SDG COUNTIES, Ontario - Upper Canada Village (UCV) is home to stories, traditions and history from the 1860s - and now it's also the hallowed ground of a Canadian agricultural icon.
On Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 a life size, bronze statue of Canada’s National Horse, the Canadian, was unveiled to great aplomb.
The statue, designed by creator Dave Sheridan, is an iconic display of a Canadian pulling a stump from the ground. Upper Canada Village is proud of its work with Canadian Horses. UCV maintains a breeding program for Canadian Horses, with a dedicated team that cares for these magnificent creatures, keeping the breed alive in Canada. Once commonplace on Canadian farms during the 1800s, the Canadian Horse is now endangered. When the numbers of the Canadian breed were dwindling and becoming dangerously low, the Village’s breeding program played an important role in bolstering their population.
At Upper Canada Village, the Canadian Horse is showcased ploughing the fields, working the drag-saw, pulling the stagecoach and carry-alls, delivering the bread and as the steady partner pulling the Tow Scow along the canal. Pommier Carriages are pulled by Canadian horses during Pumpkinferno and Alight at Night. This project serves as a reminder of its historical importance and the need to preserve this incredible breed.
A passionate group of horse-loving community volunteers came together to spearhead the project of erecting a statue which honours Canada’s National Horse. This breed, often referred to as the “little iron horse” was officially recognized as the country's official horse in 2002. Some $200,000 was raised from the private sector to help offset the cost of design, production and installation of the statue.