Morgan Horse

The Morgan Horse is a versatile and friendly horse that captures the heart of everyone he meets. The Morgan has an incredible work ethic that has made him a valuable partner in the beginning days of America, and a capacity for play that makes him a family friendly horse as well.

The beginnings of the Morgan are rather obscure, tracing back to a disgruntled Vermont school teacher named Justin Morgan who had been given a rather small and unstriking foal as a partial payment for a debt in 1789. This horse, then named Figure, would go on to become the foundation for the Morgan horse breed. Figure was destined to spend his life at hard labor and in so doing struck everyone who saw this powerful little horse with his strength, gentleness, hardiness, endurance and beauty. One of his most important characteristics was his ability to pass these qualities onto his foals. His three sons, Sherman, Bulrush, and Woodbury would carry on his impressive legacy. After the practice of the day Figure was known by his owners name and would be known far and wide as Justin Morgan's horse.http://www.morganhorse.com/about_the_morgan/history/

The Morgan horses were used extensively in the United States cavalry, and were seen in the Civil War on both the Union and Confederate sides.http://www.morganmuseum.org/html/framecivil.html Due to the highly trainable and willing nature of the Morgan horse they were highly sought after as both mounts and for moving supplies and artillery. Some famous Morgans in the Civil War included Reinzi (aka Winchester), ridden by General Sheridan; Charlemagne ridden by General Chamberlain; Old Clem; Betty Root; as well as many others.http://www.morganmuseum.org/html/framecivil.htmlCaptain William C. Hazelton of the 8th Illinois Cavalry wrote a letter to his mother about his cavalry Morgan saying ". . .He will stand within four feet of a puffing locomotive and never thinks of being frightened. He is deep-chested and has very powerful and muscular limbs. Built for strength, speed and endurance."http://www.morganmuseum.org/html/framecivil.html

The Morgan, being the oldest of America's breeds, has been able to have a large impact on different breeds both here in America and abroad.http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/morgan/ They are seen in the bloodlines of the American Saddlebred, the Standardbred, the American Quarter Horse and even in the English Hackney.http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/morgan/

The Morgans of today do not differ very much from the horses of yesteryear. They stand between 14.2-15.2hh with individuals that can be below or above this average. The Morgan coat colors are predominantly bay, black, and chestnut. There are horses; however, that run the gamut of colors including buckskin, palomino, perlino, brown, cremello, and even grey. http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/morgan/ The head has a broad forehead, kind expressive eyes, and a straight to slightly dished face. Their neck comes out of the shoulder arched and proud. The body is compact with a short back, a large barrel, and a tail carried high and proud.http://www.morganhorse.com/about_the_morgan/morgan_ideal/>/ref>

Morgans have moved from moving cannons into many modern day disciplines. They are one of the premier carriage horses and are used for driving, competitive trail, endurance riding, eventing, working western events, dressage and all show ring events. They are also a favored family horse and can be seen in Civil War reenactments.