| Justin Morgan was a teacher, composer, | | | | and his son Ethan Allen were nationally |
| businessman, and horseman who had moved to | | | | famous and became household words. The |
| Randolph, Vermont from Springfield, | | | | majority of Morgans, however, did their daily |
| Massachusetts in 1788. He acquired a bay | | | | work willingly and efficiently. They were |
| colt, born in 1789, giving him the name | | | | highly regarded as general-purpose horses |
| Figure. This colt was the founding sire of | | | | capable of performing a wide variety of |
| the Morgan breed. While his true origins | | | | tasks. During the Civil War, Morgans served |
| remain hidden in history, Figure is thought | | | | as cavalry mounts and artillery horses. A |
| to have been sired by True Briton, a horse | | | | cavalryman was only as good as his horse and |
| widely respected for his excellence and known | | | | the Morgan is mentioned in many sources as a |
| as a sire of quality horses. Figure's dam, | | | | highly desired horse during the Civil War. |
| was "...of the Wild-air breed, of middling | | | | The First Vermont Cavalry, mounted entirely |
| size, with a heavy chest, of a light bay | | | | on Morgans, gained a wide spread reputation |
| color, with a bushy mane and tail - the hair | | | | as a fighting unit. Of their more than 1200 |
| on the legs rather long, and a smooth, | | | | horses, only 200 survived the war. Morgans |
| handsome traveler." Her sire was Diamond; a | | | | are noted for their small ears set above a |
| son of Church's Wildair by Wildair | | | | broad forehead with large, kind eyes, tapered |
| (Delancey's) out of a mare owned by Samuel | | | | muzzle and expressive nostrils, an arched |
| Burt named Wildair. As Figure grew, his | | | | neck set on a well angled shoulder, broad |
| compact muscular body and stylish way of | | | | chest, short back; deep, compact bodies set |
| moving impressed many of the pioneer farmers | | | | on legs with flat, dense bone; round croup, |
| and settlers. Soon tales of his beauty, | | | | and round, hard hooves. Their proud bearing |
| strength, speed, hardiness, endurance, and | | | | gives them a distinctive beauty that catches |
| gentle disposition spread amidst the small | | | | the eye of all. |
| New England towns. His ability to outwalk, | | | | |
| outtrot, outrun, and outpull other horses | | | | The stamina and spirit of the Morgan, |
| were legendary. His stud services were | | | | combined with its build and way of traveling, |
| offered throughout the Connecticut River | | | | contributed greatly to the formation of other |
| Valley and various Vermont locations over his | | | | American breeds. These breeds include the |
| lifetime. His most valuable asset, however, | | | | Standardbred, Quarter Horse, Tennessee |
| was the ability to pass on his distinguishing | | | | Walking Horse, and American Saddle Horse. The |
| characteristics, not only to his offspring | | | | first Morgan Horse Register was published in |
| but also through several generations. | | | | 1894. Since it's establishment, the registry |
| | | | has listed over 147,000 Morgans with breeders |
| After Justin Morgan's death, Figure moved on | | | | located in all fifty states and overseas. |
| to other owners and spent a life working on | | | | |
| farms, hauling freight, and as a parade mount | | | | Morgans Today |
| at militia trainings. In the practice of the | | | | |
| day, he became known by his former owner's | | | | Today, Morgans can be found in all 50 states |
| name, the Justin Morgan horse. He spent his | | | | and in more than 20 foreign countries. |
| life working and died in 1821 from an | | | | Individuals generally range from 14.1 to 15.2 |
| untreated kick received from another horse. | | | | hands, with exceptions under and over that. |
| His three most famous sons - Sherman, | | | | Colors allowed within the breed include bay, |
| Bulrush, and Woodbury - would carry on his | | | | black, brown, chestnut, gray, palomino, |
| legacy to future generations of Morgan | | | | creme, dun and buckskin. The Morgan has |
| horses. | | | | remained a stylish mount with conformation |
| | | | that lends itself well to a vast range of |
| Growth of a Breed | | | | disciplines. Morgan versatility is widely |
| | | | recognized. The breed's soundness, power, |
| The offspring of Justin Morgan's sons and | | | | agility and stamina make it the choice of |
| daughters grew along with the young nation | | | | many driving enthusiasts. Morgans comprise a |
| that was building itself upon hard work and | | | | large number of entries at Combined Driving |
| determination. Morgans worked along side | | | | and Carriage events, and were the first |
| their owners clearing fields and forests. | | | | American breed to represent the United States |
| When the week's work was done, they provided | | | | in World Pairs Driving competition. Morgans |
| transportation to Saturday market and Sunday | | | | also excel in many other disciplines, |
| meeting. In addition, they pulled | | | | including Park Saddle and Harness, English |
| stagecoaches throughout New England. In the | | | | and Classic Pleasure Saddle and Driving, |
| 1840's several breeders in Vermont and | | | | Western, Hunter, Jumper, Eventing, Dressage, |
| western New Hampshire began efforts to | | | | Reining, Cutting, Endurance and Competitive |
| concentrate the Morgan lines. By locating | | | | Trail. They are gentle enough for lessons, |
| second, third, and fourth generation | | | | 4-H and Pony Club involvement, and due to |
| descendants of the original Morgan horse, | | | | their steady, comfortable gaits, are in great |
| they established the foundations of the | | | | demand as therapeutic riding horses. Morgans |
| breed. By the mid-1850's Morgans were selling | | | | are equally well known for their loving, kind |
| for high prices and were widely distributed | | | | dispositions. Those who buy a Morgan often |
| across the United States. Morgans set | | | | say they have not only purchased a horse, but |
| world-trotting records when the sport of | | | | have welcomed a new family member. |
| harness racing was in its infancy. Black Hawk | | | | |