CHS

CANADIAN HACKNEY SOCIETY
HACKNEY HALL OF FAME

 
Welcome to the Hackney Hall of Fame.  This section of our web site is dedicated to the greatest horses, ponies, exhibitors, breeders and trainers that have made an impact on the Hackney in Canada

 

Robert French

 

It was a trip to the Royal Agriculture Winter fair in 1952, when Bob French was 9 years old, that he fell in love with Hackney Horses. It was however not until 1977, at the suggestion of his doctor, that he could likely benefit from a hobby ,that he purchased his first mares. That fall, while again visiting the Royal Winter Fair, he met Ron and Myrna McHugh, who suggested that he needed to talk to Harold Patton, who owned the Hackney Horse Stallion "Hartzett Paddy" . Thus a close friendship with Harold developed. With Harold's encouragement and guidance Bob set  his goal on trying to improve his breeding program.

In 1979 Bob and his wife Marilyn were able to purchase the mare Boulder's Black Venus at Dr Bartlett's sale, and bred her to Hartzett Paddy . That was the beginning of Brooklawn Farm Hackney Horses.

The pairing of Boulder's Black Venus to Hartzett Paddy produced a number of offspring including Brooklawn's Toreador, which was 10 time Grand Champion Hackney Horse Stallion and two time winner of the Gig Class at the Royal Winter Fair. Another off spring of this mating was Brooklawn's La Rosa, which, when bred to Sirius Impression, produced the stallion Brooklawn's Cavalier, which can be found in the pedigrees of many of the Hackney Horses in both Canada and the United States today.

Bob and Marilyn and their family, Lori, Dave, Brad and Nancy give all of the credit for their   success to the Lord ,and to the many people who were there guiding them with sound advice and encouragement.

 

(Inducted November 2025)

 
 

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