Canadian Pacer
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Pacer is a horse breed of which only small numbers remain.
mares
were crossed with Dutch
and English
stock. The bloodlines of the Canadian Pacer are not exactly known, but are thought to be descended from the French Norman horse and a strain of pacers (possibly Narragansett
or an English pacer) bred in the 1820s. The Canadian Horse
was extremely hardy and possessed much endurance, but did not have natural pacing ability, so it was necessary to import the Narragansett
to breed it in.
The resulting Canadian Pacer was small, although larger than the Narragansett
. They were described as having heads too large for their fine, lean body, and had small eyes. The Canadian Pacer influenced the Tennessee Walker
, the American Saddlebred
and the Standardbred.
The most notable Canadian Pacer sire was the blue roan
Tom Hal, who was foaled in Canada in 1806 and then taken to Kentucky
. He had a heavy influence on the three aforementioned breeds. Another influential sire was Old Pacer Pilot, foaled in 1826, who was important in the lineages of many Gaited horse
s.
History
In the Canadian Provinces, FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
mares
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
were crossed with Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
stock. The bloodlines of the Canadian Pacer are not exactly known, but are thought to be descended from the French Norman horse and a strain of pacers (possibly Narragansett
Narragansett Pacer
The Narragansett Pacer was the first horse breed developed in the United States, but is now extinct. It was developed in the United States during the 18th century and associated closely with the state of Rhode Island, and it had become extinct by the late 19th century...
or an English pacer) bred in the 1820s. The Canadian Horse
Canadian Horse
The Canadian Horse is a breed of horse developed in Canada. Although previously relatively unknown due to its rarity, the Canadian Horse has influenced many other North American breeds, including the Morgan, American Saddlebred, and Standardbred...
was extremely hardy and possessed much endurance, but did not have natural pacing ability, so it was necessary to import the Narragansett
Narragansett Pacer
The Narragansett Pacer was the first horse breed developed in the United States, but is now extinct. It was developed in the United States during the 18th century and associated closely with the state of Rhode Island, and it had become extinct by the late 19th century...
to breed it in.
The resulting Canadian Pacer was small, although larger than the Narragansett
Narragansett Pacer
The Narragansett Pacer was the first horse breed developed in the United States, but is now extinct. It was developed in the United States during the 18th century and associated closely with the state of Rhode Island, and it had become extinct by the late 19th century...
. They were described as having heads too large for their fine, lean body, and had small eyes. The Canadian Pacer influenced the Tennessee Walker
Tennessee Walker
The Tennessee Walker or Tennessee Walking Horse is a breed of riding horse. The breed was originally bred in the Southern United States to carry the owners of plantations around their lands...
, the American Saddlebred
American Saddlebred
The American Saddlebred, formerly known as the American Saddle Horse, is a breed of horse that was developed in Kentucky by plantation owners. Today, in the horse show world, they are most commonly seen under saddle in Saddle seat style riding, and in various types of driving, including pleasure...
and the Standardbred.
The most notable Canadian Pacer sire was the blue roan
Roan (horse)
Roan is a horse coat color pattern characterized by an even mixture of colored and white hairs on the body, while the head and "points"—lower legs, mane and tail—are more solid-colored. The roan pattern is dominantly-inherited, and is found in many horse breeds...
Tom Hal, who was foaled in Canada in 1806 and then taken to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He had a heavy influence on the three aforementioned breeds. Another influential sire was Old Pacer Pilot, foaled in 1826, who was important in the lineages of many Gaited horse
Gaited horse
Gaited horses are horse breeds that have natural gaited tendencies, that is, the ability to perform one of the smooth to ride, intermediate speed four-beat horse gaits, collectively referred to as ambling gaits....
s.