What has four legs, a tail, and can do anything it sets its mind to?
The answer? A Morgan.
Long known as the Jack-of-all-trades in the horse world, Morgans have been used for everything from dressage to barrel racing. Willing and speedy, Morgans are always ready for a challenge. Their heart and personalities have made them a favorite for centuries.
And it all began with a music teacher named Justin Morgan.
The Birth of an All-American
It began with a debt to be settled between a music teacher and farmer.
At least, that’s what most people believe. Given that it happened in New England in the late eighteenth century, there’s not a lot of documentation about Figure’s early life. What we do know is that this farmer, unable to pay in cash, gave Justin a colt with nondescript breeding (some sources say Canadian, others say he was an Arabian) to settle the debt.
He had no idea how much this colt would influence the horses of America.
The colt grew up into a fine stallion, and suddenly, odd things began to happen. Figure pulled, ran, and worked harder and faster than any other horse in the area. He’d race against Thoroughbreds and pull logs, showing that despite his small size, his will to get the job done could pull through.
It began to get people’s attention. At the time, there were two kinds of horses. One was a light riding type, a Thoroughbred usually, used for hunts and recreation. Usually only the very rich owned these. The other was a coarse, humble draft horse, easy-going and good for a job, but not very pretty.
Now, with Figure, there was a potential for both a hardworking horse and an elegant mount.
Figure became a stud stallion.
A Greater Influence
Few people know about how much the Morgan horse affected the other American breeds. Renamed Justin Morgan after his master’s death, the stallion was bred to light racing mares and draft mares, and soon people began to see results. His colts and fillies were light and fast, hardworking and eager to please.
The Morgan has contributed to nearly every American breed. The American Quarter Horse, arguably one of the most popular breeds in the Western disciplines, gained its notable speed from the Morgan. The Standardbred of harness racing fame was mainly Morgan stock. Tennessee Walkers, Saddlebreds, even the American Mustang all have contributions to their breed from the Morgan. Most of the horses used in the Civil War were also Morgans, and it was believed that the lone survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn, Comanche, was a Morgan gelding.
Today, Morgans are used in hundreds of disciplines and are bred for several different types. There’s the stock horse type, with confirmation closer to that of a Quarter Horse, and then there’s the harness type, with the legs more far back and flashier strides. They rarely race anymore, but a few people use Morgans for barrel racing.
Breed Stats
The Morgan comes in all colors, except for spotted. The most common are bay, chestnut, and black. They range at about 14.1 to 15.2 hands. The head is finely built and slightly similar to an Arabian, with a high, slightly arched neck. Their bodies are deep and built for work, and they almost always have dark, soft eyes, friendly and full of personality. Some have crossbred Morgans with Arabians to create the Morab, an excellent trail and cattle horse.
The Morgan is used in jumping, driving, dressage, endurance, western sports, trail riding, and make great family horses due to their personality. They are well-loved by Amish communities for their steadfast temperament and drivability. A thriving breed, Morgans number several thousand horses across the globe.
Conclusion
Most people say that if you’re looking to get a horse, you should get a Quarter Horse. But the Morgan is just as eager to please, and their incredible heart and determination make them able to do anything they put their minds to it. Whether you’re in need of a good farm horse, a cattle pony, a jumper or an endurance prospect, the Morgan Horse gives it all.
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