Canadian horses are believed to generate more power per pound of body weight than any other horse breed in the world

discover animals
WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more.
Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day.

Enter email now
Canadian Horse Pictures
View all of our Canadian Horse pictures in the gallery.
Image Credit © meunierd/Shutterstock.com

View all of the Canadian Horse images!
Find your favorite Animals!
Search
The first horses forming the Canadian breed were imported into Canada from the stables of King Louis XIV of France in 1665 and 1670.

By 1700, there were about 700 of these horses in the county, with farmers importing some into the United States. Just like then, the Canadian horse, sometimes called the little iron horse or the cheval Canadian horse, was prized for its great versatility as it could pull a wagon, do farm work and be ridden.
5 Incredible Canadian Horse Facts!

Canadian horses can be used for riding, pulling wagons and farm work
Canadian horses can handle Canada’s harsh climate easier than many breeds.

The docile temperament of Canadian horses makes them an excellent choice for new riders and families
The first Canadian horse arrived in Canada in 1647 as a gift from the Compangnie des Habitants to Governor de Montmagny.
The first Canadian horses belonged to the government, but they were rented to farmers. If the farmer kept the horse alive for three years, then the horse and any colts became the farmer’s property.

Canadian Horse Scientific Name
The scientific name of the Canadian horse breed is Equus ferus caballus. Horses registered with the Canadian Horse Breeders have a unique way to be named. The breeder chooses a herd name. For example, Murphy’s Law. Then, the next part of the name is the sire’s name. For instance, if the sire is known as Oder, Murphy’s Law Order would be the name.

12,520 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz
Think You Can?
Next, each of the names is given a unique one. For example, if you love the name Clover, then the horse becomes Murphy’s Law Order Clover. Finally, the horse is given a letter of the alphabet based on the year it was foaled. Pretend the horse was foaled in 2021, and the assigned letter for the year was J. Therefore, the horse’s full name would be Murphy’s Law Order Clover J. The names allow people to trace the horse’s heritage easily.

Most Canadian horses are black. You can find other colors, including brown, bays and sorrels. The majority have black manes and tails, except for those who are a sorrel color, and they have flaxen manes and tails. Owners often find that gelded horses who are a shade of black colors sell for less. Therefore, if you are looking to get into this breed, you may want to consider horses that are black colors before other choices.