The Morgan
The Morgan breed originated in West Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1789, with the birth of a bay colt named Figure. His parentage remains today somewhat of a mystery. He was most likely sired by True Briton, an English Thoroughbred of Arabian ancestry, imported to America in the mid-1700s. However, there are claims that Figure was the offspring of Young Bullrock, a Dutch-bred stallion. His dam is agreed to be a mare of "Wildair breeding," also of Arabian or Thoroughbred blood.
At one year of age, Figure was given to a Randolph, Vermont, schoolmaster named Justin Morgan in partial payment of a debt. Figure soon matured into a beautiful stallion who could outtrot, outrun and outpull most other horses. His gentle disposition and hardiness also greatly impressed people from far and wide who requested his services as a breeding stallion.
Whatever Figure’s ancestry, his progeny were unmistakable. Endowed with large, kind eyes; small, tipped-in ears; broad foreheads; tapered muzzles; expressive nostrils; refined and arched necks; broad chests; short backs; compact bodies; well-angled shoulders; round croups; fine legs with dense bone; round, hard hooves and a proud carriage, they were greatly renowned for their beauty.
So close was the bond between man and horse that Figure later became known by his master’s name, Justin Morgan. The bay stallion worked hard during his 31 years. Because thrifty New Englanders recognized the quality of his offspring, colts and fillies of the great horse were prized possessions. The majority of registered Morgan horses can trace their lineage back to this single, prepotent horse through his three most famous sons - Bulrush, Woodbury and Sherman.
Growth of a Breed
The offspring of Justin Morgan’s sons grew along with the young nation that was building itself upon hard work and determination. In the hands of American colonials, Morgans cleared rugged brush and plowed fields. They went on to serve as world record-setting trotters, elegant carriage horses, working cow ponies and Pony Express mounts. A favored cavalry mount, Morgans were ridden by Confederate General Stonewall Jackson and Union General Philip Sheridan (whose mount, Rienzi, is today displayed in the Smithsonian Museum) and used to pull heavy artillery during the Civil War.
The Morgan's stamina and vigor, together with excellent conformation and way of going, contributed greatly to the formation of other American breeds. The American Saddlebred, Standardbred, Tennessee Walking Horse and Quarter Horse all carry Morgan blood in their veins.
The Quarter horse stallion Joe Bailey was a son of Headlight Morgan. Jubilee King, a famous Morgan, was also registered under the Quarter Horse name of Yellow Jacket. Yet another well-known Quarter Horse sire, Joe Hancock, was sired by Redolent, a son of the Morgan Red Oak. In 1920 the King Ranch of Kingsville, Texas, purchased the two-year-old colt Lucky from the U.S. Government Farm for the purpose of upgrading the stock horses they were breeding.
Ninety-percent of today’s Saddlebreds carry Morgan blood. The original list of stallions selected as foundation sires by the National Saddle Horse Breeder’s Association in 1899 included the Morgan stallions Black Squirrel, Cabell’s Lexington and Coleman’s Eureka. Today, the majority of Saddlebreds carry Morgan blood through the Black Hawk grandsons, Gist’s Black Hawk and Indian Chief; and the great-grandson, Peavine.
Tennessee Walking Horses also owe much to early Morgan blood. The foundation sire, Allen F-1, traced to Black Hawk through his dam. His son, Roan Allen F-38, was also out of a mare tracing to Gifford Morgan.
Finally, the Morgan contributed, stamina, substance and purity of gait at the trot to the lines of the American Standardbred, enhancing the speed later given to the breed by the Hambletonian stallion.
In 1894, Volume 1 of the American Morgan Horse Register was published by Colonel Joseph Battell, of Middlebury, Vermont. More than 132,000 horses have since been registered. In an effort to preserve Morgan type, the American Morgan Horse Register closed its books in 1948 to all animals who did not possess registered Morgans as both their sire and dam.
The Modern Morgan
Today, Morgans can be found in all 50 states and in more than 20 foreign countries. They have changed very little. Individuals generally range from 14.1 to 15.2 hands, with exceptions under and over that. Colors allowed within the breed include bay, black, brown, chestnut, gray, palomino, creme, dun and buckskin. The Morgan has remained a stylish, spirited mount with conformation that lends itself well to a vast range of disciplines. Morgan versatility is widely recognized. The breed's soundness, power and stamina make it the choice of many driving enthusiasts. Morgans comprise a large number of entries at Combined Driving and Carriage events, and were the first American breed to represent the United States in World Pairs Driving competition. Morgans also excel in many other disciplines, including Park Saddle and Harness, English and Classic Pleasure Saddle and Driving, Western, Hunter, Jumper, Eventing, Dressage, Reining, Cutting, Endurance and Competitive Trail. They are gentle enough for lessons, 4-H and Pony Club involvement, and due to their steady, comfortable gaits, are in great demand as therapeutic riding horses. Morgans are equally well known for their loving, kind dispositions. Those who buy a Morgan often say they have not only purchased a horse, but have welcomed a new family member.
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