Nowadays, the blaring siren of a fire truck elicits a sense of awe and urgency as it races through the streets. People pause, marveling at the sleek, red machines with their chrome accents, while firefighters in dark uniforms hurry toward their mission. Yet, this image of modern firefighting is a far cry from the past, when cities depended not on engines of metal, but on the bravery and strength of fire-horses. In those days, citizens gathered in awe to witness the magnificent animals spring into action, playing a critical role in saving lives.

Horseback riders across Canada are advocating for horse use on provincial and regional trails. In Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia (BC) that often means resolving potential conflicts with other user groups. On Prince Edward Island (PEI) it’s meant trying to gain access to the Confederation Trail — a 470-kilometre stretch of Canada’s Great Trail, previously called the Trans Canada Trail, which follows a former railway bed across the island.

Did you know that a stunning working horse ranch, backed by the Canadian government and open to trail riders, sits on the doorstep of the Rocky Mountains? Yes, it’s true. Ya Ha Tinda Ranch — owned and operated by Parks Canada — is the only federally run horse ranch in the country and marked its 100th anniversary in 2017.

In the late 19th century, a remarkable Orlov Trotter named Clever Hans captivated the equine world with his alleged ability to perform complex intellectual tasks. Owned and trained by Wilhelm von Osten—a German mathematics teacher and part-time horse trainer—Hans was said to demonstrate extraordinary cognitive skills uncommon in horses. According to von Osten, the horse could add, subtract, multiply, divide, solve fractions, tell time, read words and numbers, spell, and even comprehend spoken and written German. When prompted with questions, Hans responded by tapping his hoof to indicate his answers.