Oldstyle Morgans

Imagine a horse so incredible that he sired a new breed of horses.

The original Morgan horse was actually named Figure. Sired of mysterious origins, he was foaled in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1789 and led up to Vermont as a colt by Justin Morgan, a rural music teacher. He was small as a youngster and considered somewhat of a runt. Horses in those days were the mode of overland transportation and the only heavy-duty farm and logging equipment they had. From hard work of pulling logs and stumps and plowing fields, Figure developed into a muscular and powerful compact stallion of around 14 hands in height in early adulthood. A late developer, accounts by horsemen who knew him and flyers advertising his stud services stated he got up to 15.3 hands in height. An impressive animal of legendary accomplishments and a desirable stud in his day, the horse eventually became known by the name of the man who owned him for so many years, Justin Morgan.

Figure’s feats were legendary. He could work in the woods or fields all day and then win a wager race by the village tavern. He was matched against and beat thoroughbred racehorses at the gallop. He was said to pull a huge log that draft horses could not budge. He was a sought-after parade horse by local officers for military musters. Yet kind enough for a lady to ride. A virtual trotting machine, Figure was known for his stamina and speed in harness. As an aged horse, he hauled freight over rugged Green Mountain roadways. Figure (aka the Morgan horse) was hale and hearty into old age, eventually dying in 1821 at 32 years of age. And then, from an infection that developed in a wound from being kicked by another horse. Buried on the farmstead of his last owner in Chelsea, Vermont. The same farmstead from which Susans Chelsea's sturdy dappled dam, Seven C Ethan Ann (double-registered, buckskin Morgan), was acquired. 

Figure was a veritable super-horse. An amazing stallion that was also a pre-potent sire, with the ability to stamp his get with his indelible likeness. No matter if he was crossed with pony mares, draft horse mares, or thoroughbred racing stock, his get still strongly resembled their sire. From his loins, sprang a multi-purpose and hardy breed, one that could work all-day in the woods or the fields, and still put in a stylish and speedy trot into town with the family. Figure founded a breed, the Morgan horse.

The Morgan is unique in that it is the only breed known to man that came from a single sire. As even the Thoroughbred traces back to the three foundation sires of the Arabian breed. A breed of [thankfully] carefully guarded bloodlines, some high-percentage Morgans today still have 25% of Figure’s blood. Amazing testament to the devotion and respect this breed inspires, considering even Figure’s offspring had 50% of his blood.

Like the original Morgan horse, the breed is known for their beauty, hardiness, athleticism. So beautiful a horse … of ideal conformation, Morgans have been described as the artist’s horse, a baroque and classic horse, resembling the ideal equine depicted in equestrian masterpieces. A documentary film was made about this aspect of the Morgan, entitled accordingly, “The Artists’ Horse.”

The Morgan horse can be unusually versatile, able to do many different kinds of seats and disciplines and do them well.

Oldstyle Morgans horses for example. Oldstyle Sport's dam is Susans Chelsea. Chelsea has won numerous state championships both in performance: Western Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, and Saddle Seat; and in In-Hand for her conformation. She was state champion Morgan mare in Vermont, which is Morgan mecca to the world. She also goes Saddle Seat, schools in Dressage, does parades, herds cattle, enjoys trail rides and camp-outs, and is an excellent driving and lesson horse.

Oldstyle Sport's sire is the renown full-Lippitt Morgan sporthorse, Madrona Ethan Ash -- aka "Buddy." Buddy goes Saddleseat, Western and Hunter Pleasure, does Dressage, over fences, and is a carriage driving champion. So that makes Sport a half-Lippitt Morgan. 

Much like his champion sire and dam, Sport drives and is into jumping. Sport was Vermont state champion Morgan stallion for two years running prior to relocating to Louisiana. He won a year-end hunt seat award his first year showing under saddle here in Louisiana; even though Oldstyle Morgans was displaced by Hurricane Katrina for a couple months. Sport was a “using stallion” with various jobs up until January 2010. For instance, he'd go out on trail rides in mixed company -- with mares that is -- and is known to be a model citizen. He proved himself as a mountain horse in the El Oro mountain range of New Mexico. And just like his sire and dam, Sport is a Justin Morgan Standard champion, where Morgans of today are judged to be the best embodiment of breed type according to descriptions of the original Morgan horse, Figure.

The Morgan horse has been integral to American history, since the early decades of our new nation, as a hardy cavalry horse that could go the distance without good rations, to the settling of the Western frontier. The U.S. Remount Service sent many good Morgans as breeding stallions out to the Midwest and other Western states. During the mid to latter decades of the 1900s, they made their mark as a stylish show horse, a park horse to rival the Saddlebred. During our nation’s bicentennial in 1976, the Morgan was recognized as the official Bicentennial Horse. And for the last couple decades, Morgans have been making headlines in international single and pairs carriage competition against the large Warmbloods. Today, Morgans can be found in all 50 states and in more than 20 foreign countries.

The standard of perfection to describe the Morgan breed notes a compact, powerful and attractive horse, with small ears, wide forehead, arched neck of medium length attached to a well-angulated shoulder that allows them to carry their head higher than many other breeds, and elastic gaits. The typical Morgan is not a large horse, ranging between 14.1 to 15.2 hands and 900 to 1,100 pounds. They are typically chestnut or bay, but come in the other colors. Morgans are known for cadenced gaits and clean action at various speeds of the trot.

The head organization to which Canadian and British Morgan registries defer, and have reciprocity with, is the American Morgan Horse Association, which is headquartered in Shelburne, Vermont. The AMHA also maintains a popular Morgan display at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Today, there are various clubs and organizations to celebrate the various attributes and abilities of the Morgan horse: There are single-footing Morgans; colorful Morgans such as buckskins, grullas, greys, palominos, and line-back duns; due to their willing temperament and compact frame, Morgans make particularly suitable dressage horses for amateur adult women or junior riders; they especially excel in open competition as carriage horses; Morgans make excellent working ranch horses; they compete in reining, cutting, barrel racing, and as endurance mounts; they serve in mounted police squads and sheriff posses, in drill teams, as therapy horses, and in search and rescue teams. Because many Morgans measure 14.2 hands and under, even though they are a horse breed and not a pony breed, these Morgans can still be carded as a pony for hunter/jumper shows. Hence, excellent children’s mounts for over fences. It was with Morgans, that world-class trainer and clinician, Eitan Beth-Halachmy, developed the discipline he calls Cowboy Dressage. And it was Eitan and a Morgan who represented the USA in the closing ceremonies at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany - August 2006. Above all though, Morgans are enjoyable recreational horses and cherished members of the family.

Morgans are people-oriented. They are intelligent and personable, with a lot of heart, and typically love children. With their versatility, a Morgan can be mom’s show horse, the kids’ trail horse and baby-sitter, and dad’s driving horse. They are known for soundness and good feet. Don’t underestimate them due to their compact size, Morgans can carry hefty people just fine. While most horses are considered aged at 15 years, many Morgans last into their 20s and some up to 30 plus years of age.

For example, up to age 20-years-young Chelsea was still prancing back into the campgrounds at the end of a day-long ride when many horses are dragging their rear-ends. She was still doing a killer road trot. When she hit her stride, she could out-walk and out-trot much taller horses; yet has a very nice, slow Western jog.

Her son, Sport, typically has a steady way of going and has an incredibly comfortable canter/lope. He's usually a steady eddy on the trail.

The Morgan horse was used to develop the other popular American breeds: the Standardbred, a speedster in harness; the showy Saddlebred; the gaited Tennessee Walker; and the Quarter Horse of the American West. 

Morgans cross well with other horses, purebreds or grade horses. Morabs for instance, are quite popular and are considered a breed unto themselves. There is even a half Morgan registry.

Morgan horses aren’t just a pretty horse, they are competition/performance animals and worthy partners. No slackers, Morgans have places to go and people to see. A horse for all seasons and all the right reasons.

Morgans are America’s first breed of horse, and still pride and product of America. If you’d like to learn more about Morgans, visit the websites for the American Morgan Horse Association and the National Museum of the Morgan Horse.

Morgans can be judged for entry into the American Warmblood Registry. Consider as your next horse, the original American sporthorse that’s making waves in open and international competition, the Morgan horse.

Note:  This taken from a narration written for Susans Chelsea and Oldstyle Sport when they were representing the Morgan breed at the Lousiana Equine Expo at Lamar-Dixon Exposition Grounds put on by Louisiana Equine Council, March 2007.

Acknowledgments:  Oldstyle Morgans wishes to thank all the excellent horse people over the years who helped us in our quest to excel.  Some of the people who have aided us the most include Leo and N.J. Benjamin, Floyd Fuller, Karen Peplowski, Hallie McEvoy, Don Tobey, Linda Nelson, Maggie Mulligan, and Karen Wolfsheimer.  Special thanks also to photographer Mary R. Wismer for the generous supply of wonderful photos.  And especially, to these magnificent Morgans that inspire us daily.