About Us
Thank you for joining us here. Scroll to learn more about the Canadian Sporthorse Association - Alberta Chapter.
Our
Story
As it celebrates the last one hundred years of serving equestrian sport, the Canadian Sport Horse Association is working hard to be the registry of choice for Canadian Breeders for the next one hundred years! With deep historical roots, impressive breeding philosophies, strict adherence to pedigree accuracy, parental DNA and the versatility of an evolving studbook, the Canadian Sport Horse Association is THE performance horse registry for the 21st century.
As an internationally recognized studbook, the mandate of the CSHA is to register Canadian-bred sport horses and to act as a marketing board for our breeders and owners.
The mandate of the Alberta Chapter is to:
Promote, facilitate, and aid in the promotion of the Canadian Sport Horse in the province by championing and hosting activities that support the development and marketing of Canadian Sport Horses bred and owned in the province of Alberta.
CSHA-AB Chapter believes that hosting clinics and symposia with Nationally and Internationally recognised clinicians and riders is a strong marketing tool in showcasing the quality and calibre of horses being bred in Alberta, while also attracting more brand recognition for the Association.
Whereas CSHA-AB has not hosted a show in many years, as a contributing sponsor, we believe strongly in supporting the Jump Alberta Young Horse competitions which are crucial in the development of our young horses.
Meet the Team
Canadian Sporthorse Association - Alberta Chapter
Photo Credits
All photos of the Canadian Sporthorse horses that are featured on this site are courtesy of our incredible photographer, Kim Berlie.
For more information on Kim's services, please visit her website at www.kimberliephotography.ca
Click here for more information on registrations and inspections
About the CSHA
The roots of the Canadian Sport Horse Association go back to 1926 when the Canadian Hunter and Light Horse Improvement Society was created which later evolved into the Canadian Hunter Improvement Society. In the mid 1980’s the Society became the Canadian Sport Horse Association (or CSHA) which incorporated the term “sport horse”, defined as a horse capable of successfully competing in the disciplines of Dressage, Jumper, Eventing or Hunter. The terms “sport horse” and “warmblood” are synonymous, both indicating the original combination of hot blood from such breeds as Thoroughbred and Arabian and colder blood from the heavier draft types that were in use early in the 1900’s.
Since 1926, the CSHA has been registering and identifying sport horses and as market demands have changed, so too have the practices of the Association. In 1926, horses were still a mode of transportation and the idea was to inspect and select the farm mare that was usually of a mixed breed and often had a substantial cold-blood influence. These mares were then crossed on imported Thoroughbred stallions to create a sound and usable saddle horse. This same technique was well tried and used in many countries, notably Ireland where it was used to produce the Irish Sport Horse by crossing the Irish Draught with the Thoroughbred.
European warmblood horses have gained an undeniable supremacy of the sport horse world in competition circles. With the influx of warmblood horses into Canada in the mid to late 1900s, the Canadian Sport Horse Association recognized the potential for increasing the quality of performance horses in its studbook by including such horses. The CSHA was the first open studbook in North America to include European warmbloods in its pedigrees – a practice emulated by many others.
The CSHA is incorporated under Agriculture Canada’s Animal Pedigree Act as an Evolving Breed. This designation provides the Canadian Sport Horse breeders the freedom and flexibility to plan individual breeding programs based on market trends and genetic science. At the same time, breeders benefit from the credibility of registering their stock with a longstanding studbook that is respected worldwide. The CSHA is also a member of the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses, and a breed-member affiliate of Equine Canada.
The CSHA and its membership are part of the equine and agriculture communities in Canada with a goal to ensure a viable future for members by providing assistance and developing programs to ensure that future domestically and internationally. Our mandate is to promote the awareness of Canadian Sport Horses, to keep records, organize inspections and to provide information and assist breeders with trustworthy registration in keeping with respected International standards.
The Alberta Chapter Board of Directors strives to support CSH breeders and owners in the development and marketing of their horses by sponsoring the Jump Alberta Young Horse Development Series as well as organizing educational opportunities such as The Countdown to a Century Symposium Series Masterclasses and speakers.
Your CSHA Alberta Chapter board of directors welcomes everyone who is interested in having a voice in the activities and direction of the board and encourages those who would like to sit on any of the active committees that may be of interest to reach out, we would be happy for the input.
The CSHA is incorporated under Agriculture Canada’s Animal Pedigree Act as an Evolving Breed. This designation provides Canadian Sport Horse breeders the freedom and flexibility to plan individual breeding programs based on both market trends and genetic science. At the same time, breeders benefit from the credibility of registering their stock with a longstanding studbook that is respected worldwide.
Both mares and stallions presented for CSHA Breeding Approval must successfully undergo a stringent evaluation of conformation, movement and sport horse type. To complete breeding approval, stallions must also complete a performance component either through achievement through sport or a stallion performance test.
Through selective use of foundation stock and performance proven stallions and mares, the Canadian Sport Horse combines the best sport bloodlines available in the world today. The result is improved rideability in a sound, athletic horse for competitive sport. Canadian Sport Horses are engineered to succeed in the disciplines of dressage, jumper, hunter and eventing at all levels of competition.