BELGIAN HISTORY

Each of the draft breeds (horse over 1600 lbs.) of horses was originally developed for warfare to carry the enormous weight of soldiers in armor. These early war-horses, known as either the "Great Horses" or the "Flemish Horse" (which existed before the time of Caesar) were the forebears of all our breeds of modern draft horses. The Belgian originated in the lowlands in the country of Belgium and is the most direct lineal descendent of the Flemish horse.   Belgians were first imported to Canada in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

CANADIAN BELGIAN REGISTRATIONS

Belgian registrations are documented and maintained by the Canadian Belgian Horse Association at Schomberg, Ontario under the rules and regulations of the Canadian Belgian Horse Association and the Livestock Pedigree Act.

In 2008 there were 671 Belgians registered and 558 transferred between owners in Canada. To be eligible for registration a horse must be an offspring of both a registered Belgian dam and sire or be registered in the Stud Book des Chevaux de Trait Belges or be registered in the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America. Since the incorporation date of the Canadian Belgian Horse Association in 1907, there have been over 38,787 Belgian Horses registered.

In Canada today, as in Belgium 100 years ago, the show ring is the best tool for the improvement of the breed, through competition and comparison.

Canadian Belgian horses are world-renowned and are exported as far away as Japan and South America, and have won top honors consistently at the major shows in the United States.