Spirit Horses
Rare and Endangered Spirit Horses
Learn about the Ojibwe Spirit Horses and how TJ Stables is dedicated to help save these endangered horses.
History of Survival
The Ojibwe Spirit Horse is thought to be the only existing breed of horse developed by Indigenous people in Canada. It is a small horse that once lived freely in the boreal forest and is a spirit animal for the Indigenous people. In the first half of the twentieth century. Ojibwe Spirit Horses were replaced by the internal combustion engine and were caught and sold for dog meat and glue. By 1977, the numbers had dwindled from thousands… to four. Canadian health officials had reportedly deemed the four remaining horses a health risk and made plans to destroy them.
To prevent the loss of these last horses, five men from Bois Forte and Lac La Croix rescued them in an action resembling a heist movie. They loaded the horses onto a trailer and drove them across the frozen lake to a private property in Minnesota where a breeding effort was launched that continues today. Sadly, there are still fewer than 200 Ojibwe horses in existence and even those numbers are threatened as several breeders are retiring. In particular, keeping a good selection of stallions is critical to maintaining the breed’s already limited gene pool, but very few people have the resources and facilities to care for stallions.
Why They Matter
It would be tragic to lose an entire breed, especially one that is native to this country and an integral part of aboriginal history. Ojibwe elder, Fred Isham, recalled, “our horses ran around here free, the way dogs run. When you wanted to use a horse, you just went and caught one. Most of ‘em were like community horses.” They were traditionally used for hauling logs and ice, checking trap lines, and riding. Today, this friendly, all-purpose breed is used in Indigenous programs, equine therapy, and tourism. Additionally, because of their great temperaments, athleticism, and people-positive attitude, Ojibwe Spirit Horses horses excel in equine disciplines ranging from show jumping to driving to trail riding.
A call-out on social media from the Ojibwe Horse Society asking for new caretakers caught the attention of TJ Stables owners, Terry and John. They reached out to Rhonda Snow, a breeder located in Fort Frances, Ontario. During the Summer of 2019, TJ Stables welcomed 18 Ojibwe Spirit Horses into a breeding program intended to preserve their genetics, continue to grow the numbers of the breed, and to bring awareness to these amazing horses. Terry is the founder of TJ Stables, which is located near three First Nations reserves where Ojibwe Spirit Horses traditionally lived. Having heard about them from her father, Terry had spent years trying to find descendants of these same horses, encountering endless false leads and dead ends until she saw the Ojibwe Horse Society’s post on Facebook. Finally, some of these horses are returning to an area from which they have been extirpated. Terry and John join a small but highly dedicated group of Ojibwe Spirit Horse caretakers that work to preserve this very special breed. There are only about 30 Ojibwe stallions and 80 Ojibwe mares of breeding age alive in the world today. They currently live across Canada, and northern USA. Many other caretakers raise awareness about the breed by displaying the ponies at public exhibitions and using them in program such as equine assisted learning.
How You Can Help
Thanks to the remarkable caretakers, the breed’s chances of survival are improving. The Ojibwe Horse Society continues to develop breeding and research initiatives, working with caretakers, scientists, and veterinarians. We have begun a semen collection and storage program. Geneticist, Dr. Gus Cothran, has suggested sequencing the whole genome of the breed to learn more about its origins, an endeavor that has recently come down dramatically in price due to new advancements in technology.
To continue finding these Ojibwe Spirit Horses and preserving their genetics, please consider donating or sponsoring a Spirit Horse at TJ Stables. All proceeds will go towards taking care of these Spirit Horses. For more information send us an email.
Proceeds (e-transfers) can be sent to: howdy@tjstables.ca
Please note: We do not have a charity registered for the Spirit Horses therefore there will be no charitable receipt given to those who donate.
