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Canadian Horse
Average Height:
14 - 16 hands
Colors:
Black, bay, chestnut.
Conformation:
The ideal Canadian horse should have a short, straight, rectangular head, set high with a small mouth and a large, flat forehead. The neck should be almost straight with well-muscled sides. The Canadian has a long, full mane and tail, slightly low withers, and a wide chest. The back should be short and straight.
Temperament:
Friendly, calm and affectionate.
Members of this breed often excel in the following disciplines:
- Jumping / Eventing
- Driving
- Dressage
Breed History:
The ancestors of the modern Canadian horse first arrived in the New France region of Canada in July of 1665. They were sent to the colonies by the French King Louis XIV, but little is known about their ancestry beyond the fact that they were Norman and Breton bred.
The first of the horses to arrive in New France were used by religious orders and gentlemen for agricultural purposes. A notorized contract obligated their owners to breed them, which helped to rapidly increase their numbers. Cross breeding with other horses was infrequent, primarily because the difficult topography of the Appalachian mountains prevented much interaction with neighbors, but also because the war between France and England forbid interaction with the English colonists to the South. For nearly 100 years the French colonies' horses were protected from the influence of outside bloodlines. By 1793 there were more than 14,000 horses living in the French Canadian colonies, and a new breed had emerged.
Native Country Breed Association:
Canadian Horse Breeders Association
Canada
(613) 731-7110
www.chevalcanadien.com
Other Breed Association:
Canadian Livestock Records Corporation
2417 Holly Lane
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1V 0M7
Canada
www.clrc.ca/canadianhorse.shtml
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