Morgan
Horse History
Justin
Morgan was a living legend. In the manner of so many heroes,
he began as an unremarkable colt and became the father
of an entire breed of horses recognized for quality and
dependability.
Born in 1789, Justin Morgan started life as a small, rough-coated colt known
as "Figure." In 1791, he left his birthplace in Springfield, Massachusetts
with his new owner, the soft-spoken schoolteacher Justin Morgan, by whose name
the stallion eventually became known. Although his breeding was unknown (thought
to be of Dutch, Thoroughbred, or Arabian breeding), the quality of Justin Morgan's
ancestry showed in his straight clean legs; deep muscling over his quarters and
shoulders; and fine, intelligent head with large expressive eyes and short, pricked
ears. Add to these the quality of his movement, a thick but silky mane and tail,
and a clean-cut throatlatch, and you have the conformation of the ideal light
horse. Despite these fine qualities, Justin Morgan's lack of size was such that
his debt-ridden owner found no buyers on their journey north to Randolph Center,
Vermont. It was simply fate that no one but, his new owner realized what a little
giant he was.
Over
the next 30 years, the little bay stallion worked long,
hard hours in the fields and on the roads of Vermont. Gradually,
the local population began to talk about the feats of "the
Justin Morgan horse". Standing just over 14 hands
tall, Justin Morgan's exploits gained him fame because
he was not as big as colonial workhorses nor as tall and
long-legged as racehorses, yet he consistently outperformed
both. There was the time he pulled a log no draft horse
could budge, the day only he had the beauty, spirit and
manners to carry President James Monroe on a muster-day
parade ground; and the time he outran the most winning
racehorse central Vermont had ever known, at least until
that day.
Doing
it all and doing it well, Justin Morgan remained sound
of eye, wind, and limb throughout a lifetime of two ordinary
horses. That should have been enough, but the stallion
added still more: showy, ground-covering gaits with speed
to spare at any one of them; a gentle disposition that
made him safe enough for a child to handle yet spirited
enough for any horseman, beauty men would to recall decades
after his death; and a rare courage that made men who lost
bets on him hit their flagons of rum and say, 'To the little
Morgan!' and drink deeply.
Justin
Morgan also proved to be one of the greatest breeding horses
of all time. As the saga of the little stallion grew, countless
mares were bred to him. So prepotent were the genes of
this stallion that no matter what type of mare he was bred
to, be she of heavy draft or refined racing-type, his offspring
inherited his image and abilities. While most breeds develop
by breeding horses of similar characteristics to each other,
Justin Morgan's ability to pass his characteristics to
his offspring for generations to come allowed this single
stallion to found an entire breed in his likeness. Today,
every registered Morgan traces back to Justin Morgan through
his best-known sons Bulrush, Sherman and Woodbury.
In the
coming years, the offspring of these strong, willing, able
light horses grew along with the young nation that was building
itself upon hard work and determination. In the hands of American
colonists, Morgans cleared rugged Vermont mountainsides and
converted them into rich farmland. But they weren't mere workhorses,
Morgans had the style and elegance to capture the admiration
of any city horseman. While some Morgans earned their keep
on the farm others were in high demand to become smart roadsters
for Boston and New York financiers. When harness racing reached
its heyday in the 1800s, the World's Fastest Trotting Stallion
was Ethan Allen 50, old Justin's handsome great-grandson.
As America
grew so did the feats of the Morgan. New England men answered
the call of gold and headed for California on Morgans.
In the Civil War, the famed Vermont Cavalry was mounted
on Morgan horses. Not only did the Union's General Sheridan
ride his Morgan Rienzi, Stonewall Jackson rode his Morgan,
'Little Sorrel,' for the Confederacy as well! In the Indian
Wars, the only survivor in the Battle of the little Big
Horn was Keogh's Morgan-bred horse Comanche. If the pathways
of history are paved with the bones of the horse, surely
America's are paved by Morgans.
Today,
Morgans have few wildernesses to conquer or wars to win,
but they still accomplish great deeds. They are loved and
revered as dynamite performers in Morgan shows across the
country, and as loyal, sensible mounts on America's beautiful
trails and pathways; they are treasured by mounted police
squads and therapeutic riding programs for their intelligence,
soundness, and gentleness; they are winning awards in driving,
dressage, reining and cutting competitions against horses
bred specifically for these jobs; and no matter what they
may be doing or the tack they wear, knowledgeable horsemen
see them and know, 'That's a Morgan!' |
