Canadian Veterinarians Caring For War Horses


Canadian Veterinarians Caring for War Horses - Library and Archives Canada, Dept. of National Defence PA-005006
Canadian Veterinarians Caring for War Horses – Library and Archives Canada, Dept. of National Defence PA-005006

2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. As Canadians across the nation reflect on the war to end all wars, the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum will showcase one of the conflict’s forgotten stories — the War’s horses and the veterinarians of the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps who cared for them. Life for horses in the War was hard. They often lived outdoors, subject to the elements in dirty, wet environments. At times, water and food were scarce. Fear and

Canadian Veterinarians Caring for War Horses - Photo: W.I. Castle, Library and Archives Canada PA-001231
Canadian Veterinarians Caring for War Horses – Photo: W.I. Castle, Library and Archives Canada PA-001231

stress were high, and not only were horses threatened by shellfire, but disease was rampant.

With artifacts from the C.A.V. Barker Museum of Canadian Veterinary History, this display explores how the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps worked to prevent and treat disease and injury among horses used during the First World War.

(Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum)

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