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In Memory of Reginald McKenna Black “Reg”
Reg was past president of the Ontario and Canadian Percheron Horse Associations, the latter for 6 years. He was a continual supporter of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair since he was 16 years old. He also supported many other Agricultural Fairs in Canada and the United States with his Blackhome Bred Percheron
Horses.
Excerpts for this memorial were taken from a tribute written by Bruce Roy and the honor given to Reg by Rockton Fair.
The Percheron world lost a valuable member on Sunday April 19, 2015. Reginald McKenna Black (Reg) was in his 95th year.
Few horsemen achieved greater success than did Reg Black. The Blackhome Percheron stable started in 1956. The greatest of the Percheron mares Reg purchased, College Lynda, whose influence in the Blackhome Percheron stable had no equal.
Reg’s influence on the Percheron breed is quite evident when looking at today’s most influential show stables to find that Blackhome Percherons are usually the basis of their breeding foundation. When you attend the major sales in Canada and the U.S. the majority of the Percheron breeding stock will trace back to Blackhome Percherons through Blackhome Grandeur Lyn, Blackhome Duke (RAWF Grand Champion Stallion 1985), Blackhome Colonel Lyn, Blackhome Cricket Lyn, Blackhome Dayna Lyn (RAWF Grand Champion Mare 1985 and 1987), Blackhome Connie Lyn (RAWF Grand Champion Mare 1982), College Linda (RAWF Grand Champion Mare 1977) to mention a few. Blackhome bred Percherons have had a major impact on the North American Percheron as we know them today.
Reg’s stable won international status at the 1983 World Percheron Congress held in Calgary. Blackhome Connie Lynn was World Champion Mare, three homebred Percherons were the World Champion Get of Sire, Blackhome Connie Lynn and Blackhome Carrie Doll were World Champion Team of Mares and Blackhome Connie Lynn was also World Champion Ladies Cart Horse. Following this impressive show many horses were sold to buyers across Canada, U.S.A., England and Australia.
Anyone who has attempted to breed, raise, show and sell champion Percherons knows that this cannot be done single handed. Reg’s wife Helen shared his passion, dedication, perseverance and his dream to breed and show the best Percherons in the Country. Helen was very instrumental in the success that Blackhome had achieved over the years.
Reg also took great pleasure in knowing that several of his family members became active members of the draft horse community.
The breeding, raising and showing of quality Percheron horses with the Blackhome prefix is Reg Black’s legacy in time. Without a doubt the Percheron breed benefited from Reg’s breeding program.
www.ontariopercherons.ca Percheron Post, June 2015 30