Richard and I first discovered the Canadian Horse while living in Quebec, as two of a handful of English-speaking persons. While Richard had his work environment, I found the best way to make friends was through my love of horses—which transcends language and cultural barriers quickly. Fairly quickly we bought a little blue-roan Quarter Horse cross mare and boarded her at a local riding stable.
“Quarter Horse” I knew, and there were several other breeds, pure and mixed at the stable. Yet, the mare tended to draw the eye even in a galloping herd of over 30, and it wasn’t just her color. When we did a little research, we were amazed to find many of her special traits were from the “Cheval Canadien” as it was known in French. Our 20th century mare was a descendent of horses selected from the stables of King Louis XIV and shipped to his French colonies in the “New World” back in the 17th century.
Since that day 25 years ago, we’ve found many more people who share the passion for this rare breed. Many of you are familiar with Elk River Canadians and us, Richard and Susan Arthur, through our various driving clinics and participation in equestrian riding and driving competitions in Barriere over the years. We also joined with Canadian Horse owners, John, Jacqueline and Matthew Reedy, to host a Canadian Horse Heritage and Preservation Society booth at the North Thompson Fall Fair.
One of the reasons we moved to Barriere was to be closer to the stallions of Cherry Creek Canadians in Kamloops. The Reedys moved in next to us and by 2010 had bought the last filly we raised, Elk River Fonzie Pippin-Jerie. Last year they bought a mare from Double Diamond Canadians in Enderby. As of this year John and Jacqueline Reedy are registered by the Canadian Horse Breeder Association as Double R Canadians. On May 24, 2017 each of their mares produced a foal sired by a Double Diamond stallion.
The Canadian Horse has come a long way in the past 350 years. A very special honour was bestowed by an act of Parliament in 2002 when the Canadian Horse/Cheval Canadien was given the official title of the “National Horse of Canada” . So…What better way to celebrate Canada Day than to spend some time with its national horse. To help you do just that, Elk River Canadians and Double R Canadians are opening their doors to you. We’ll have various sizes and shapes of Canadian Horses on display and for the first time in many years, there will be the cutest little baby horses to watch. Their colors alone are worth the trip.
Photo opportunities abound. There will be written displays and pamphlets for those of you who want to learn more about the breed. You can even experience a little history first hand by taking a short ride in a horse-drawn cart.
Join us and touch a piece of Canadian history on Canada Day!
Open Barn Details
Where: 5997 and 6061 Bison Ranch Road (we are next to each other. Bison Ranch Road is a T-intersection about 18 kms up Barriere Lakes Road, just before it crosses the Barriere River.)
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, 2017.
Price: Free to all humans
NO DOGS ALLOWED (or any other animal, leashed or otherwise)
No concession on site. Water will be available.
You can contact Elk River Canadians directly by email: susanarthur@xplornet.ca, or call 250-672-0221.