The Lyttles from Portage La Prairie were a farming family, riding and driving horses for transportation and to get their daily tasks done. The farm work was done with draft horses and Doug started showing horses in 1924. With his marriage to Verna and her love of horses, they gained an interest in the high stepping show horses and in 1942 started to show Hackney horses. Their first registered mare was Manitoba bred Boyne Beauty, foaled in 1944, given to Verna as a gift from Doug. There were many fairs in the small towns in southern Manitoba and larger exhibitions in the cities which the Lyttles attended. The Lyttle children also took an active involvement with show horses, Carole showed Tennessee Walking horses, Jean and Gerald also took a liking to the horses and would help with the showing, cleaned tack and kept the buggies tidy for the next class. When the grandchildren were of an age they too got involved. Taking in the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in 1948 they bought Bobcaygeon Likely Lady from Claude Bottum. The following year they selected a two year old Hackney horse stallion named Golden Seven from Jack McCracken from Listowel, Ontario. They also took home a pony stallion named Lord Cambridge from Preston Graham of the Cambridge Pony Farm in Ontario. In 1949 they returned with Golden Seven who was placed second in his class and reserve senior champion stallion. This began 20 years of bringing horses to Toronto on the train to show in the breeding and harness classes. They also showed throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan beginning in March and continuing until late August. The always had pairs and tandems, both horses and ponies and during their Toronto trips often would bring back some Cambridge bred ponies that they showed and sold on to other exhibitors. They occasionally would bring home a horse, including Starlight Surprise and Velvet Duchess. Both Doug and Verna were excellent drivers and trainers. Doug would often get called on to drive a six horse hitch, whereas Verna would get asked by John Cuneo of Hawthorn Mellody Farm, Clement Hoopes of Pennsylvania or Preston Graham to take the lines to drive their ladies classes. Golden Seven Seaton and Golden Seven Velvet were sold to Clement Hoopes and Verna drove for them at the Devon Horse Show. She delighted in driving Dufferin Temptress for John Cuneo and bought her to show with homebred Bobcaygeon Seven in pairs and tandems. Most of the horses they showed were of their own breeding, and offspring of their stallions were shown by others in Manitoba. Doug and Verna's association with Preston Graham allowed her to show some very nice single and pony pairs at Toronto. Some of the Cambridge ponies that went back on the train were Cambridge Fireball, Cambridge Flashy Ronnie, Cambridge Satellite, Cambridge Lancer, Laudydale Leaders Mark and Cambridge Show Girl. Doug was a director of the Canadian Hackney Society from 1956 untl 1960, Verna followed from 1967 until 1970, later to be appointed the Manitoba representative to the Society. They used their Hackney horses for wedding, parades and special occasions. Such celebrities as Dale Evans, politician Pierre Trudeau and Prince Philip were given a grand welcome to Manitoba from the seat of Lyttle driven carriage. The Western Hackney Association was very active in the 1970s through the 90s with Doug and Verna being members and directors. Doug's passing in 1979 left Verna to continue to breed ponies at the Memory Lane Farm and help Gordon Dinnin with his ponies. She drove in 1990 at the Portage fair when both Verna and Maplemere Harmony made their final show ring appearances. Her passing in 1994 left a great void in the Hackney horse and pony activity in Manitoba. Although there are no Hackneys to be found in the Lyttle name, family members continue to be active equestrians and farmers on the original property on Flee Island Road at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba.

 

 (inducted April 2024)