The Morgan horse
This American saddle horse can be traced back to a single stallion, Justin Morgan, bay, born around 1790 in West Springfield, Massachusetts. His name was Figure. He was later named after his second official owner, Vermont breeder Thomas Justin Morgan. His plausible ancestry could include Arabian, Thoroughbred,
Welsh Cob, Dutch Cob. Justin Morgan was a powerful draught horse, used for driving, carting, and skidding in the forest.
What’s more, he proved to be a prepotent sire who passed on his qualities to his offspring: strength, stamina, and speed. These include Sherman Morgan, Woodbury Morgan and Bullrush Morgan. The first line produced excellent driving horses and helped found the Quarter Horse, the American Saddlebred, the American Trotter, and the Tennessee Walking Horse. Woodbury Morgans are highly prized for saddling and showing. Bullrush Morgans are renowned for their fast trot.
The breed declined at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, but thanks to the breeders of the Morgan Horse Club, founded in 1909, numbers have returned to prominence.
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Caractère et aptitudes du cheval
Docile, hardy, resistant, very powerful, strong, vigorous, energetic, and fast. Smooth, easy action. Special shoeing gives it an artificially high action.
Utilisations du cheval
A versatile leisure horse, suitable for saddling, harnessing, light drafting, and trail riding, having been the official mount of the U.S. Cavalry, it is increasingly appreciated in shows, exhibitions, and western riding.
Morphologie du cheval
Medium head. Straight or slightly concave profile. Broad forehead. Wide nostrils. Short ears. Large, wide-set eyes. Body compact, powerful, rather short. Neck of medium length, rosy. Well-sculpted withers. Long, sloping shoulders. Broad fore chest. Deep chest. Short, broad, well-muscled back. Wide, strong loins. Well-muscled hindquarters. Croup rather long, powerful. Strong limbs. Good bone structure. Short cannons. Healthy feet, thick, hard horn. Tail high set, furnished. Coat: bay, chestnut, bay-brown, black. No white markings above knee and hock except on head. Lush mane. Height: 1.45 to 1.55 m.
