions with breeders.
"We figured they were finished," he said. " But we bought two mares and a colt, and continued from there. At the time there were less than 400 registered of the breed. My former partner and I reestablished them. We started showing them in the United States, buying them and getting them popularized, and I estimate now there's a population of 3,000 throughout the U.S. and in Canada."
The partnership owned horses individually and jointly, which were kept at the farm at Pierce's Corners and a farm at Dunrobin, owned by the Prosperines. Wayward and Prosperine entered their horses on the North American driving circuit, winning the North American Pair Driving Championship in 1987. Hayward bred and sold offspring from a herd of about 15 at the Pierce's Corners farm, but the herd has been reduced to four, as he intends to retire from raising horses, although he wishes to help others interested in maintaining and promoting the breed.
According to Hayward, the Canadian Horse developed in Quebec from horses of Arabian, Barb and Brittany stock sent by Louis XIV of France, to be used as work and saddle horses during the colonization of Quebec from 1647 and 1670. France had enough difficulties in bringing food to the colony, and did not wish to risk further shipments of horses. Because of the geographic isolation of Quebec and the isolation between the French and the English during the Seven Years War, they were kept from other breeds. With little hay available, the horses ate poplar bark to supplement their diet. Only the hardy ones survived, and these individuals interbred and evolved into a tough and versatile breed.
Hayward cited several qualities which make the horse deserving of being named as the national horse.
"They're very hardy. They're inexpensive to maintain because you don't have the veterinarian in often. I had a mare who lived 26 years whose feet were never trimmed by a farrier. A gelding lived 28 years and we never had to have a farrier." Hayward added the horses wore their hooves down through the varied work they did, which eliminated the need for trimming.
Versatility is another attractive feature, since they can be used for riding, pulling a plough, sultry or buggy, or logs out of the bush. Although tough enough for field work, they can jump or be trained to perform dressage. "Once I said they can do anything but dance," said Hayward. "But Ginny Dailey, who was with Park Safari took six Canadian horses to the Royal Winter Fair. And they danced, performing at liberty, with no effects."
"They're so docile, you have more trouble getting away from them than in a field than catching them. A stallion we had called Duke, could be ridden by a three-year old girl with no bridle, just a halter with binder twine, and no saddle. He could be ridden wherever she wished," he said.
Canadian horses start at about 14 hands, (measurement of four inches), but they average between 14 hands, three inches to 15 hands, one inch, although some are smaller or larger. The male should not exceed 15 hands, three inches, and a female should not be higher than 15 hands, two inches. The stallion weighs between 1,100 to 1,400 pounds and the mare 1,000 to 1,300.
They vary in colour, which is generally black, brown, chestnut, or bay, and there were some grey horses, although Hayward is not aware of any grey ones now. While some have white on the face or the feet, a solid colour is preferable.
The Canadian Horse Breeders of Ontario was formed approximately four years ago, to protect the standards of the horse, and Hayward was a founding member, but individuals have been working for recognition for about 20 years.
The new group sponsored a bill to recognize the Canadian Horse as the National Horse of Canada. "A friend Donna Hoffman approached MP Murray Calder submitted a private member's bill in the House of Commons, and got shot down twice. Then Dr. Kelly Ferguson, who is president of the Canadian Horse Breeders of Ontario spoke to Senator Lowell Murray, who was successful in getting it through the Senate. Then it came back through the House of Commons. The Liberals and Conservatives were in favour, but some Bloc Quebecois, some Alliance and some New Democrats opposed it," Hayward explained.
The bill finally passed in the House of Commons on April 23 and received Royal Assent on April 30, 2002. "I feel very good. I'm very happy that finally Canada did something to recognize its own breed developed here and believed to be the oldest horse in Canada," said Hayward.
Cutlines
Alex Hayward stands with a picture of Albert de Cap Rouge, the stallion from which most Canadian horses are descended, held by his uncle George Atkins. The picture was taken in 1916 at St Joachim, P.Q. Atkins worked for the federal government as foreman of Canadian horses, and after the government disposed of the breed, he went to work with the provincial government in the same capacity.
Alex Hayward shows Windsor Rosine at Donnie Prosperine's farm at Dunrobin. Windsor Rosine was purchased with Duke and Windsor Richette, in the early 1970's by Hayward and Prosperine, and became Duke's mate.
From the Archives:
AgriFeature, June 2002
