Parks Canada’s team of Percheron draft horses at a historic ranch south of Calgary has expanded from six to eight and the organization is asking for the public’s help with the naming of its new gentle giants.
The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada, located south of the town of Longview along the Cowboy Trail, has purchased two black male Percherons, an eight-year-old and a five-year-old, to reduce the workload of its oldest team.
“One of our teams is getting a little bit older and we thought we’d help them out a little bit and we were able to find another team of Percherons,” said Michael McLean, Bar U Ranch site manager. “When I picked them up from the fellow that we had purchased them from and he says ‘I don’t really think they have any good names, you should go ahead and name them’.”
The new horse team will assist Licorice, Smudge, Skoal, Bandit, Hawkeye and Radar with the shuttling of wagons of guests from the visitor centre to historical core of the working ranch that was established in 1882.
McLean, a fourth generation rancher, says the herd of eight is ideal for the ranch.
“It gives us that opportunity to make sure all the horses have enough work but they’re well rested in between. We’re really proud and pleased to have them with us.”
Percherons, which originated in the La Perche region of France, have been instrumental in the successes of the Bar U Ranch for more than a century. George Lane, the second owner of the ranch, observed desired traits in the breed that he believed would make them ideal workhorses on the Canadian prairies.
“(Lane) imported horses from France, imported good horses from North America and created the largest Percheron breeding operation of its kind in the world,” explained McLean. “Possibly a thousand horses thundering around here at one time.”
McLean adds the Percherons are much more than just a form of transportation on the ranch.
“What better way to let people know how important ranching was to the development of Canada than having an introduction by the very horses that helped to make it so.”
The winning submission in the naming competition will receive a Parks Canada Family Discovery Annual Pass good for entrance to all national parks and historic sites. Entries should be short in length to allow the horses an opportunity to learn their names.
To enter the competition, email the Bar U Ranch or tweet your submission to @BarURanchNHS. The contest will close on February 29, 2016.
