Morgan
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Names: Morgan. There have been some breeds named in honor of one horse, but never before or since has there been a whole breed named for one man. For, in this case, both the man and the horse carried the same name, Justin Morgan.
Origin: There
are many versions of the story of the origin of the Morgan breed, but they all
agree on some key points. In the 1790's, a Vermonter named Justin Morgan
acquired a little, dark bay colt named Figure. This horse became well
known for his many talents--pulling stumps, dragging logs, and plowing, as well
as winning races and pulling contests. In those days, a horse was often
called by its owner's name, and Figure became known as "Justin Morgan's
horse" and finally, after his master's death, as Justin Morgan. His
descendants, of course, became known as Morgans.
The ancestry of "Justin Morgan's horse" is not
known for certain. A relative of Morgan supported the claim of some that
the horse's sire was a famous racing stallion, once the war charger of a British
officer, named True Briton (also Beautiful Bay). Others say that the horse
Justin Morgan was sired by a Dutch-bred horse named Young Bulrock. Mr.
Morgan, it was said by his son, called the bay stallion a "Dutch
horse." His dam was supposed to have been of the strain begun by an
imported stallion named Wildair that was part Thoroughbred
and part Arabian.
The Morgan Horse Register opts for True Briton and the Wildair mare as parents
of Justin Morgan and puts the year of his birth at 1789.
Breeding area and studs--USA; about one third of all breeding
located in California, but also bred in most of the other states. The most
famous stud is the United States Morgan Horse Farm in Vermont. Oldest
breed of horses originating in the United States; has been breeding true to type
for over 150 years. Founded with a stallion born in Massachusetts in
1789. The first volume of the Morgan Horse Register issued in
1850. Considerable influence of the Morgan on all subsequent breeds
originating in the United States, especially on the Standard-bred
Horse.
Breeding: The stallion Justin Morgan is perhaps the best-known sire
that has ever lived. He is the direct ancestor of all Morgan horses and
his characteristics have reproduced faithfully from generation to
generation. The quality of his get began to be noticed after he died at
age 29. The establishment of the Morgan breed came about largely through
three of his sons--Sherman, Bulrush, and Woodbury--each of whom founded a family
over many years of standing at stud in New England towns. The Sherman
strain was outstanding for speed. Sherman's son Black Hawk was champion
trotter of his day, supposedly unbeaten; he became founder of a subfamily, the
Black Hawks. Ethan Allan, a son of Black Hawk, was named trotting Champion
of the World in 1853.
By the 1850's, Morgans were in great demand, and Vermont was
their foremost producer. In the Civil War they proved fully as serviceable
as the excellent Thoroughbred
cavalry mounts of the Confederate army. Fortunately, the Army continued to propagate the breed for cavalry
use after the war.
The Morgan's rank in the trotting world slipped as Standardbreds
began
setting the records. But the Morgan remained a standby for farm, ranch,
and road work.
In the later 1800's, the integrity of the Morgan as a breed
was threatened by interbreeding with Standardbreds
for the sake of giving the
Morgan added speed. As yet no registry existed, although a book, Morgan
Horses by D. C. Linsley, published in 1857, had traced the development of
the breed. The Morgan Horse and Register finally appeared at the
turn of the century, due to the efforts of Colonel Joseph Battell of Middlebury,
Vermont, who had studied the breed for many years and had even given the
Government a farm in Vermont for the breeding and improving of Morgan horses
(run since 1951 by the University of Vermont).
In the rivalry between horse and automobile that enlivened
the early 1900's, the Morgan, like other breeds, lost ground. Among its
faithful supporters were Charles A. Stone and his son Whitney, who kept the
register going. Following World War II, Morgans began their
comeback. The current (1974) annual number of about 1,500 registrations is
much more heartening than the 75 or so being registered yearly in the late
1920's.
Description: Justin Morgan, the horse, was described as a smallish horse, about 14 hands high, that weighed perhaps 900 pounds. A dark bay with a bold eye and big, lively action, its compact look was distinctive--part Arabian, part Dutch light-draft horse, closely coupled, with a short back, short, muscular legs, a thick, round barrel, massive shoulders, a full neck, and a fine head. Today's Morgan has left behind some of the draft-horse style of Mr. Morgan's prepotent stallion, but the basic character is there.
Action: Not a long stride, yet exceedingly industrious. Energetic, springy action, especially in the trot.
Body: Solid and well muscled. Closely coupled and sturdy. Deep and elegant. Low and compact. Neck characteristically powerful and arching with lofty head carriage; relatively short and packed with muscle. Considerable depth in the girth. Powerfully muscled shoulders. Low withers. Broad, short back. Short, solid loins. Long, slightly sloping quarters.
Color: Bays, browns, and blacks are the colors usually seen, with an occasional chestnut. Predominantly bay and chestnut.
Hair: Thick tail.
Head: Short and broad with strong cheeks. Noticeably small ears; protruding eyes; nostrils, large and wide. Intelligent face.
Legs: Well-muscled. Unusually long forearms and extremely short cannons. Sound joints and tendons.
Size: 14-15.1 hands. Between 14 and 15 hands. 15.2 to 16 hands.
Temperament: Friendly, generous disposition. The Morgan has a great
calmness and courage for facing things as they come. Justin Morgan, the
horse, was noted
for his patient and willing disposition and his eagerness to go.
Very easily taught, of fiery temperament and faithful
character.
Features: Morgan's
compact bay (Justin Morgan, the horse) was a true all-purpose horse: mighty
at moving stumps, rocks, and logs; unbeatable in quarter-mile sprints in harness
or under saddle; fast-stepping and stylish on the road. Morgans are
long-lived.
Versatile riding and carriage horse. Exceptionally
energetic, hardy, enduring, economic.
Uses: Morgans were used principally as light harness horses and as harness racers until they were ousted from the tracks by less sturdy, but even faster Trotters. Mechanization nearly finished the breed, but modern Morgans have been developed into first-rate saddle horses; the smaller type is now used as a general utility stock and pleasure horse. Bred as ideal all-purpose horse. Frequently used in police work.
Accomplishments: Morgan influence can be seen in the Standardbred, the Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walking Horse.
Curiosities: The breed can be seen at its best at the Morgan Horse Show held each year in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Profiles: Justin Morgan - the foundation stallion of the breed, foaled in Vermont in the late 18th century, named after his owner, Justin Morgan, who is the only man to have a breed called after him. It certainly owned Thoroughbred blood, if not conformation, and type-stamped its progeny so effectively that an admirable breed was established between 1795 and 1821. His ability to outwalk, outtrot, outrun and outpull other horses was legendary. (See the rest of the article for further information.)
Conclusion: