On November 11 we mark a somber occasion and take time to remember our brave men and women who have fought and died for the freedom we have in this country. We must also remember and say thank you to all those that still serve in armed forces to protect our freedom, even today.

We should also take time out to reflect on all the animals that have died in all these conflicts trying to serve us and protect us.

The red poppy signifies our respect for our veterans who sacrificed their lives for our country and the purple poppy signifies our gratitude for all the animals that have served us in our fight for freedom.

Some of the Alberta Mountain Horses roaming free and wild in our Alberta foothills and mountains are direct descendants of horses that were rounded up and sent overseas to be used in World War I. 480,000 horses died in World War 1 (WWI), three-quarters of them from the extreme conditions they worked in. At the start of the war, the British Army had 25,000 horses. Another 115,000 were purchased compulsorily under the Horse Mobilization Scheme. Over the course of the war, between 500 and 1,000 horses were shipped to Europe every day. Canada sent about 130,000 horses overseas during WWI. By the end of the war, Canada had provided well over 10 per cent of the horses used on the Western Front.

Although many horses were taken from farms and ranches hundreds of others were wild horses that were rounded up by government wranglers in areas around the Red Deer River and YaHa Tinda. Glenbow archives records shows pictures of these roundups.

Besides the horses used in battle, there were dogs, donkeys, mules and birds that were part of the war and tried to help us in our fight for freedom. Millions of animals died in the war due to shelling, poisonous gas, disease and starvation. None of the wild horses that were rounded up and sent overseas ever came home.

Canadian Animals In War Memorial

So as we reflect on this day to remember all those who gave us our freedom and still serve to protect us, lets also remember the animals who played a huge role in it too.

Our society is dedicated to trying to assure that our wild mountain horses remain free and wild. They should be recognized for the role that they have played in our history and heritage. So just as their descendants fought to preserve our freedom, the Alberta Mountain Horse Preservation Society will fight to preserve theirs. They deserve it. So thank you to all our fallen heroes.