canadien chevals

[bt]

anyone know anything??

[Diskretion]

What do you want to know?
I have a "Cheval Canadien" and he's amazing.

He's got a BIG heart - never spooks - loves human company - blends well with other horses... He is bigger than most in his breed at 17h and can sometimes be a litlle hard to package for dressage. They are built strong... built to work.

He's just that happy go lucky kind of horse...
His gaits are nice, they've improved over the years with proper work.

He's never sick... really... quite an easy keeper.
Love him to pieces.....

[Leena]

Welcome !

I train and ride one tall young my husband owns. As Diskretion is saying, mine has the same quality. Very nice breed to discover.

[Fixerupper]

Interesting history on this breed...lots of info out there on probable/possible blood lines and origins (though much like the original Morgan horse a bit lost in the annals of time). That aside..when I was a kid (growing up in Quebec) the provincial government introduced a kind of quota system for dairy farmers...the large dairies were no longer allowed to pick up milk in 'cans' (you might remember 'cans'..if you don't..you can see them in antique stores, painted with pretty rural scenes, used for tables or plant stands ;)). They were only allowed to pick up up from bulk tanks fed from automatic milking machines (standard everywhere now). Back in the day, however, the cost was prohibitive to small farms and it caused a massive number of those small farms to go out of business. The small family farms operated much like what we would call 'hobby farms' today...though they were not 'hobbies' but a real lifestyle. A few dairy cows, a few chickens and pigs, grew their own hay and corn, apples, and a maple bush for syrup and logging. The horse, now known as the 'Canadian Horse' (cheval canadien) was the working horse of every family farm. They plowed and harvested in the summer, logged in the winter, and collected the maple sap in the spring, and were the major mode of transportation in the country. We knew them as 'Quebec horses' (cheval quebecois) then. As the small holdings failed (this was in the late 60's and 70's) large numbers of these light draft type horse were sold at auction...mostly to the 'killers' for meat. It was heartbreaking to see them, week after week, going through the auctions, but there was no real market for them except as 'meat' horses. Some very savvy and good hearted people in Alberta started buying them up to protect an historical 'breed' and in all likelihood that is the only reason they exist as a 'breed' today. There are, of course, pockets of foundation blood stock in Quebec and Eastern Ontario, but many of them were cross bred early on to make them more 'versatile'...so much of the original Quebec bloodstock exists in Alberta. They are very smart, sturdy and hard working, and by their very nature versatile...but they can have 'quirky' personalities...they are, after all from Quebec!!!

[MEP]

Fixerupper - what a wonderful explanation! I live in WA and have seen quite a few listed in sales ads in the PNW, and had seen some info on different websites, but your history was just so interesting! Thanks

[Jealoushe]

Not my website but good info about the breed

http://www.cherrycreekcanadians.ca/canadianhorse.htm

Lots of em in Canada here do really well at the lower levels.

http://www.canadianhorsebreeders.com/

[bt]

I thank you all, but my bank account may not:cry::D if I buy the "northern boy":winkgrin::confused:

[Ashby]

I often ride a 24-year-old Canadian. Someone forgot to tell him he's old; he's always galloping around without any prodding from me! Beautiful deep baroque trot and canter, naturally balanced, lovely thick neck. He's also a fine driving horse who seems to genuinely enjoy the work. I knew nothing about this breed before I started riding him, but I'm very enthusiastic now.

Addendum: I'm 5-10, the horse is 14.3, and yet he takes up my leg nicely and I do not feel or look undermounted.

[wateryglen]

I have a Canadian horse from Alberta. A black 15.2 hand percheron/qh that is a pmu filly. She looks EXACTLY like those stallions on the website!
There's a lot of great Canadian horses available that aren't Canadian horses!! Get it!??!!! :cool::winkgrin: I speak french to her so she can become a Canadian CHEVAL!!!

So what's the difference between an unregisterable Canadian horse and a pmu?!!! Especially if they are identical. Even her attributes are identical to the list from the Canadian horse registry. I'm betting a lot of us have been sold "Canadian horses" that were really Canadian PMU's that fit that physical description. I get to call my girls (I have 3, and you're welcome Canada!! ;))Canadian horses because they are! But do I call them sport horses?! Nope, not from THAT registry. Canadian warmbloods?! Nope not from that one either. Now I can't call her a Canadian Horse!!!!???? sheeeesh.......but they ARE warmblooded, from Canada AND sport horses.

Sorry, I'm just grumpy today........:D

[draftdriver]

Wateryglen, the Cheval Canadien is listed by Rare Breeds Canada as a threatened breed. Most breeders are very zealous in trying to conserve bloodlines. The horses are registered in their own registry with Canadian Livestock Records. There has been extensive DNA testing. Only the unscrupulous would market pmu crossbreds as "Canadians".

Enjoy your grade horse from Canada. There are fine horses out there of every breed and mixture.

[Diskretion]

Wateryglen - a bit grumpy you say!

A horse is a horse of course!
A cheval Canadien is not a Canadian sport horse.
Although depening on the regulations, perhaps he could become registered as a Canadian sport horse?
Much like a Hannoverian is not an Oldenberg.

Bottom line is, we love them all !

[Halt At X]

I was riding one for a while last year. She was very sweet, even though she was 3 and GREEN! She was a hard worker, tried her best and never had any explosive moments undersaddle (which is a great quality in any green horse!)

I know she was still growing and had some filling out to do, but she is 16h and I am 5'6" with average leg length and I could almost touch my toes under her barrel!

If I had the opportunity to purchase one, I definitely would!

[Wellspotted]

The one I know has wonderful HUGE feet, and can go barefoot (nice--since shoes that size must cost a lot!)

He's lovely, looks like an oversize pony, and can apparently have a bit of pony mentality at times too.

I Googled the breed once and found 3 breeders' Web sites, none of which agreed on the breed's history. Percheron ancestry? Or not? Friesian ancestors? Or not? The breed the Three Musketeers rode? Or not? I would be more apt to believe the Percheron ancestry than the Friesian--we had a Friesian at the barn at the same we had a Cheval Canadien, and their only resemblance was that they were both big and black and equine.

A horse from Canada may be a Canadian horse, but is not necessarily a Canadian Horse (Cheval Canadien).

[kashmere]

WateryGlen:

Le Cheval Canadien, also known as Le Petit Cheval de Fer (little iron horse), is a Canadian Heritage breed, not just any ol' horse from the great white north. :) The Canadian breed traces back to foundation stock brought to Acadia and New France in the 17th century. They're wonderful little horses, generally around 15hh, very stocky, excellent feet, good bone.

and, because i'm a stickler: OP, your subject line should really read "Les Chevaux Canadiens" pluralising in french is different than english! :winkgrin:

[Sabovee]

I have 3. :)

Be warned - they are incredible horses and it's hard to have just one.

I got mine from a WONDERFUL breeder in Ontario www.CanaDreamfarm.com

[Sabovee]

I have a Canadian horse from Alberta. A black 15.2 hand percheron/qh that is a pmu filly. She looks EXACTLY like those stallions on the website!
There's a lot of great Canadian horses available that aren't Canadian horses!! Get it!??!!! :cool::winkgrin: I speak french to her so she can become a Canadian CHEVAL!!!

So what's the difference between an unregisterable Canadian horse and a pmu?!!! Especially if they are identical. Even her attributes are identical to the list from the Canadian horse registry. I'm betting a lot of us have been sold "Canadian horses" that were really Canadian PMU's that fit that physical description. I get to call my girls (I have 3, and you're welcome Canada!! ;))Canadian horses because they are! But do I call them sport horses?! Nope, not from THAT registry. Canadian warmbloods?! Nope not from that one either. Now I can't call her a Canadian Horse!!!!???? sheeeesh.......but they ARE warmblooded, from Canada AND sport horses.

Sorry, I'm just grumpy today........:D

A Cheval Canadien and a PMU industry foal are NOT the same thing. Cheval Canadiens are a rare breed that has nothing to do with Canadian Sport Horses or Canadian Warmbloods.

[Wellspotted]

Originally posted by wateryglen:

I have a Canadian horse from Alberta. A black 15.2 hand percheron/qh that is a pmu filly. ... they ARE warmblooded, from Canada AND sport horses.

I personally wouldn't think of a draft cross as a sport horse. If she's really good at things sport horses are good at, maybe ... but I still think it's confusing.

I'm getting confused reading these descriptions of Chevaux Canadien on this thread (not questioning them, rather interested). The one I know is not at all a small horse--he is over 16 hands and makes his 6-foot-tall rider look small!

[Leena]

If this could help:

In 1665, 1668 and 1671, 3 shipments of horses came from France to New France for a total of 80 horses. Jean Talon, the intendant of the colony has a vision of the development and horses were needed to fulfill this vision.

The horses that came were probably from the Cotentin breed; they adapt to the nordic climate and only the strongest survived over the years.

You all can see this story on www.legacycanadians.com

After the reddition of New France, and early beginning of Canada, several breed were imported...But the Cheval Canadien was known for his speed, endurance all over the US and the rest of Canada.

In the civil war, people start to see how fast the Cheval Canadien was going south and we have to wait until vets and breeders started to ring the bell. The breed was almost extinct.

In 1910, the Canadian governement putted a breeding program to revive this breed; so for over 100 years, the Cheval Canadien has been bred and control by Canadian and after Quebec government. They have a closed registry that was opened once, around 1980, to put some new blood in the breed.

We do have DNA and also every horse has a micro chip. The way to name them is the same was used in France for the Selle Français. Every year, all the foals are named with the same letter.
We do have futurity and we are so proud of the progeny.

I have 2 at home and really...this is a great breed. Riding them is almost riding a piece of NA history !

[Wellspotted]

Thanks, Leena. Very informative! :) :yes:

Are they the breed ridden by the RCMP? (think I read that somewhere.)

I've also heard that they were influential in the development of the Morgan Horse (or that Figure himself was one of them). ??

The one I know is magnificent--just a bit big and unpredictable for me!

[Leena]

Thanks !!!

Actually RCMP breeding program involve hanoverian. But Quebec provincial horse police is strictly using Canadian horse.

For the Morgan horse; we should study DNA and this would probably put an end to the story.There is several facts that effectively would rely the 2 breed.

Canadian horse is also related to Standardbred; you know...200-300 hundred years ago the national sport was not baseball...It was racing horse, especially on ice. There was also mounted trotting race.

I have also to say that this breed has been related to politicians, rich people so we could trace back a lot of the bloodlines..Thank God ! I don't know how many nights reading the old papers it took me, above the archives.

I do recall one man refusing 4000$ in 1865 for his horse: Lion du Canada, a famous trotter.

[Fixerupper]

Wonderful to see genuine appreciation for a super breed...helps to put paid to those sad memories of 'near extinction'.

[Leena]

right !

I am training my 4 yrs for his first show and delighted by his attitude.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/Leena_photos/IMG_0108.jpg

I think I am going to have fun !!!

[Wellspotted]

Lovely picture!

[ika]

Thanks !!!
Canadian horse is also related to Standardbred; you know...200-300 hundred years ago the national sport was not baseball...It was racing horse, especially on ice. There was also mounted trotting race.


LOL Since when is our national sport Baseball? Hockey is our official winter sport and lacrosse is the official summer one.

Sorry..back to the original topic!

[Aimee Thanatogenus]

Your horse is a grade horse. It is not a Canadian Horse. That is the difference.

See, the thing is, just because a horse looks the same, doesn't mean it has the bloodlines.

In Canadian Horses it is the bloodlines that are important.

I have one and it's a wonderful horse who is an all around fantastic horse. Their history is rich and varied. If you care to go to Yahoo and look at the two Yahoo Groups on the Canadian horse, you will find a fiesty and dedicated group of people. There is a group dedicated to the history of the horse as well.

I thank god they aren't a random registration group like Paints or Pintos or whatever. It's not a LOOK, it's a rare and special breed. They are featured in Canadian artwork during the time of Canada's pioneer history as well as in written history.

These are special horses with a mind to match. Almost too smart for some people.

I personally like all the lines. There are larger, more sport horse sized horses that are a little controversial because the traditional size isn't quite as large.

No, they are not a 'miniature Friesian' either. NO comparison. They have a baroque design they inherit from the era in which they were imported, they are an all arounder, hearty, smart horse. Like the Morgan they can pull a plow, cut cows, do dressage, jump, back country trails, drive etc.

No, they aren't a Percheron/QH. No offense, but that is a bit of an insult to a breed that never needed the infusion of Thoroughbred like the ranch horses of the early 20th century that eventually became the modern QH. Canadian Horse comes from French baroque horses.

:yes::yes::yes:


I have a Canadian horse from Alberta. A black 15.2 hand percheron/qh that is a pmu filly. She looks EXACTLY like those stallions on the website!
There's a lot of great Canadian horses available that aren't Canadian horses!! Get it!??!!! :cool::winkgrin: I speak french to her so she can become a Canadian CHEVAL!!!

So what's the difference between an unregisterable Canadian horse and a pmu?!!! Especially if they are identical. Even her attributes are identical to the list from the Canadian horse registry. I'm betting a lot of us have been sold "Canadian horses" that were really Canadian PMU's that fit that physical description. I get to call my girls (I have 3, and you're welcome Canada!! ;))Canadian horses because they are! But do I call them sport horses?! Nope, not from THAT registry. Canadian warmbloods?! Nope not from that one either. Now I can't call her a Canadian Horse!!!!???? sheeeesh.......but they ARE warmblooded, from Canada AND sport horses.

Sorry, I'm just grumpy today........:D

[Ambrey]

Your horse is a grade horse. It is not a Canadian Horse. That is the difference.


I think it was a joke. Get it? "I have a Canadian horse?" Because it came from Canada?

She wasn't saying her horse was the same as the purebred, just teasing that she could pass him off as one without actually lying.

[Leena]

Ika, sorry. I did not want to start a polemic here.

In my research, I found Lacrosse was very popular but the real sport in every village was horse racing. Now I am talking in between 1760 and 1890. Hockey came after, baseball.

What is interesting in those years, especially in 1846 with the creation of the agricultural societies is the organisation of breeding and marketing.

To be able to breed, a stallion owner had to advertise twice in the local papers, had to make an announcement at his church and he had to keep and own the stallion at his place for the entire season. Finally he had to placed at the spring exposition.
Now these rules were also requested for a participation at the fall fair for the stallion and his offspring to be alloud to enter the competition.

There was horse races at the fall fair and at the end of the fair, an aunction.

This breed can be retraced if you have good eyes, speak a lot of french and ready to read and read many many nights !

[jodelaney]

They should rename the breed to CNH (Canada's National Horse) as even Canadians don't know the breed half the time. In 2002 the Cheval Canadien was named The National Horse of Canada. Dont think PMU's warrent that title even though a horse is a horse and as the other post said... we love them all....

[MyReality]

Very tough horse. They don't get sick, don't need no blanket, don't need shoes.

However, I haven't met one with the attitude I like. Tend to be a little stubborn, passive resistence type. They don't usually buck, rear or bolt. Then I find this strange thing about 2 Canadian's I encountered, 1 mare 1 gelding (belong to 2 people)... they are absolutely bomb proof, doesn't spook easily, but each has her own phobia... one is afraid of going on the road, one is afraid of cantering. Once the phobia developed, they always refer back to it, quite often. The mare's owner is able to get her to canter eventually, but once in a while, no reason at all, she would "forget", and behaves like she has never learned how to canter. Same thing with the gelding... gentle little horse, pile all your kids on him won't do a thing... but if you are able to get him on the road, he will suddenly remember he is supposed to not like it, and take you home.

Don't know if other Canadian owners would agree. I personally have not owned any.

[Roan]

Ika, sorry. I did not want to start a polemic here.

In my research, I found Lacrosse was very popular but the real sport in every village was horse racing. Now I am talking in between 1760 and 1890. Hockey came after, baseball.. . .

Leena,

Lacrosse was named the official sport of Canada in 1859, a few years before Confederation in 1867. Horse racing may have been popular, but it was never a nationally recognized sport.

In 1994 it was changed from being the National Sport to being the official "summer" sport and hockey was named as the official "winter" sport.

Baseball was played in the 1800s, as was hockey, but it was casually played and there were no "real" baseball clubs until the Expos in 1969.

Eileen

[Leena]

For sure horse racing has not been recognised...Héé...The church would not have alloud this !!!!

My reality, I own 2. I would not say stubborn but they have such an envelop. Everything that make them tough to live will make them tough to train if I can speak that way.

My 4 yrs has quite a placid attitude, quiet but he can speed up easily if something scared him. I find that suppleness and focus are 2 issues with them. Once it is well understood that you are the boss, then it is ok.
He will rely on me for everything...He will even hide behind me if he is not sure of something...like a dog.

I find they are very intelligent horse, get bored easily on repetitive work and I cannot say I am going to punish by working harder..They are terrible at this game.

[LivviesMom]

Good friends of mine currently have two Canadians. The younger one is showing very nice potential for dressage and also has a gorgeous jump to him.. He was also approved as an American Sportpony. Too bad the site belonging to the farm that is managing is down.. theres a wonderful trot photo undersaddle..

http://www.americansportpony.com/stallionroster.php#J

[Roan]

For sure horse racing has not been recognised...Héé...The church would not have alloud this !!!!

Got that right!

Joliette is a wonderful town, btw, very rustic. I spent a summer in La Tuque when I was a kid -- talk about HOT! in the summer. Wow. My family is from Ottawa/Hull.

Eileen

[Leena]

Thank you Roan !

It is a nice little town indeed. La Tuque is more north...lots of bugs over there !

[CentreEquestre]

Some gorgeous horses ladies! Nice to see there a couple Canadian Horse owners out there. Looking forwards to getting my guy started:)