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Belle

Shire mare, born 2005.  We first met Belle at our local agricultural fair in 2014, where she formed part of a 4-up hitch, along with Maggie, Annie and Button.  When the owner of these beautiful mares decided to retire in 2021, we were happily humbled to be entrusted with their long-term care!

Belle and her well-matched teammate, Button, love to work and work hard they will!  If you think raw-horse-power, these two ladies have it!  At Tally-Ho Belle will expand her knowledge into the areas of natural horsemanship, and learn a new speed - slow!  Belle is a confident mare and we know she is loving her new, adoring fans as she transitions to her work as a single carriage horse.

The Shire horse is listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list as a species vulnerable to extinction.  In 2016 there were fewer than 1,500 registered worldwide.

Clay

Clydesdale gelding born 2005; half-brother to Jerry.   One of Clay's unique physical characteristics is his blue eyes, which are rare in Clydesdales.

Clay is a little shy and picks his people.  Gaining his trust is a heartwarming experience as the partnership provides equal rewards to us and him.  As a carriage horse, Clay has become one of our most trusted, reliable, honest horses we could ask for.  He now trains our new drivers, being reliably safe yet honest in how he reacts to our requests... making us all be better drivers!  Clay's nickname is "Carl", coming from a clinician who we worked with years ago that couldn't remember Clay's name.  Carl just kinda stuck.  LOL.

The Clydesdale horse is listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list as a species vulnerable to extinction.  In 2010 the worldwide population was estimated to be 5,000.

Delilah

This beautiful lady is one of only a few draft mares on the farm.  She was born in 2000, and joined us in 2016.  Delilah is a Suffolk Punch, crossed with a Belgian.  She is mommy to our beloved Sampson, and every gelding on the property thinks she's pretty fantastic (especially King, who we refer to as her boyfriend).  Delilah is strong and determined, with a kind eye and softness to her that is incredibly inspiring.

She retired from carriage work in 2020 and is now enjoying her Tally-Ho pension plan.  When working, her 'happy pace' was rather on the speedy side and her drivers were always asking her to slow it down a little (we politely called it excess enthusiasm).  She earned a Gold Star for being he fastest horse ever on Victoria's streets!

The Suffolk Punch is considered to be one of the rarest breeds in the United Kingdom, and the breed is listed as being in critical danger of extinction on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list.

Jerry

Clydesdale gelding born 2005; half-brother to Clay.  Jerry joined our herd in 2013.  Jerry has earned his Level 4 (Expert) in Tally-Ho's horse development program, meaning he is consistently calm, reliable, and accepting of new experiences; and demonstrates high degrees of trust, respect and confidence.  As a Level 4 horse, Jerry helps us train new drivers and often represents Tally-Ho in parades and movies.  Jerry may be one of the slowest horses we've ever had, generally walking about 1/2-speed.  However we notice how much his pace picks up with his favorite drivers or in new areas... meaning he's got us fooled!

In many of our Facebook photos you can see Jerry happily snoozing (and snoring) in the middle of his hay pile, while his friends eat around him.  Kennadie, the youngest of the Friedlander family, often rides Jerry and has done an excellent job teaching him where his feet are (he just doesn't seem to know most of the time); and they are continuing to work on transitions between walk and trot (for Jerry, this requires a little 'leap' into the air - LOL).

The Clydesdale horse is listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list as a species vulnerable to extinction.  In 2010 the worldwide population was estimated to be 5,000.

Jinx

Percheron gelding born 2005.  Jinx was welcomed home to the Tally-Ho herd in December 2017, coming to us from Alberta where he was mainly used as part of a team to feed and do farm chores.   Jinx moved quickly through the stages of our horse development program and began work in Victoria's beautiful inner harbor in June 2018.

He captured our hearts quickly with his kindness, and we find ourselves reciprocating that ten-fold.  As a shy boy by nature, his biggest hurdle has been getting used to all the affection from our team and his 'fans' who stop by to visit.  We're pleased to announce that Jinx has now developed his patience for the paparazzi (as much as he ever will)!   At home Jinx has become best-buds with Tucker, and we don't dare move one without the other to a new paddock.

Kashe

Clydesdale gelding born 2002; joined Tally-Ho in 2010. Kashe has been retired since 2020, and is now enjoying his Tally-Ho "pension plan".  When working, he absolutely loved his job at Tally-Ho! He was always first to the gate each morning with hope that it was a work day; and we know that if we let him, he'd quite happily go to work today!  Kashe's quirky attitude reminds us of an elephant and mouse - he has great courage in the middle of a parade, yet may find that manhole cover a little bit scary.

At home on the farm, Kashe has always been the instigator behind play-time in the paddocks.  Although he's slowed down a bit these days due to a non-treatable health issue, he remains happy in his daily life, hanging out with his horse-friends.

The Clydesdale horse is listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list as a species vulnerable to extinction.  In 2010 the worldwide population was estimated to be 5,000.

King

Percheron gelding born 1999. King joined our family in 2016, coming from Whistler where he was a sleigh horse.  He is one of the largest horses in our herd, but you wouldn't know it based on his incredibly sweet, kind, puppy-dog personality.  He loves people and is only too happy to follow us around, looking for a soft pat, or kind word.  When standing next to him, King will always lower his head and wrap himself around you in what can only be described as the best horse-hug on the planet!

King came to us with a check-ligament issue.  We spent a lot of time doing ultrasound therapy on him for the first four months with us, and were pleased with how his leg healed.  King would never work full time as a carriage horse: instead, he worked a maximum of three shifts per week, with days off in-between to ensure we didn't ask too much of his body.  The light weight of the carriage, and the gentle pace of a walk was actually helplful to his healing process.

King retired from carriage in 2019, but still enjoys walks to the park as Donna's way-too-big riding companion.

Percherons are a versatile breed that has gained popularity in several countries. Breeding and conservation of Percherons in North America and by the National Stable in France has improved their status, and the global population exceeded 32,000 as of 2013, taking them off the Livestock Conservancy’s priority list.

Maggie

Shire mare, born 2011.  We first met Maggie at our local agricultural fair in 2014, where she formed part of a 4-up hitch, along with Annie, Button and Belle.  When the owner of these beautiful mares decided to retire in 2021, we were happily humbled to be entrusted with their long-term care!  Maggie is an extremely sweet-natured girl, often the first at the fence line to say good morning or enjoy a loving pat.  We are looking forward to getting to know her better, and readying her for work as a single carriage horse.  We are also learning how to care for her long, luscious forlock, mane and tail!

Maggie is a registered bay Shire mare from Alberta.  Lariviere Johnny's Girl Maggie was raised here in BC by Keith Taylor (Taylor Farms), along with her well-matched teammate, Annie.

The Shire horse is listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list as a species vulnerable to extinction.  In 2016 there were fewer than 1,500 registered worldwide.

Maisie

Clydesdale mare born 2014.  We first met Maisie at our local Saanich Fair, where she and her human, Keri, were wowing the crowds in the draft horse show.  Maisie comes from a sought-after line of Clydesdales, and is a rare blue-roan color (not often found in the Clydesdale breed).  This coloring means she has equal parts white and black hair on her body, and can change from light to dark coloring through the different seasons.

We were excited to welcome Maisie to the Tally-Ho team in June 2022, when Keri entrusted us with her care and further development.  As an added bonus, we also welcomed Keri to the team, who has been by Maisie's side every step of the way :0)  When Maisie came to Tally-Ho, she wasn't exactly the friendliest horse to her new herd-mates (read: do NOT come near me, or you WILL be sorry!).  It took about six months for her to learn how to be social and start to allow friendships to develop; and how she's assimilated into the herd and enjoying social hour.  At work, Maisie is a joy to drive!  Her foundational training with Keri taught her to be responsive and honest; and now her time with Tally-Ho is allowing her to develop her skills and confidence with new situations.  We thank Keri for allowing us to be part of Maisie's journey!

Major

Clydesdale gelding born 2010.  Major joined the Tally-Ho team in 2018, as one of our youngest, but biggest, boys.  His beautiful confirmation and winning personality has won multiple blue ribbons in the show ring, including Grand Champion; and he has gained a massive local fan club through his appearances at our annual local fair.  He seems to know how pretty he is, as whenever he walks by mirrored windows, he clearly checks himself out!  LOL.  At home, Major is playful and tough, but gets along with all the other horses.  He completed his first season as a carriage horse in 2019 and continues to show us every day how much he enjoys his work through his willingness, calmness and trust (oh yah, and how he stands at the gate every morning hoping to go to work!).

The Clydesdale horse is listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list as a species vulnerable to extinction.  In 2010 the worldwide population was estimated to be 5,000.

Ozzie

Clydesdale gelding born 2011.

Ozzie joined the Tally-Ho team in June, 2022, after spending a few years with our trainer, Ed, in Chetwynd, BC.  In actual fact, he was a horse Ed bought for himself and it took us a few years to convince Ed to sell him to us (where Ed can visit as often as he likes!).  One of Ozzie's most endearing traits is his massive moustache!  It's impressive to watch him use it to scoop any bits of remaining grain into a nice little pile, making it much easier to eat.  LOL.

Ozzie is an incredibly kind, loving horse, who is friends with all his herd-mates and is always eager for his humans to shower him with love and affection.  He really needed no additional training when he came to us, and completed his first season as a carriage horse with ease, comfort and enjoyment.  So much so that he has now been in a couple of movie shoots and is a fan-favorite for weddings.  At home, he and Red have become besties and it's a rare moment when the two of them aren't playing in their paddock together.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, breed numbers dwindled and in 1975, the Clydesdale was categorized by the Rare Breed Survival Trust as "vulnerable” to extinction. Over the years and with the increase in breed numbers, it is now categorized as “at risk”.  In 2010 the worldwide population was estimated to be 5,000.

Red

Belgian-Percheron gelding born 2012.  Red and his brother Rusty came to Tally-Ho in 2022 from Southern Alberta where they did chores on a large ranch.  These beautiful horses have a rare coloring called 'red roan', where they have an even number of white hairs and 'red' hairs on the body, while the head, lower legs, mane and tail are a solid reddish color.  The body of horses with roan coloring will change color throughout the year, ranging from a light red/white in the spring/summer to a dark red in the fall/winter.

Red began his training at Tally-Ho in the Spring of 2023, where he joined Remi and Sampson as a 3-abreast team training to pull the Victoria Fire Department's 1899 steam pumper in the Victoria Day parade (May 22, 2023).  This fully functional, historical steam pump weighs 10,000 lbs, and the horses must be in top condition to safely pull it the parade route.  Red has been an absolute rock star!  As soon as he is harnessed, his attitude turns to 'work mode' and he does his job exceedingly well.

At rest on the farm, Red is master of his paddock with his fellow horses, yet a bit of a shy boy with new people.   But, once he trusts his people, his kind eyes and affectionate personality shine through, making him easy to handle and a joy to be around.

Remi

Belgian gelding born 2017.  Remi joined the Tally-Ho herd in Spring 2022, travelling all the way from Ontario.  He's been an absolute delight to watch settle in, make new friends, and get into mischief!  He is learning the skills of a carriage horse and moving through our horse development program quickly.  In his first season he showed a true love for the work of a carriage horse: the workload is very light for his massive size, so that was easy; but where we see him really shine is with all the love and attention he receives every day from not only his staff, but his new-found, adoring public!  As with every new horse we work with, Remi was matched with only one partner/driver to ensure he was given consistency and security each day - a  combination that best sets him up for a happy and successful career. (Tally-Ho's Manager, Brianna, quickly "claimed" him as her's for the summer!)  Remi started his first season doing our Sea Cider tours in the quieter neighborhood of Saanichton.  He managed this with grace and confidence, so was then introduced to tours in Victoria.  His first season was a great success and we are looking forward to watching his skills develop!

Rusty

Belgian-Percheron gelding born 2013.  Rusty and his brother, Red, came to Tally-Ho in 2022 from Southern Alberta where they did chores on a large ranch.  These beautiful horses have a rare coloring called 'red roan', where they have an even number of white hairs and 'red' hairs on the body, while the head, lower legs, mane and tail are a solid reddish color.  The body of horses with roan coloring will change color throughout the year, ranging from a light red/white in the spring/summer to a dark red in the fall/winter.

Rusty came to us with mild lameness in one of his feet, and is now under the care of our veterinarian and farriers who have designed a corrective shoeing program for him.  He won't start his training program until we can resolve his biomechanical issue, which is expected to take about 6 months.  Until he is sound, Rusty is living at the barn, where he has somewhat limited space.  He has become buddies with our little Welsh pony, Jazz, who thinks Rusty is pretty great!  In the short term, we are working on groundwork with Rusty, who can be a little pushy sometimes.  We are excited to see him recover, and his confidence build as he looks forward to new experiences and fun games.

Sampson

Belgian gelding born 2004; son of Delilah.  Sampson joined Tally-Ho in 2016 and is now one of our most trusted carriage horses.  He's earned the nickname of “Baby Boy” as his eyes often read that he's looking for reassurance in the world (he has a "Mommy!" look all the time, which is really adorable).   For the first two years with us, Sampson's primary driver, Christine, developed a close, trust based relationship with him that exemplified what a great horse-human partnership should look like.  That work laid the foundation for the Sampson we know and love today, who, despite his worried look, has become a very brave and honest horse.  Sampson now helps train new carriage drivers, making sure they understand how things are done around here.  :0)

Sarge

Clydesdale gelding born 2002; and came to Hidden Acres Farm to be part of the Tally-Ho herd in 2010. Sarge and Kashe were the first of our mini-herd of Clydesdale horses that our horse-trainer and friend Ed, in Chetwynd, BC, readied for work in Victoria.  We knew Sarge was special the day we met him.  He is very sweet natured, extremely intelligent, and a stunning example of the Clydesdale breed.  Now retired, Sarge always performed his job with ease and was trusted to take good care of new carriage drivers.  Sarge's lovely disposition earned him fans from around the world who would come to visit him each year and feed him carrots.

At home, Sarge is a king-pin.  He's always been at the top of the pecking order, but rules with a level of kindness.  He adores his humans and always makes us feel so loved when we are near him.  He likes to be clean, and we must ensure we upkeep his standards even though he's no longer in the public eye.  LOL.

The Clydesdale horse is listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list as a species vulnerable to extinction.  In 2010 the worldwide population was estimated to be 5,000.

Spot

Clydesdale gelding born 2007.  Spot came to Tally-Ho in 2015 and has become one of our most reliable horses.  He has very kind eyes and the sweetest demeanor; and is always seeking love and attention from his humans (which we're all-too-happy to provide!).  He was a show-winning halter horse as a baby, and continues to turn heads when he's decked out in his ribbons and harness.  Spot has earned his Level 4 (Expert) in our horse development program and is often chosen to star in special events (weddings, movies, etc.) as he loves new experiences and settles in quickly to any new surroundings.  Fans in Victoria watch Spot pull our beautiful, hand-crafted sleigh each year in the Victoria Christmas parade.

The Clydesdale horse is listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list as a species vulnerable to extinction.  In 2010 the worldwide population was estimated to be 5,000.

Timber

Percheron-Belgian cross, born 2005.  Timber and his logging partner, Tucker, came to Tally-Ho in 2019 and quickly won our hearts.   He is kind, willing and very confident in his work; and we think he may be still learning to 'put up with' the amount of affection he receives on a daily basis.

Timber has a rare coat color called 'blue-roan', which means he has equal parts black and white hairs on his body.  His coat will change color throughout the seasons, from black (winter) to light grey (summer), while his mane and tail remain a beautiful, flowing black.

Timber came to us with a shortened tendon in his left hind leg which does not allow him to place his whole foot flat on the ground.  Lucky for him, we have an amazing team of equine specialists here in Victoria who have been able to help Timber remain as sound and comfortable as possible.  His farriers create a special shoe for him every 5 weeks that has a lifted heal that helps Timber support his body better.  While he doesn't seem to be phased by this old injury, we don't ask him to work more than a few shifts each week, always ensuring that he has days off between working to ensure we never over-stress that leg.

Trace

Shire gelding, born 2006.  In Spring 2019 we welcomed Trace to Tally-Ho, although we hadn't met him yet!  For the first six months, Trace lived with our trainer, Ed, in Chetwynd, BC.  He came to Victoria in the Fall of 2019.  We were astounded by his size upon meeting him!  He's a big boy, standing a whopping 19'2", yet has the gentlest personality, is lovely to work with and is enjoying all the fussing we do over him.  Trace was ready to become a carriage horse by the Spring of 2020, however this is when COVID-19 shuddered our business.  With our finances and resources strained to the max, Trace went back to live with Ed.  Finally, in 2022, Trace made his debut in Victoria where he easily took to his new career.  He was teamed with only one partner/driver to start, to ensure we provided him consistency and security each day.  As his confidence has grown, Trace now safely works with a few more drivers and is stealing everyone's hearts.

Shire horse numbers fell from well over a million to just a few thousand by the 1960s and the breed was in serious trouble. A small group of dedicated breeders came to the rescue though and the Shire is seeing a resurgence in popularity both as a working animal and a riding horse.  Despite this, the breed still remains at a "critical" status on the Livestock Conservancy list.

Tucker

Percheron-Belgian cross, born 2005.  Tucker and his logging partner, Timber, came to Tally-Ho in 2019 and quickly won our hearts.   Tucker is friendly and eager to please.  He's taken quickly to working on his own (as a single carriage horse without Timber) and has proven himself to be steady and thoughtful.  While he looks at all the new things in his world, he takes them in with curiosity and shows trust in his driver when asked to simply 'walk on by'.  Tucker has a rare coat color called 'blue-roan', which means his coat will change color throughout the seasons, from black (winter) to light grey (summer), while his mane and tail remain a beautiful, flowing black.