Canadian Hackney Society

	CANADIAN HACKNEY SOCIETY	HACKNEY HALL OF FAME

Mel Barden grew up in Erin Township, Wellington County, Ontario, the oldest son of a farmer. Mel had a special affinity for Hackney horses, and became active in the breeding, selling and exhibiting of his home bred stock at local fall fairs and larger exhibitions. In 1926, one year into his marriage to Lillian Steen, he moved to the village of Hillsburgh, where he operated a garage business selling and repairing automobiles, Allis Chalmers farm machinery, a harness repair shop and a small line of menswear. After hours were time for training show horses and for 40 years the Bardens were popular exhibitors from Peterbrough in the east and throughout western Ontario. Mel competed at the Royal for the first time with breeding horses in 1936. They traveled to as many as 40 one day fairs during the 1940s through the mid 1960s, usually with a pair of Hackney horses and a pair of road horses. Mel showed the road horses, Lillian would show the Hackney pair and singles with her husband handling the second entry and the tandem. A Hackney horse was always used in the gentleman's turnout class. The majority of their show Hackneys were of his own breeding, and their stallion April Starlight was the sire of many useful horses with great front ends that would be competitive 50 years later. He was always willing to help new exhibitors get started by standing his stallion to the public, or selling a young prospect to someone interested in getting into the business. Horses bred at Hillsburgh were sold to Manitoba, Quebec and the US. A well matched pair Whitegate Smile and Whitegate Princess were sold in 1944 for the good price of $2000 and were shown with success by Kilgour Wilson, Lachute, Herb O'Connell, Montreal, Ken McMillan, Georgetown, Ontario and John Cuneo, Chicago. Gold Plate and Golden Charm went to Frank Ryan as his first pair of show horses. His last pair, April Starlight and Starlight Melody were started by Mel and Lillian, sold at the sale to Jim Carter and were later shown by Ken Thorndyke. April Starlight then went to Ralph Sadler followed by Bill Stackpole. One of their roadhorses Lee Trubrook was sold at the sale to John Sheridan, winning the roadster stake at the Royal Winter Fair in 1972. Mel hitched his road horses Jacob Express and KT Lee at the 1950 Arthur fair as a tandem and went a mile in 2.26.

He was elected a director of the Canadian Hackney Society in 1940, President in 1950 and 1951, and remained on the board until 1960. He was involved in municipal politics in Erin Township, organized an orchestra that entertained at local dances and would call the square dances. In 1968 ill health forced him to hold an auction sale and disperse his horses and show equipment. A large crowd gathered to take advantage of their many years of breeding Hackney horses. Horses were sold throughout Ontario. After the sale, Lillian would still attend fairs and horse shows, driving hackney horses for Dr. Bartlett.

The Bardens were well known and popular exhibitors at fairs and exhibitions across Ontario. To have Bardens attend your fall fair was a great addition to your horse show.

(Inducted April 2023)

CANADIAN HACKNEY SOCIETY

Mellwood and Lillian Barden