Did You Know?
2Northern
2The first Queen’s Plate was held in Canada in 1860. It was restricted to Thoroughbred horses bred in Upper Canada that had never won public money. As many as 4,000 people were in attendance to watch the horse Don Juan sprint to victory for owner James White.
HORSES, BREEDERS
2In 1897, the Canadian-bred “Banquo” was awarded Champion Hackney stallion in Chicago
and the Unique Environment of Canada
Canada is recognised as one of the world’s most established and most respected stakeholders in equine livestock production and equine sport participation. A tradition of superior equine husbandry has evolved in the unique environment of Canada where commitment to excellence and expertise along with dedicated breeding programs has led to an innovative industry. Because of these uniquely Canadian attributes, Canada’s breeders have produced many world-class horses throughout history. An ongoing commitment to improvements in Canadian breeding stock ensures that these attributes will continue to flourish into the future.
Key Elements for Developing Quality-bred Horses in Canada • Canada’s landmass and climate allow horses to be raised on large, open ranges in a natural, healthy environment that contributes to their overall hardiness, soundness and mental development
for owner, Senator Robert Beith, also known as the “The Hackney King of Canada”. Senator Beith was President of the Canadian Hackney Society from 1895 to 1899. • Producers regularly participate in breed inspections for pedigree breeding animals and Canada’s equine breeds are protected under the Animal Pedigree Act • Canadian breeders are educated, technologically advanced business people who have established breeding programs with the goal of exceeding quality expectations • Transportation channels for horses and reproductive technologies have enabled producers to acquire proven performance bloodlines essential to developing quality breeding stock from other regions of Canada and from other parts of the world • World-class infrastructure is in place in Canada that enables breeders, trainers, equine sport participants and others in the value chain to produce and develop Canadian-bred horses, ponies, donkeys and mules that are sought after by customers worldwide • Regulated, nationally and internationally sanctioned sport competitions enable Canadian-bred horses to be developed to international standards
2Following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the first running of the King’s Plate was won by William Hendrie’s 3-year-old filly, Lyddite.
Dancer is Canada’s most successful Canadian-bred Thoroughbred. Bred by E.P. Taylor and born at his Ontario farm called the National Stud, which in turn became Windfields Farm, the 1964 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was named www.davelandryphoto.com Canada’s Athlete of the Year, Horse of the Year and top three-year-old in North America. As a stallion, Northern Dancer was prolific. Widely sought after, his stud fee rose to over $1 million in 1981. By 2000, his influence on the international Thoroughbred breeding industry was unparalleled. As the sire of innumerable champions on four continents, he is considered by many horsemen as the greatest of the 20th century. A Northern Dancer yearling sold for a world-record $10.2 million and he has sired 146 stakes winners. At the advanced age of 21, he attracted a $40 million offer from a French syndicate. In 2004, a remarkable 18 starters at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris had Northern Dancer’s blood in their pedigrees.
2In 1998, a decade after incorporating under the Animal Pedigree Act, the Canadian Donkey & Mule Association (CDMA) closed its Registry. Any donkey that was already registered with the CDMA was considered to be a Purebred and only a donkey with a registered sire and dam can now be registered. Donkeys with only one registered parent can be registered as percentage purebred. A foreign registered donkey must have three complete generations recorded in order for it to be given the status of Purebred by the CDMA.
Parks Canada/Bar U Ranch National Historic Site
Garou, Halifax and Americain, three prominent stallions from the Bar U Ranch. Halifax was regarded as one of the top 10 Percheron stallions of his time.
2Between 1902 and 1925, Bar U Ranch in Alberta was known internationally as a centre of horse breeding excellence and was the largest breeding operation of Percheron draft horses in the world in the early 1900s. The Bar U Ranch still exists today as a National Historic Site of Canada.
2According to the “Canada Yearbook 1918”, there were 2,866,008 horses in Canada in 1913. By 1918, that number had risen to 3,609,257.
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78 — FROM MEADOWS TO MEDALS The Canadian Equine Experience
Special Feature for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games—Kentucky 2010 | www.equinecanada.com — 79