Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
Horses have lived with humans for thousands of years but have been on Earth for much longer — about 50 million years! Humans have used them for sport, hauling, plowing, recreation, and racing. They’ve been our companions and friends and are known for their intelligence, speed, and beauty.
Since Canada has a long history with horses, you might wonder how many horses live in this vast and diverse country of ours. We answer that question and share nine more interesting facts and statistics here.
10 Horses in Canada Statistics
It’s estimated that there are approximately 500,000 horses in Canada.
There were 4,457 horses registered in Canada in 2021.
The most registered breed in Canada in 2021 is the Standardbred, with 1,172 registrations.
Alberta is the province with the most horses in Canada at 33%.
There are approximately 2,500 wild horses in Canada.
There were 1,178 wild horses in Alberta in 2022.
Sable Island, Nova Scotia; Chilcotin Plateau, B.C.; and Bronson Forest, Saskatchewan, all have wild horse herds.
The average revenue of the Canadian horse industry for 2020 was $304,000.
In 2019, 225,250 children participated in equine sports.
There were 1,000 top equestrian athletes in 2019.
Horses in Canada Statistics
1. It’s estimated that there are approximately 500,000 horses in Canada.
(Fédération Équestre Internationale)
855,000 people actively work in the horse industry, of which about 550,000 live in homes with owned horses, and the other 350,400 use horses owned by others.
Image Credit: Beatrice Foord St Laurent, Shutterstock
2. There were 4,457 horses registered in Canada in 2021.
(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
In 2021, horse registrations were down by 1,026 since 2017. There were 5,483 in 2017, 5,062 in 2018, 5,230 in 2019, and 4,619 in 2020.
3. The most registered breed in Canada in 2021 is the Standardbred, with 1,172 registrations.
(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
The second most registered horse was the Thoroughbred with 938 registrations, followed by the Percheron with 427, and the Belgian with 362.
4. Alberta is the province with the most horses in Canada at 33%.
(Horse Journals)
Ontario has the second-highest number of horses at 22%, followed by Quebec and B.C. at 12% each.
Wild Horses Statistics
5. There are approximately 2,500 wild horses in Canada.
(Horse Canada)
It’s estimated that there were 2 million mustangs on North American foothills and plains about 100 years ago. In 2019, more than 88,000 wild horses and burros were on land of the Bureau of Land Management (an agency in the U.S.).
Image Credit: Julie Marshall, Shutterstock
6. There were 1,178 wild horses in Alberta in 2022.
(Government of Alberta)
This is almost half of Canada’s wild horse population! However, there is controversy concerning Albert’s horse population. The Government of Alberta considers these horses feral or stray because they were originally domesticated and are culled from time to time.
7. Sable Island, Nova Scotia; Chilcotin Plateau, B.C.; and Bronson Forest, Saskatchewan, all have wild horse herds.
(Cottage Life)
The horses on Sable Island, N.S., are smaller and are a genetically unique breed. They have lived on the island since the 1700s and are protected today by the government. It’s thought there are between 400 to 550 horses.
Chilcotin Plateau in B.C. has about 1,000 horses that are also genetically unique and are protected by a preserve of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations.
Bronson Forest in Saskatchewan has a small herd of wild horses protected by the government since 2009.
Canadian Horse Industry Statistics
8. The average revenue of the Canadian horse industry for 2020 was $304,000.
(Government of Canada)
This revenue is based on the raising of horses, donkeys, mules, and other equines.
Image Credit: N. Mitchell, Shutterstock
9. In 2019, 225,250 children participated in equine sports.
(Fédération Équestre Internationale)
The children outnumbered the adults in terms of sports, as there were 117,000 adults in equine sports. But in general, more adults than children, with 59% adults and 41% children, participated with horses in leisure activities.
10. There were 1,000 top equestrian athletes in 2019.
(Fédération Équestre Internationale)
In 2019, these athletes saw 35 platinum-level events take place, which included Pan Am and the Olympics. Team Canada won gold and bronze in Eventing at the Lima Pan AM Games in 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions About Horses in Canada
How long have horses been around?
The earliest horses originated in North America about 50 million years ago and eventually spread to the rest of the world. But the North American breeds went extinct about 10,000 years ago. It’s believed that domesticated horses came from central Asia about 3000 to 4000 B.C. (Live Science)
Image Credit: Dolores M. Harvey, Shutterstock
How many breeds of horses are there?
All horses evolved from the Equus caballus, but there are about 350 horse breeds, all of which serve a specific function. There are draft horses that are strong workhorses, such as the Clydesdale. Light horses are the most common and are used for racing and jumping, like the Thoroughbred.
There are warm-blooded horses used for jumping and dressage, like the Swedish Warmblood, and gaited horses commonly used for travelling, such as the Tennessee Walking Horse. Finally, there are colour breeds like the American Paint Horse. (Live Science)
The Canadian Horse is the official national breed of Canada.
The Canadian Rustic Pony is a gentle and sweet pony that does well with children.
The Lac La Croix Indian Pony is quite rare and was bred with Spanish Mustangs to keep them from becoming extinct. The Ojibwe developed them.
The Newfoundland Pony came from English, Scottish, and Irish ponies and is quite small, even for a pony. They are quite friendly with people, so they are great for children.
The Sable Island Horse is a wild horse from Nova Scotia. They are resilient, adaptable, and peaceful horses.
The Canadian Pacer originated through the mix of the Canadian Horse and the Narragansett Pacer. They are energetic and wonderful for racing and leisure riding. (Pet Keen)
Where are the most popular equestrian events held?
Spruce Meadows in Calgary brings in the most highly honoured jumping names. It’s been holding events since the 1970s and will see as many as 500,000 visitors each year. It has enough stables for 1,000 horses! (Fédération Équestre Internationale)
Why are Alberta’s wild horses called feral?
The wild horses in Alberta are called feral because the government states that they are not native species to the prairies. It’s believed that they are in competition with the native species of wildlife that reside in Alberta, which is why they are culled at times. The horses are usually captured and either sold and tamed or slaughtered. (Global News)
Conclusion
Canada’s love for horses and horse events is here to stay. These beautiful, intelligent, and majestic animals have such a long history with humans, and we love to see the strong bonds that develop between horses and their owners.
Featured Image Credit: jessica skene, Shutterstock
