Horse Journals Staff 

Augustin Georg Walch, founder of W. Charlot Farms in Stratford, Ontario, and a respected figure in Canadian sport horse breeding, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2026, at his home in Weilheim an der Teck, Germany. He was 86. 

Born in Munich, Germany, on August 29, 1940, Walch immigrated to Canada in 1980, settling in Stratford with his five children. There, he established W. Charlot Farms, which would become one of the country's most successful sport horse breeding operations, producing horses that excelled in competition across North America and internationally. 

Walch began breeding horses in his native Germany before continuing his work in Canada, ultimately dedicating more than 50 years to developing quality sport horses. His approach combined a keen understanding of bloodlines with a commitment to breeding horses capable of excelling in different disciplines, while remaining willing and enjoyable partners for their riders. 

A defining moment came in 1989 when Walch discovered the three-year-old stallion Rio Grande at an auction in Germany. Rio Grande went on to become an accomplished Grand Prix show jumper, qualifying for the Canadian Olympic team, and an influential sire whose offspring achieved considerable success in the hunter ring. Rio Grande's achievements in competition and as a sire brought widespread recognition to Walch's breeding program. 

Augustin Walch, founder of W. Charlot Farms, spent more than five decades breeding and developing sport horses in Germany and Canada. Credit: W Charlot Farm Facebook 

The farm's success continued through other notable stallions, including Cabardino, an accomplished hunter and jumper who became an influential sire in his own right. Cabardino was named the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Leading Hunter Sire in 2017, while W. Charlot Farms earned USEF Hunter Breeder of the Year honours 14 times by 2019. 

Walch's breeding program also produced successful international show jumpers and young horse champions. Among them were Catwalk, winner of two World Cup qualifiers, and Augustine, who captured the Ontario, Eastern Canada, and Canadian Show Jumping Championships for five-year-old horses in 2007. 

His influence extended into dressage through horses such as Viva's Salieri, a Canadian-bred Hanoverian stallion ridden by Tom Dvorak. The pair contributed to Canada's team silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Games, where they also finished fourth individually. 

For Walch, breeding exceptional athletes was only part of the equation. He understood that a horse's potential could only be realized through knowledgeable training and a compatible partnership with its rider. 

Walch retired in 2020, passing the breeding operation and its legacy to his daughter, Inge Walch-Allard. Through the horses he bred and the generations that followed, Walch helped establish a legacy that continues to influence Canadian equestrian sport. 

Remembered by his family as a devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and lifelong equestrian, Walch passed away with his wife Christine by his side. 

A celebration of life will be held in Canada in spring 2027, with further details to be announced. His family welcomes memories, stories, and experiences from those who knew Walch or whose lives were touched by the horses he bred. 

Main Photo: Augustin Walch (right), founder of W. Charlot Farms and a prominent figure in Canadian sport horse breeding, passed away on November 2, 2026, at the age of 86. Credit: W Charlot Farm Facebook