Alongside Canada鈥檚 national flower, sport, symbol and bird, is a national animal that is often forgotten. Canada鈥檚 national horse, Le Cheval Canadien, is in danger of disappearing. An Uxbridge equestrian centre, however, is dedicated to the revival of this special breed.聽聽聽
Hundreds of years ago, in about 1665, King Louis XIV of France began shipping mares and stallions, with bloodlines from the King鈥檚 Royal Stud, to Acadia and New France. These horses had great abilities to adapt to harsh climates (like Canada鈥檚 cold winters), rough terrains and were easily trained. They became known as the Canadian Horse, or Le Cheval Canadien. While the breed was well known to American colonists, it is rather rare today. After being used in the American Civil War and for breeding to diversify genetics in American stock, but its popularity in Canada waned.聽 Despite this, however, and despite the fact that the horse was smaller in size and often thought of as the 鈥淨uebec pony,鈥� the Canadian Horse was declared by the Parliament of Canada to be the National Horse of Canada in 1909.聽聽
In 2018, Barb Malcom, owner and head coach of Churchill Chimes Equestrian Centre on Webb Rd., committed to doing her part to save the Canadian Horse. Alongside her riding school, Malcolm set up a sister company called Donalf Farms, specifically to breed the Canadian horses in an attempt to bring back the name and the breed.聽聽聽
鈥淚 had worked as a professional for over 20 years and just happened to buy an unpapered Canadian gelding. He is one of the most darling horses I鈥檝e ever had,鈥� says Malcom.聽聽
Very soon Malcom fell in love with the breed.聽聽聽
鈥淭hey are durable, willing, personable and versatile. I went from being a 鈥渃rossbreed person鈥� to being completely wowed by this purebred.鈥澛犅�
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing for Canadians not to know Canada has a national horse, but for horse people not to know, it just shows how much the breed is in trouble,鈥� says Malcom.聽聽聽
If it weren鈥檛 for a pandemic, this year Malcom had plans to contact Heritage Canada and rally for government assistance in the fight for the Canadian Horse.聽聽聽
鈥淲e would love to see federal support,鈥� says Malcom. 鈥淚t really is an altruistic endeavour, but they鈥檙e worth it.鈥澛犅�
Malcolm dreams of one day having all the horses in her riding school be Canadian Horses.聽聽聽
鈥淭hey are so little known, but absolutely remarkable,鈥� says Malcolm.聽聽聽
For more information about the national horse of Canada, visit lechevalcanadien.com or find Malcom鈥檚 breeding farm at donalffarms.com
