As the new nation of the United States of America began its 200-year-
old history, a new breed of horse also began. The now legendary bay stallion
Figure was born in 1789 in southern New England. He was taken to
Randolph, Vermont, in 1791 by Justin Morgan, who had recently emigrated
there with his family from Springfield, Massachusetts. Little did
Justin Morgan know that the young stallion Figure and his descendants
would play a major role in American history.
Figure was a stylish bay horse of many talents. He became widely known
for his ability to pull stumps and logs while clearing the land of
newly arrived settlers. In addition, he won races and pulling contests,
was a favored parade mount at militia trainings, and was used as a
saddle and driving horse. His strength, endurance, and easy-keeping
qualities served him well on the Vermont frontier. Among horsemen
he became widely respected for his prepotency (the ability to pass his
own looks and qualities on to succeeding generations).
Figure was said to be sired by True Briton, a horse widely respected for his
excellence and known for siring quality horses. He was said to have
been "of the best English blood." Whether it was Thoroughbred blood,
blood of another breed (such as the Welsh Cob), or a combination of
types remains open to debate. Figure's dam was a mare bred and owned
by Justin Morgan (having been sired by a stallion he stood at stud in
1793) and is described as being of the "Wildair breed."
As was the custom of the day, Figure became known as the Justin Morgan
horse. After the death of Justin Morgan, Figure passed into other hands
and spent the balance of his life in Vermont and the Connecticut River
Valley of western New Hampshire. He died in 1821 at 32 years of age after
sustaining a kick injury from another horse. He left a legacy of sons
and daughters who were used by farmers to develop a type of horse
well suited to the hilly topography of northern New England.
The round and compact bodies of Morgan horses enabled them to "get the
best of their feed" and made them suitable to perform a wide variety
of tasks. Their large eyes, small ears, and short, broad heads set on
gracefully curved necks carried high provided them with a proud countenance.
Also blessed with ground-covering gaits, the Morgans were able to cover
many miles day after day at steady rate of speed. This ability, combined
with a businesslike attitude to get the job done, made them a favotire
horse of all work. (In later years, when a taller horse became the vogue,
the Morgans would be criticized for their relatively short stature.)
Sherman Morgan, Bulrush Morgan, and Woodbury Morgan were Figure's most
famous and influential sons. These stallions, along with other unrecorded
offspring, came to dominate the horse industry of New England and
norther New York. In the 1820's they were favorite teams for the stage
lines and for field work on farms and transport to town. Their reputation
as "horses of all work" was becoming widespread.
Black Hawk, a son of Sherman Morgan; and Hale's Green Mountain Morgan,
a grandson of Woodbury Morgan, were the dominate Morgan sires of the
mid-19th century. Green Mountain Morgan had a host of admirers
gained, in part, from his appearance as a parade horse at militia
trainings. He was also renowned for his resemblance to Figure. Black
Hawk was famed for his speed and elegant style and he, in turn, sired
the world champion trotter Ethan Allen. In the 1850's these two rival
stallions were shown at Midwestern state fairs with great success and
heightened the continuing demand for Morgan horses.
New England supplied big city markets such as New York with Morgan
horses for public transportation and ffeighting as well as private driving.
Morgan horses comprised the preferred teams of stage line owner M.O.
Walker of Chicago. They were taken to California to be employed as ranch and
harness racing horses. In other areas of the West they were also used
as ranch horses.
During the Civil War Morgans were dpendable cavalry mounts and srtillery
horses. Again, their easy-keeping qualities and ability to endure grueling
condition allowed them to outlast other types of horses. Several units
of cavalry in the Union army and one (known) of the Confederate army
were mounted on Morgan horses. United States General Philip Sheridan's famed
charger Winchester (a.k.a. Rienzi), who was immortalized after the
war, was a descendant of Black Hawk.
Due to a trend in which taller horses were becoming more desirable
with great speed at short distances, the populatity of Morgan horses
began a decline which would not reverse itself for several years.
Morgan mares continued to be widely used by horse breeders, but were
bred to taller stallions of non-Morgan breeding. The purpose was to
capture the enduring qualities of the Morgan but with increased size in the
offspring. The result was a more marketable product for famers
selling to the city markets. As a result of this practice the Morgan,
as it had been known earlier in the 19th century, almost disappeared.
From this type of foundation other American horse breeds were developed.
Harness racing had become an exceedingly popular sport for which the
Standardbred was developed. Other major American breeds that contain
the Morgan horse in their initial development include the American Saddle
Horse, Tennessee Qalking Horse, American Quarter Horse, and American
Albino.
Continueing modernization and development of new technologies, however,
were affecting the horse market nationwide. Electrification of trolleys
and continuing expansion of trains reduced the demand for harness horses
significantly. Larger farms and a corresponding increase in the size
of agricultural machinery to do the work was creating a demand for
larger, heavier draft horses.
The 1890's witnessed efforts on the part of many to locate and "regenerate"
the Morgan horse. A business horse or roadster was desired with not only
speed but with the classiness which would reflect upon one's social
standing as well. Writers berated the disappearance of the "ancient"
type Morgan and called for its regeneration, if it could be found.
Pockets of these Morgans had survived, particularly in northeastern Vermont,
though much reduced in number.
Many new breeding programs were established. Edwin Hoffman of Lyndon,
Vermont, became a Morgan horse dealer and assisted many nationwide with
locating and purchasing Morgans for their farms. It was at this time
the foundation was laid for the highly influential Brunk bloodlines.
The National Morgan Horse Breeders Association was formed during the
1893 Columbian Exposition (although it was not destined to last).
Joseph Battell published his 1,000 page Morgan Horse Register
in 1894.
The Vermont State Fair of the 1850's and 1860's had been a popular venue
for the showing of Morgan horses. This fair was discontinued in the
1890's when as economic downturn forced it to cease operating. It was
revived in 1907 and, within a very few short years, became the national showcase
of the Morgan horses. In 1909 the Morgan Horse Club was formed during the fair.
Morgan horses from as far as Illinois and Pennsylvania came to participate
in a highly competitive atmosphere.
It was here that the first enduranced rides were held. The Morgan Horse
Club created a challenge to prove that the Morgan was the best horse
for cavalry purposes. These rides were eventually held at various locations
around the United States and were extended to 300 miles in length.
Thses rides were the forerunners of today's competitive trail and
endurance rides.
By an act of Congress in 1905, a farm to perpetuate the Morgan horse was
extablished. The United States Morgan Horse Farm was extablished in
Weybridge, Vermont, on Joseph Battell's former Bread Loaf Stock Farm.
The farm was operated under the auspices of the federal government
until 1951, when it was transferred to the University of Vermont, which
continues managing the farm today.
Again, modern technology interfered, with the advent of the automobile
effectively reducing the need for horses. After this time, the primary focus
of the horse market would become recreational. With exceptions, of course --
horses used for ranch work and, until the tractor became economically
viable, for draft work on farms. In many rural areas horses continued
to be a major source of transportation to market, church, and school.
Although the need was diminishing, the Army sought remounts for its cavalry
with demand peaking during World War I.
Throughout the balance of the 20th century the Morgan horse, like other types
and breeds of horses, has been used primarily for recreational purposes. The majority of Morgan horse
owners use their Morgans for pleasure. Many also compete with their
Morgan horses in a wide variety of sporting events. Morgans are highly
competitive in driving competition as well as in horse shows and on
trail rides. They are competing in reining, cutting, and dressage with
success.
The Morgan Horse Club was maintained for many years by philanthropic
Morgan horse breeders and owners. From 1959 it operated in leased
office space in various locations. In 1971 the name of the Morgan Horse
Club was changed to American Morgan Horse Association. At various times
efforts had been made to establish a permanent home for the organization.
In the 1980's this dream became a reality with the construction of the
Morgan Horse Complex in Shelburne, Vermont, by the American Morgan
Horse Institute. The complex houses the National Museum of the Morgan
Horse (NMMH), the American Morgan HOrse Association (AMHA), and the
American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI).
The National Museum of the Morgan Horse maintains exhibits on the role
of the Morgan horse in history. In addition, the museum conducts on-site
programming of Morgan horses and art, maintains a library, and houses
a broad collection of artifacts. The AMHA is a service organization
of Morgan horse breeders and owners. The American Morgan Horse Institute
provides funding for educational projects, scholarships, and conducts the
Grand National MOrgan Horse Show annually.
Compiled by Elizabeth A. Curler