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Call Us at (864) 838-6608
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History of the Morgan Horse
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Origin of the Morgan Horse
Justin Morgan was a teacher, composer, businessman, and horseman who had moved
to Randolph, Vermont from Springfield, Massachusetts in 1788. He acquired a bay
colt, born in 1789, giving him the name Figure. This colt was the founding sire
of the Morgan breed. While his true origins remain hidden in history, Figure is
thought to have been sired by True Briton, a horse widely respected for his
excellence and known as a sire of quality horses. Figure's dam, was "...of the
Wild-air breed, of middling size, with a heavy chest, of a light bay color, with
a bushy mane and tail - the hair on the legs rather long, and a smooth, handsome
traveler." Her sire was Diamond; a son of Church's Wildair by Wildair
(Delancey's) out of a mare owned by Samuel Burt named Wildair. As Figure grew,
his compact muscular body and stylish way of moving impressed many of the
pioneer farmers and settlers. Soon tales of his beauty, strength, speed,
hardiness, endurance, and gentle disposition spread amidst the small New England
towns. His ability to outwalk, outtrot, outrun, and outpull other horses were
legendary. His stud services were offered throughout the Connecticut River
Valley and various Vermont locations over his lifetime. His most valuable asset,
however, was the ability to pass on his distinguishing characteristics, not only
to his offspring but also through several generations.
After Justin Morgan's death, Figure moved on to other owners and spent a life
working on farms, hauling freight, and as a parade mount at militia trainings.
In the practice of the day, he became known by his former owner's name, the
Justin Morgan horse. He spent his life working and died in 1821 from an
untreated kick received from another horse. His three most famous sons -
Sherman, Bulrush, and Woodbury - would carry on his legacy to future generations
of Morgan horses.
If you want to learn more about the important role the Morgan played in
history, or you have a historical question please contact the National Museum of the Morgan
Horse.
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The offspring of Justin Morgan's sons and daughters grew along with the young
nation that was building itself upon hard work and determination. Morgans worked
along side their owners clearing fields and forests. When the week's work was
done, they provided transportation to Saturday market and Sunday meeting. In
addition, they pulled stagecoaches throughout New England. In the 1840's several
breeders in Vermont and western New Hampshire began efforts to concentrate the
Morgan lines. By locating second, third, and fourth generation descendants of
the original Morgan horse, they established the foundations of the breed. By the
mid-1850's Morgans were selling for high prices and were widely distributed
across the United States. Morgans set world-trotting records when the sport of
harness racing was in its infancy. Black Hawk and his son Ethan Allen were
nationally famous and became household words. The majority of Morgans, however,
did their daily work willingly and efficiently. They were highly regarded as
general-purpose horses capable of performing a wide variety of tasks. During the
Civil War, Morgans served as cavalry mounts and artillery horses. A cavalryman
was only as good as his horse and the Morgan is mentioned in many sources as a
highly desired horse during the Civil War. The First Vermont Cavalry, mounted
entirely on Morgans, gained a wide spread reputation as a fighting unit. Of
their more than 1200 horses, only 200 survived the war. Morgans are noted for
their small ears set above a broad forehead with large, kind eyes, tapered
muzzle and expressive nostrils, an arched neck set on a well angled shoulder,
broad chest, short back; deep, compact bodies set on legs with flat, dense bone;
round croup, and round, hard hooves. Their proud bearing gives them a
distinctive beauty that catches the eye of all.
The stamina and spirit of the Morgan, combined with its build and way of
traveling, contributed greatly to the formation of other American breeds. These
breeds include the Standardbred, Quarter Horse, Tennessee Walking Horse, and
American Saddle Horse. The first Morgan Horse Register was published in 1894.
Since it's establishment, the registry has listed over 179,000 Morgans with
breeders located in all fifty states and overseas.
Morgans Today
Today, Morgans can be found in all 50 states and in
more than 20 foreign countries. 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 mount with conformation that lends itself well
to a vast range of disciplines. Morgan versatility is widely recognized. The
breed's soundness, power, agility 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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Reinzi ( a.k.a. Winchester)
was ridden by General Philip Sheridan to rally his Union troops and was
commemorated in the poem and painting, "Sheridan's Ride" written by Thomas
Buchanan Read. Reinzi was preserved and is at the Smithsonian
museum.
Little Sorrel was a Morgan ridden by Confederate General
Stonewall Jackson in his Civil War campaigns.
Comanche, the lone survivor
of the battle of the little big horn is widely considered to have been of Morgan
lineage.
Charlemagne was the Morgan mount of General Joshua Chamberlain
when he won the fight of Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg in
July 1863.
Black Hawk - A son of Sherman Morgan, he was famed for his
speed and elegant style. He in turn sired the world champion trotter Ethan
Allen.
Ethan Allen 50 - The fastest trotting stallion of his day, he was
sired by Black Hawk. The popular trotting horse weather vane was based upon his
silhouette.
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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. Countless Morgan
mares were purchased from farms in Illinois and turned out on the range in the
King Ranch remuda but can not be identified as the offspring they produced where
shown as being out of "Morgan Mare" in the original AQHA registry
books.
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 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 owe much to early
Morgan blood. The foundation sire, Allan 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.
The early Morgan contributed bottom, 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.
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