CRHA Hall of Fame

The Canadian Road Horse Association is very proud to announce its 2011 inductees to the Hall of Fame – Matt & Myrtle MacDougall. 

Matt was born in Erin, Ontario and joined his father’s livestock trucking business as a teenager driving the trucks, a career that lasted over fifty years, with Matt carrying on the trucking after his father died. Under his management MacDougall Transport, now operated by his son, grew getting tractor trailers and hauling hay and other products to the United States.

In 1940, Matt and Myrtle were married and farmed from 1941 – 1947, then moved closer to Erin. In 1945, they started showing hackney ponies with Matt trucking and Myrtle training the ponies. They had great success winning at major shows across Ontario and the USA.

MacDougalls bought their first road horse in 1949, Isabel Harvester and showed at the Royal Winter Fair for the first time that fall. The black mare won many prizes at Toronto and the fairs. Later they bought her brothher Danny Harvester who showed along with Isabel. Other horses they owned were Baby Doll, History Makers and Eileen Hal, then in the seventies they bought Josedale Michael, a powerful black gelding that won many classes.

Myrtle bought Mooreland’s Joe, a beautiful black gelding with white markings. Joe was one of the prettiest horses in the show ring and teamed with Josedale Michael they were well matched and almost unbeatable winning many team classes at Toronto and the fairs.

Josedale Michael showed in the over classes and stake classes at the Royal winning numerous times while Mooreland Joe showed in the under buggy and bike classes winning his share of them. In the early eighties Matt and Myrtle sold Josedale Michael to United States interests and continued to show Joe. Moorelands Joe, driven by Mary Croft, won the Lady’s Bike class at the Royal for five years. They also won the open bike and placed second in the Championship Roadster Stake.

In 1985, they purchased Josedale Movin On, another black gelding that matched Joe. In 1985 was the last year theys howed at the Royal Winter Fair with Josedale Movin On winning the Championship while Moorelands Joe won the Lady’s Bike and the over buggy class. In 1986 Matt and Myrtle moved to Florida for two years where Josedale Movin On won the Roadster Stake at Tampa in 1987. Shortly after they moved back to a farm they bought at Arthur. Matt’s two favourite horses were Josedale Michael and Josedale Movin On. Myrtles favourite was Moorelands Joe.

Matt’s hobby was going to the races to watch the trotters that he might be able to deal for, then turn them into a show horse. He was a mechanic at getting a horse changed around and making it into a champion and when they hit the show ring you knew they were ready.

Matt died in October 1991 and Myrtle in July 2009.