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Green gradient background with text "2017" to the right. Logo on the left that includes a red barn, field, text "Lambton Agricultural Hall of Fame", circled with wheat.

Brandon Brothers Stables: James Brandon, William J. Brandon, Robert Brandon

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Home...Virtual ExhibitsLambton Agricultural Hall of Fame2017 Brandon Bros. Stables
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Three men posing for a picture, the man in the middle holds a plaque. Image Caption: Jim and Don Brandon accept the Lambton Agricultural Hall of Fame Award from Kyle Maw on behalf of their grandfather, James Brandon Brandon Brothers Stables of Warwick Township was known worldwide for Clydesdale Horses. Four generations of horsemen made an impact on the industry for over 100 years. They were breeders, showmen, six-horse hitch drivers, and all-around horse lovers.

William Brandon (1847-1897) came to Warwick Township in the 1850s. He emigrated from Ireland with his parents and siblings. In 1874, he married Alison Robertson. In the 1880s, William worked as a livestock dealer, cattleman, and horse breeder. When he died, three of his sons took over the business. They created Brandon Brothers Stables.

From 1904 to 1948, James (1878-1948), William J. (1879-1962), and Robert (1883-1959) established a renowned Clydesdale breeding program. To get started, they bought purebred mares and secured Gallant Barron, one of Canada’s top Clydesdale sires. Clydesdale Horses are draft horses. The breed originated in Scotland and is known for its strength, stamina, confirmation (body shape or structure), and beauty. For many years, they provided essential horsepower for farmers and businesses.

James Brandon (Left) and Margaret Crocker (Right) wedding Photo. Image Caption: James Brandon married Margaret Crocker on December 19, 1905 in London, Ontario.A family photo with a horse and buggy. The parents are on the far right, the many children's are in and around the horse and buggy. Image Caption: The family of James Brandon and Margaret Crocker in 1922. Standing: Bill, John, Alison, Amelia, Tom, James, Margaret, Alex. In buggy: Marion, Margaret, Oliver, Jim. Stewart is not yet born. Sons John and Jim carried on in the horse business.

Horse breeding is a complex business. During a speech at the Vendome Hotel in Sarnia in 1938, William A. Dryden (manager of the Royal Winter Fair) said it takes “… natural intuition to be able to select and mate farm animals so as to produce an improvement in the progeny.” Owners like the Brandons used posters and cards to advertise their stallions’ attributes and let farmers know when and where the stallions would be available for breeding.

Left: A spread about "The Stud of the Season", the Brandon Bros. Sugarcoat. Right: Descriptions of other horses including Bridgebank Footman, Bridgebank Ernst, Carbrook McLelland, and Bridgebank Herald. Image Caption: : Advertising card for Brandon Brothers Stables stallion, Surcoat, 1931.

Farmers would purchase a mare from the Brandons and return her to be bred by one of the high-quality Brandon stallions. The quality of Clydesdale Horses on local farms improved. Local farmers showed their horses at local and national levels to wide acclaim. This reflected well on the Brandons. Farmers could also sell their colts through Brandon-organized sales.

In the 1920s, demand for horses was high. As their business grew, the Brandons began to import the best stallions and mares from Scotland. They imported the stallion Carbrook Buchlyvie from Scotland in 1920. This horse solidified the Brandon’s reputation as one of the top Clydesdale breeders in the world. From 1922 to 1938, this horse ranked #1 for sire of winners at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Brandon Brothers also owned Forest Favourite, the #2-ranked horse for the same period.

Brandon Brothers Stables was home to as many as 250 horses. Tragedy struck on July 17, 1929. Around 1 a.m. James Brandon was horrified to see two of his large barns on fire. He rescued six horses and nearly lost his life trying to save Carbrook Buchlyvie when the roof caved in. Both barns were destroyed. Five prized stallions were lost, including Carbrook Buchlyvie. The fires were believed to have been deliberately set. 

Poster advertising the Stallion Carbrook Buchlyvie. Title:"Pure Fashionably-Bred Imported Clydesdale Stallion".  The poster says what mares it is breeding and gives a Description of the horse and it's Pedigree. Image Caption: Horse breeders used posters to advertise their stallions. This poster for Carbrook Buchlyvie is from the Lambton Heritage Museum collection. Article: BRANDON BROS. LOSE FIVE VALUABLE STALLIONS IN $20,000 FIRE  Brandon Eros the well known breeders of famous Clydesdale horses suffered a very heavy loss on Saturday morning last, when their largest barn on the 4th line north in Warwick, was totally destroyed by fire, together with five of their best Clydesdale stallions, 100 tons of hay and other contents. When the fire was first noticed by James Brandon, at one o’clock in the morning, the building was on fire in two places, one in the main building and the other in the wing of the main building. There were twelve stallions in the building at the time, and-by desperate efforts by Mr. Brandon, his son and a hired man, seven of them were rescued from the flames. The five stallions burned, included Carbrook Buchlyvie, for which $3,000 was offered a short time ago; Carbrook Sensation, a noted prize winner; Carbrook Refiner, never beaten in the show ring; Carbrook Masterpiece and Dunure Flowerprint. In making the last rescue Mr. Brandon narrowly escaped being caught under the falling roof. The total loss will amount to nearly $20,000, on which there is $4,000 Insurance.  As the fire started in two places about 100 feet apart, It is believed to have been of incendiary origin, but so far nothing definite has been learned in that respect. The death of the five valuable stallions is regarded as a loss to the community as well as to the owners. On Saturday afternoon and Sunday the place was crowded by visitors from all parts of the county. Some old residents say that the loss is the greatest that has been caused by any farm fire in the county within memory. M. S. Aikenhead, of London, fire insurance adjuster, was here on Monday, and made a satisfactory settlement of the insurance claim.

Crowd of people watch a team of 6 horses pull a wagon. Image Caption: Brandon six-horse hitch driven by John Brandon at the Forest Fairground, spring 1938.

Man (left) holding the reigns of a Clydesdale horse that is nicely groomed. Image Caption: John Brandon with Sir Hugh, a champion Clydesdale Horse. Sir Hugh was nearly 19 hands tall. Note the difference in height between the man and the horse!

The depression of the 1930s was a difficult time for many farmers. Because tractors and fuel were expensive, the demand for draft horses remained strong. This was good for the Brandons. Large businesses were using teams of horses (the six-horse hitch) in promotional tours to advertise their products. The idea appealed to the Anheuser-Busch brewing company of St. Louis, Missouri. Between 1933 and 1948, August A. Busch bought ten Clydesdales from Brandon Brothers. The horses became their trademark.

After the Second World War, machinery took over and draft horses became a novelty. The urine of pregnant mares contains the hormone estrogen. It was used in the medical field before the discovery of synthetic estrogen. The Brandons renovated their barns to collect urine and their business was temporarily saved.

James Brandon died in 1948. Brandon Brothers was forced to downsize. James Brandon’s sons, John and Jim, remained active in the business. They both held positions with the Ontario Clydesdale Club. John became a lead driver for American companies using six- and eight-horse teams for advertising. He showed at the national and world levels in the 1950s and 1960s. He continued as a horse owner, dealer, and judge through the 1970s and 1980s. Along the way, John recruited his son. Don Brandon continued in business with his father, showing horses until the mid-1990s.

Community Contributions

  • Clydesdale Horse Association of Canada
  • Ontario Clydesdale Horse Association
  • Ontario Horse Breeders Association
  • Lambton-Kent Horse Breeders Association
  • Forest Clydesdales Breeders Association
  • Royal Winter Fair (Toronto)
  • Canadian National Exhibition (Toronto)
  • Western Fair (London)
  • Forest Agricultural Society
  • Bear Creek Farmers Club
  • Junior Farmers
  • Forest Boys Foal Club
  • Forest Plowmens’ Association
  • The Dominion Livestock Record Board
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