Horses were one of the most commonly found animals at North West Company posts, particularly in the western prairie areas where they were a key means of transportation and of hunting large game, particularly buffalo. At Fort William, horses were also used for transportation but they were primarily put to work carting and ploughing. Fort William was unique because it was the only North West Company post that had a farm of any significance and the horses were essential for its planting and harvesting operations. The Fort William post journal from the 1800s also mentions that horses were used to haul logs from forests and ice from the lake.

There is no reference to a specific breed of horse being used at Fort William. However, as the North West Company imported livestock for Fort William from the Detroit-Sandwich area, it would seem likely that the breed of horses at Fort William would reflect the breeds available in this area. They may have been exclusively American breeds or perhaps an American breed mixed with the Canadian horse or an English breed. The Canadian horses, described as "hardy and serviceable as drudges in the collar on a farm," were descendants of the horses of Normandy and Brittany that were developed into a successful and versatile farm animal in New France.

Our draft horses are Percherons, powerful animals first bred in France for use in battle by medieval knights. Later, the strength and intelligence of this versatile breed made them popular as workhorses and they became the backbone of the North American fur trade. Each of our massive horses weighs approximately 1800 lbs. and is 17-18 hands high.

Our teams take visitors on old-fashioned sleigh and wagon rides along the scenic Kaministiquia River and through the woods surrounding our heritage site. These gentle creatures are also a favourite at our children's day camps where our young visitors have the opportunity to groom and harness them. In addition, adults are able to learn how to harness the horses as one of the Fort's many challenging team building adventures. Although the role of draft horses at Fort William has evolved since the early 1800s, they continue to play a pivotal part in the life of this impressive outpost.

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