| The Morgan is compact and refined in build, | | | | was published in 1894. Since then, more than |
| with strong limbs, an expressive face, large | | | | 132,000 Morgan Horses have been registered. |
| eyes, well-defined withers, laid back | | | | The stud book was closed in 1948 in an effort |
| shoulders and a well arched neck. There is | | | | to preserve the breed. The Morgan has also |
| officially one Breed Standard [2] for Morgan | | | | influenced several other breeds, including |
| type regardless of the discipline or | | | | the Standardbred, Tennessee Walker, American |
| bloodline of the individual horse. | | | | Quarter Horse, and the American Saddlebred. |
| | | | Nearly 90% of Saddlebred horses today have |
| Morgans come in a variety of colors although | | | | Morgan blood. |
| they are most commonly bay, black, brown, and | | | | |
| chestnut. Gray, palomino, cremello, perlino, | | | | The first national Morgan Horse competition |
| smoky cream, silver dapple, sabino, frame | | | | was held in 1973 in Detroit, and is now held |
| overo, dun, and buckskin are also seen. | | | | each October in Oklahoma City, OK. In |
| [citation needed] | | | | addition to the Morgan Grand National, there |
| | | | are 10 regional championship shows and many |
| The breed standard ranges from 14.1-15.2 | | | | other official (referred to as "Class A") |
| hands(1.45 to 1.57 meters) with some | | | | shows. Morgans also compete in all-breed |
| individuals over and under. Morgans under | | | | shows, 4H shows, and combined driving events. |
| 14.2 can be shown in open "Pony" | | | | |
| competitions, even though they are | | | | At class A shows, Morgans compete In Hand, |
| technically horses, regardless of height, and | | | | English Pleasure, Park, Western, Carriage |
| are usually exhibited as such. | | | | Driving, Fine Harness, Hunt Seat, Trail, |
| | | | Roadster, Parade, Reining, and Dressage. In a |
| The breed's trotting ability made it a | | | | qualifying class, performance is to be 60% of |
| favorite for harness racing in the 1840s. | | | | consideration in judging, and conformation to |
| Morgans were also used in the Civil War as | | | | be 40%. Championship classes are judged with |
| cavalry mounts, including Sheridan's | | | | 50% consideration to each. The exceptions to |
| "Rienzi"[2] and Stonewall Jackson's "Little | | | | this are the trail classes and in hand |
| Sorrel". In the post-civil war era, Morgans | | | | classes, which give full consideration to |
| were also used in the Pony Express and as | | | | performance and conformation, respectively. |
| mounts for the cavalry in the western United | | | | |
| States. The only survivor of the Custer | | | | The classic type of Morgan is generally quite |
| regiment from The Battle of Little Bighorn | | | | good at the Olympic disciplines as well (show |
| was the Morgan-Mustang mixed breed horse | | | | jumping, dressage, and eventing), making the |
| Comanche. | | | | Morgan one of the most versatile breeds of |
| | | | horse. |
| The first volume of the Morgan Horse Register | | | | |