Parks Canada looking for names for two Percheron horses at Alberta ranch

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LONGVIEW, Alta.—A pair of recently acquired Percheron draft horses at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site need names, and Parks Canada is looking for suggestions.

The black horses, males aged five and eight, will be used to pull wagons and for farming demonstrations, and to connect visitors with the history of the breed in Alberta.

In the early 20th century, the Bar U Ranch, about 100 kilometres south of Calgary, had the largest Percheron herd in the world, with more than 1,000 horses.

Parks Canada offers these tips for prospective horse namers: short and simple names make it easier to relay driving instructions. As well, historic or western-inspired names help tell the story and tradition of ranching.

The ranch’s six other Percherons are called Licorice, Smudge, Bandit, Skoal, Hawkeye and Radar.

Parks Canada is offering a Family Discovery Pass—good for one year of entry to 27 national parks and 77 national historic sites across the country—for whoever comes up with the best names.