The ^Morgan Jforse <^Magazine
A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE
(Nov.. Feb., May, Aug.)
Office of Publication
SOUTH WOODSTOCK, V E R M O N T
VOL. Ill FEBRUARY, 1944 NO. 2
O U R N A T I O N N E E D S W O R K M A R E S A N D FOALS
This is the heading of Leaflet No. 273 which may be had
from the Horse & Mule Association, 4 0 7 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, 5, Illinois. (3 copies for 10c; 10 for 25c; 50
for $1.00.)
Every horse breeder should have a copy.
A N I M A L P O W E R SERVES N A T I O N
Since this war began farmers have learned to appreciate horses
and -mules more fully than ever before. M u c h credit for two
of the largest crops ever raised in the United States must go to
horses and mules—over 12 million of them—that were in
harness in 1942 and 1943 producing farm crops. Never in all
history have horses and mules done so m u c h in so short a time:
never before has so large a proportion of all horses and mules in
existence been at work.
M e n w h o have them have been able to get their work done;
for horses and m u k s , like men, have great overload capacity. In
emergencies 4 good horses or mules, well fed and wisely handled, can do and have done as m u c h work as 6 usually do.
Tens of thousands of horses and mules were broken as yearlings
rising t w o years old, and worked as t w o year olds, a year earlier
than usual. It took 3 of them to do the work of one mature
animal; but the Sact remains that they did work, to help produce the crops w e needed.
W a r requirements for planes, ships, engines, tanks, guns and
other munitions of war have strained iron and steel production
and fabrication to the utmost. Every bit of iron and steel that
could be diverted from civilian to direct war uses has been so
diverted, and more has been needed than could be supplied.
Under these circumstances, the existence of more than 1 2 million horses and mules of working age on 4,639,453 farms has
been of tremendous advantage to our war efforts. T h e horses
and mules used on farms require annually less than twenty-five
thousand tons of iron and steel for harness, collars, saddles,
horseshoes and horseshoe nails. This is less than it takes to
build twenty thousand tractors. T h e existence and use of so
m a n y horses and mules on farms has saved millions of tons of
iron and steel for direct war use.
M a n y a farmer w h o had sold work stock too close, has remarked: "Never again will I be caught short on work stock"—
and means it. Mules are higher in price than for m a n y years
and are bringing from $165 to $ 2 5 0 per head on Central West
markets, more in the Southeast. G o o d work horses 1300
pounds and up are from 15 to 20 percent higher than a year
ago, are bringing from $ 1 2 5 to $185 in areas where raised, and
in. matched pairs are still higher. T h e y will bring still more
next spring, for horses are most salable in February, March and
April, w h e n farmers w h o need work stock are making their
purchases.
All these factors foreshadow greatly increased breeding of
(Please turn to page 3 1)
THE DEPENDABLE
MORGAN
The Morgan horse, that barrel-chested, hard-muscled, short,
sturdy-legged, nice-headed creature, I'm assured, is one of the
best harness horses you can buy. A s your grandparents knew,
old Morgan is intelligent (not all horses have horse sense),
doesn't skid in winter, isn't hot in the head and strong-willed,
doesn't eat its or your head off. It weighs about 9 5 0 lbs., is
about 15 hands high (60 inches) and is smooth-gaited. Y o u
can unhitch a Morgan, take him for a gallop, and even get him
to give a hand at the plow.
Bred by a N e w England Morgan years ago, and of u n k n o w n
parents, the Morgan horse was long the household pet and
standby. "I'm sure," says a friend, who's ridden a M o r g a n horse
for 22 years, "I can get Queen to take m e to the station, turn
around and find her w a y h o m e by herself! W h a t car could do
that ?".—Clipping.
RAISING H A L F - M O R G A N S
"Enclosed please find one dollar to cover subscription cost of
your magazine for another year. W e are writing soon for some
application blanks for the half-breed book as w e are crossing
Lippitt Allen, our registered Morgan stallion from M r . Robert
Knight's farm at Randolph with some Western mare. T h e
colts look very promising so far. Enclosed is a snapshot of one
of them."
MRS. WALTER LOZIER
Cora, Wyo.
BEST G E N E R A L P U R P O S E H O R S E
I am enclosing $1.00 for MORGAN HORSE MAGAZINE. I
hope I don't miss the next number as I sure do enjoy reading it.
A t one time I was the proud owner of 10 registered M o r g a n
mares and stallion and I don't think there is another light breed
that can take their place as a general purpose horse."
Miss BERTHA MAIER
338 West 2nd St., Willmar. Minn.
SPREAD THE GOSPEL
about
The High Qualities of Morgan Blood
GOOD TEMPER AND DISPOSITIONADAPTABILITY—INTELLIGENCESOUNDNESS AND LONG LIFE
T H E M O R G A N H O R S E IN TFIE W E S T
After the trek to California in forty-nine, the next influential
influx of settlers into the West came directly after the Civil War.
These people settled all through the open country, some going
to California and the Oregon country but many remaining east
of the Rockies. They came west, not looking for gold but to
settle and make homes, to farm and raise livestock. And they
brought their stock with them, oxen, milk cows and horses.
A n d from all accounts the Morgan horse was in the majority
for many years.
In later years farmers and ranchers pointed with pride to
their big draft stock, but it must be remembered that the West
was built with the little horse. The farmer broke sod with
him, built his ditches, hauled his timber. Freight moved the
same way. Grading on the early railway was done with little
horses. He would work on his nerve, live off the country and
rustle out in winter. As the settlers' cattle increased these same
little Morgans were their saddle horses.
The breeding of these saddle horses was more or less haphazard. For the most part all record of their ancestry was forgotten: but if a man had a good mare which brought a likely
looking colt it was kept for a stallion.
A n d Morgan brains, nerve and conformation carried on.
The hard work and having to rustle their o w n forage saw to
the weeding out of the weaker ones, so the stamina for which
the Morgan was noted persisted or increased. There was little
fresh blood, though n o w and then some newcomer would bring
in a new stallion whose services would be eagerly sought for,
or a mare whose offspring was in demand.
As the country settled up certain types seemed to develop for
certain work. O n the farms and grading crews heavier and
blockier horses were sought after. As a boy I remember old
timers pointing out some certain horse, and they always adhered to the same type, saying, "That's a Copper Bottom."
Ask them what a Copper Bottom was and they would answer, "Well, I don't know exactly, but he's a damned good
horse."
These horses had many Morgan characteristics but were a
little blockier and heavier, though with plenty of action, vim
and style. It would be m y guess that they were Morgan with
a little mix of draft blood somewhere. Very likely they did
trace back to Copper Bottom.
The main social gatherings were picnics and dances—often
combined. A dance often meant dancing all night, horse races
and pulling contests the next day and dance all night again.
The races were short, anything from fifty yard dash which
depended chiefly on a horse's get-away, to a quarter of a mile.
Here again the little Morgan shone, with heavy muscle, short
back, clean legs and highly developed ambition—true quarter
horse type was he.
W h e n the trail herds began to come north the Texans brought
in their cavies of little Texas horses, chiefly Mustang, a natural
cow horse though usually with no gait but the mustang lope,
good enough on a prairie but next to nothing in broken country.
But many were fast short horses, too, and the Texans would
bet their shirts on them, the Northerners going just as strong
on their Morgans. Some great contests were held.
W h e n two roundup outfits met a holiday was usually declared, the best horses from each side were matched and one
company sometimes nearly put the other naked, bareback or
afoot. N o w and then some cow-puncher, drifting through the
country, riding one horse and leading another with his bed,
would pull the load off the packhorse, saddle him and take a
whole community to a cleaning.
As their stock increased the Northerners had to reap with the
round-up wagons and they built up larger strings of saddlers.
The Morgan took to cow work as if that were all he had ever
done. There was much rivalry between the factions, but as the
Morgan was just as good a cow horse, just as fast in a race,
could put so many more miles behind him in a day and to it
so much easier to his rider, the Morgan stallion continued in
demand among cow men.
(Please turn to page 31)
22
GREEN MOUNTAIN M O R G A N A N D OTHERS
I, Elmer Barnum, of the T o w n of Shoreham, County of
Addison, State of Vermont, on oath depose and say that:
I was born in 1 834;
Thefirstof a Morgan horse was when Black Hawk came
here in 1844, and at that time it was all Black H a w k ; hardly
ever heard anything said about Morgans, but what it developed
that the Black Hawks and Morgans were synonomous terms;
that the Black H a w k was a branch of the original Morgan
family;
Should judge Black H a w k to be a horse about 15 hands high
and would weigh from 1000 to 1050; had great style and
beauty; never have seen any horse, not even his o w n colts, that
had their neck set on their shoulders like his was; he was the
progenitor of an entirely new race of horses; was often shown
at the fairs against anything and everything that appeared, with
the result that as a rule they were universal winners;
/ remember Green Mountain Morgan; he was a chestnut horse
with a style entirely different from Black H a w k ; was a short
tailed horse, but a noble animal; about a trifle taller than Black
Hawk;
Green Mountain and Black H a w k showed together against
one another in Rutland in 1852, and Black H a w k won; the
Black H a w k strain was headed by David Hill, Black Hawk's
owner, and Green Mountain Morgan was ridden by Col. Hale,
and he made afineappearance, but had not near as many colts
to go with him; Black H a w k got the ribbon; while the horses
were standing in front of the judges' stand somebody w h o was
driving a sulky drove up and the hub of his sulky hit Green
Mountain Morgan and broke an arm of the sulky off, but that
horse never quivered or trembled; I don't remember of any
other horse of the Morgan type;
Following along the Black Hawks to Ethan Allen, Ethan
Allen was a bay horse; in his best days he was probably about
15 hands; was style and beauty personified, and was the first
horse that I ever heard of being exhibited on the stage in a N e w
York theater; he left a distinctive family that were somewhat
like the Black Hawks, but inclined to be a little more rangey;
As a race the Black Hawks were medium to large horses—
some would weigh 1200 pounds and would probably average
1 5 2 hands high;
The Ethan Aliens were not as large as the Black Hawks, but
were fully as stylish and useful: both the Ethan Aliens and
Black Hawks were natural roadsters and were horses of brains;
From the Ethan Aliens to the Lamberts, the Lamberts were
quite a distinctive family—were a more nervy family and were
not quite as large as the Ethan Aliens and Black Hawks, but
would not vary very much in height from the Ethan Aliens, but
the same height horse of the Lamberts would not be quite as
heavy as the same height horse of the Ethan Aliens: Lambert
was all style and stood about 15 hands and would weigh in
the neighborhood of 1000 pounds:
>
The Black Hawks, Ethan Aliens and Daniel Lambert had
the natural gait of a trot; I don't recall of a single pacer in the
three families, and I don't think there was one in this section.
STATE OF V E R M O N T
C O U N T Y OF ADDISON
Personally appeared at Shoreham,
Vermont, on the 16th day of
March, 1911, Elmer Barnum,
and took oath to the foregoing
statements.
Before me. ...
Notary Public.
DO YOU K N O W ?
The number and name of the American breeds of horses—
those breeds which have originated in the United States?
T H E M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY,
1944
B U R T O N S T R O N G L Y DISAPPROVES O F PRIV A T E L Y O W N E D M O R G A N S BEING APP R O V E D AS R E M O U N T STALLIONS
The Editor's note, on page 2 of a recent issue of THE MORGAN HORSE MAGAZINE, would naturally lead a reader to believe that you had published all of what you term m y "splendid
article," and that you later asked a question which I answered
with the six words that you quote, just as if there were m y entire reply.
N o w . you know that m y suggestions as to ways and means
to get more of the right type of Morgans into the Remount
was the third part of m y "splendid article." and the whole
article reached you at one time. I did not attempt to answer
the quoted question in any six words, and for you to put quotation marks around those six words and offer them as m y answer
to such an involved question is definitely misleading.
Since the third part of what I sent to you was omitted, although you later assured me that it would be published, I've
been wondering if you lack the guts to give a dose of castor oil
to some of the Morgan breeders w h o need it. While we are
being frank, I'll say that if I wanted to sabotage Morgans, as
regards the Remount, I'd not be able to improve on your technique.
M y letters of August 16 and 27. 1942, ought to have shown
you enough of the nonsense in your proposal, to have privately
owned Morgan stallions approved by the Remount, to have
caused you to discard it, but you have revived it, so I'll make
another attempt.
In thefirstplace, please try to keep it in mind that the Remount is a division of the Armv, and you should realize that
a m a n is either so positively in the A r m y that he can be sent to
the guard house for failure to salute a second "looey," or he is
so definitely and completely out of the Army that he can safely
thumb his nose at a full general.
It is the same with the Remount and a stallion is either owned
by or under the absolute control of the Remount, or it is not a
Remount stallion, or approved as a Remount stallion. Don't
you pay any attention to the statement that is repeated so many
times over the radio, to the effect that, "This does not constitute
approval by the W a r Department, because the W a r Department does not endorse any product"? If you think it over, you
should be able tofigurethat the same lack of endorsement applies
to horses, too.
A n d I happen to know that it includes Thoroughbreds, just
as much as it includes Morgans. I know a Remount agent who
was a satisfactory Remount agent for more than ten years. He
raised a Thoroughbred stallion that is good enough so that it is
probable that the Remount will buy him for a stallion. The
agent offered to list the horse as a Remount stallion and he was
promptly told that the stallion could not be listed as a Remount.
Elmer Brown of Halstead, Kan., was very successful with
Morgans. H e got Tehachapi Allan from Roland Hills of California. Captain Adamson of the Remount bought Tehachapi
Allen from Elmer Brown and then left the stallion right there
as a Remount stallion, but Tehachapi Allan did not have Remount approval until the Remount owned him. Captain Adamson also bought H a w k Jim from O. E. Sutter of Wichita. Of
all the many Remount officers that I have known, none of them
was ever "afflicted" with a stronger preference for Thoroughbreds, and there are other facts to prove that the Remount has
given'the Morgan a much squarer deal than you have given the
Remount.
.
T h e fact that the Bureau of Animal Industry loans studs
from the U. S. Morgan Horse Farm to the Remount seems to be
a sore spot with you. Just as it makes no difference to you if
you carry money in one of your pockets or in another, there is no
point to one branch of the Government making sales to another.
T h e all-important part of the proposition is that the Remount
has the same absolute authority, so far as the Remount agent is
concerned, over the stallion that is loaned by the B. A. I., as
over the stallion that is owned by the Remount.
(Please turn to page 3 0)
FEBRUARY,
1944
THE
KING S H O S H O N E 8548
Chestnut: Flaxen tail; f. May, 1941. Bred by L. U. Sheep
Company, Worland, W y o .
Transferred December, 1941, to Melvina M . Morse, Arcadia, Calif.
Sire: Plains King 7648; sire: Romanesque 7297 by Red
Oak 5249; dam: Ella Linsley 0478 by Linsley 7233.
D a m : Shoshone X05493; sire: Flyhawk 7526.
D R A W I N G S O F HORSES
I have in my possession some very fine drawings by George
Morris and Robert Dickey of some of the greatest stallions and
mares in Morgan and Standardbred history. The list is as follows:
Rydyk's Hambletonian and his famous sons: Alexander's
Abdallah. George Wilkes, Volunteer, Cuyler, Jay Gould, Aberdeen, Strathmore, Happy Medium, Harold, Dictator and Electioneer; his grandsons Almont and Belmont, and his granddaughter Primrose by Alexander's Abdallah.
Then there are the drawings of Edwin Forrest, Daniel Lambert, his sire the famous Ethan Allen, Woodford Mambrino,
Mambrino Patches and the brood mares Green Mountain Maid,
Miss Russell, D a m e Winnie, Alma Mater, Minnehaha, Rosalind,
Columbine, Reine Victoria and Beautiful Bells with foal Bellflower at side.
These drawings are of such size I have successfully reproduced them on cloth, embroidered them in their original colors
for a quilt the like of which I can truthfully say is the only one
in the country.
The horses w h o possess the greatest amount of beauty are
Daniel Lambert, Ethan Allen, Edwin Forrest, Woodford M a m brino, Mambrino Patchen, Cuyler, Belmont, Beautiful Bells
and Reine Victoria.
I have spent many hours tracing the pedigrees of famous
horses with what little material I have, and it is somewhat surprising to learn I can trace back tofiveand even seven generations, but when it comes to m y o w n family tree I run into a
stonewall after the third generation. M y ancestors are in German occupied Denmark.
I have enjoyed T H E M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE very much
and hope it can continue. I have ridden a very fine Morgan
stallion and have every admiration for the breed. I hope some
day m y horses will be real instead of cloth, metal, paper and
plastic.
I am glad to see so many other people raising or owning Morgans. I know the breed gets the job done no matter what the
task may be. Best wishes for the coming year.
1208 South Cecelia St.. S.oux City 20, la. M'
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
C
THOMPSON
23
THE MORGAN
ETHAN
HORSE MAGAZINE
Devoted to the Interests of the Morgan
ALLEN
King of Old-Time Morgans
Horse
EDITORIALS
That famous Morgan stallion, Ethan Allen, was probably
the most perfect type of equine beauty that h u m a n eyes have
ever seen. Ethan Allen was a son of Vermont Black H a w k ,
w h o was sired by Sherman Morgan, the latter by Justin Morgan. H e was born in Vermont in 1849 and became the representative of the Vermont Morgans. O n June 21, 1867, and at
the age of 1 8 years, Ethan Allen defeated the racehorse Dexter.
Shortly afterward he was purchased by the Messrs. Sprague and
Aikers, of Kansas, on whose stock farm he died in 1876, aged
27 years. T h e following poem, wrhich appeared in the American Horse Breeder about the time of his death, is a fitting tribute
to the m e m o r y of this great horse:
MORGAN PREPOTENCY INDICATES AN ARAB
CHARACTERISTIC
I stand and gaze to the
O'er
Seeking
And
V O L . Ill
F E B R U A R Y , 1944
NO. 2
A Quarterly—Subscription, $1.00 a Year in Advance
Display Advertising Rates
O n e page, $ 2 0 . 0 0 — y 2 page, $ 1 0 . 0 0 — i 4 page, $5.00
Classified Rates
Cash in advance: O n e cent a word. N o advertisement less than
twenty-five cents
Prepotency in the Arab breed excels any other breed as stated
by Lady Wentworth 1 w h o writes "the quality of prepotency is
the greatest proof of the true Arabian origin of all the Eastern
horses and mares which have left their mark, for prepotency is
well k n o w n to be above everything an Arab characteristic."
•'"Thoroughbred Racing Stock." London, 1938.
"A C U R I O U S
eastward
prairies rolling and low,
in vain for the mountains
friends of long ago.
And I long for the evergreen forests,
For the sound of the brooklets'rill,
And a draft of the sparkling water
From the spring at the foot of the hill.
Time is fleeting, years are passing,
Tears are dropping; I'm all alone;
Quite forgotten, thinking, longing
For m y loved Green Mountain home.
When my form was lithe and youthful,
Like an Indian's supple bow,
W h e n m y flight was like the eagle's,
Or the lightning's vivid glow.
HORSE"!
In an advertisement in the Rutland (Vt.) Herald, May,
1795, Justin Morgan, under date of April 30, 1795, ran an
advertisement of his horse Figure—later k n o w n as Justin Morgan—saying:
"Figure sprang from a curious horse owned by Colonel Delansey of N e w
York x x x x x and gets curious colts."
Lady Wentworctr quotes a ieirer written to Lord WTinchilsea
in November, 1663 in the matter of an Arab horse presented
to the King:
"The horse was commended by all for a curious shaped horse"—meaning
"beautiful."
Days of triumph, days of victory,
Dexter beaten, spite the taunt:
"He is nothing but a Morgan
W h o isfightingfor Vermont."
I can hear the joyous shouting,
I can see the flowers they bring
T o deck their loved Ethan Allen,
Crowned that day "The Morgan King."
Tell me, have they quite forgotten
All the deeds that I have done?
D o they think of Ethan Allen
At the setting of the sun?
—Clipping.
The word "curious" was the term applied to "beautiful, excellent, superior."
1
A N IDEAL
P. 284, "Thoroughbred Racing Stock."
"LIGHT H O R S E S "
Here is an outstanding publication of 166 pages published by
the Iowa Horse and Mule Breeders' Association, State House,
Des Moines, la. (price 25 cents), which should be in the hands
of every horseman, as it deals with about every subject in connection with a horse—ailments, breeds, care, diseases, feeding,
injuries, handling, training, etc.
T h e authors, Cecil F. Rooks and W a y n e C. Jackson, have
covered the subject in a very clear and concise manner. In the
half-page on the Morgan breed, illustrated by "Abbott 7 7 0 4 —
Typical Morgan Stallion," they incline to the idea that Justin
M o r g a n was of Thoroughbred origin though foaled in 1789
and bred in 1788 before the Thoroughbreed was established in
England.
F r o m the fact that m a n y Morgans possess the Arab characteristic of one less vertebrae than other breeds, it would seem
that Justin Morgan inherited Arab characteristics from his immediate ancestors which resulted from the infusion of n e w Arab
blood on the part-Arab stock of England.
Doubtless the foundation stock of Justin Morgan and of the
Thoroughbred breed by the racing squires of England was
A r a b — o n e developed on the farms and bills of N e w England
to become America's "utility and general purpose horse" and
the other developed into the fastest race horse in the world.
24
THE
TYPE?
"The last issue of the magazine which I have received was
the May-June-July number. If m y subscription has run out
kindly let m e k n o w .
"I think it would be a good plan to have an ideal Morgan
type horse which all breeders could strive for. I understand that
most Morgan horse owners prefer a horse varying somewhat
from the original Justin Morgan. Wouldn't it be a good plan
to conduct a poll in your paper and find out just what the majority horsemen prefer and then keep those specifications constantly before the breeders in every issue of your magazine?"
LEIGH W. NICKERSON
610 Alvarade St.. Redlands, Calif
Editor's Note: There is no breed today, Arab, Thoroughbred, Hackney,
which adheres to the size and type of 1 50 years ago so why should the Morgan?
Z O N E 7 B U Y S 50,000 A N I M A L S
ANNUALLY
Wayne Dinsmore, secretary of the Horse 8 Mule Association
states that farmers "in the nine states in Zone 7 (Maine, N e w
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
N e w York, Pennsylvania and N e w Jersey) must buy annually
47,664 horses and 2600 mules to offset the deficit between
what they raise and what they need for replacement."
Editor's Note: We suggest more farmers raise part-Morgans—and reestablish the old "Vermont Draft Horse," the earliest general-purpose and
utility horse in America.
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY,
1944
JUSTIN MORGAN'S FAMILY
M O R G A N TYPES
By JOHN HERVEY
W e hear much talk about Morgan types—but is there much
difference in the best Vermont strains and those of the West?
_
The Maryland Horse, I'cbruarq, 194 1
Take
Horse history is nothing if not romantic. Though we no
longer live in a romantic age, as did our forefathers, there are
still some phases of our affairs where the prose of every-day is
lit up by flashes of poetry, and nowhere does that precious
ouality peep out more undyingly than in our "horseology." It
can always be discovered if one cares to look for it. And often
if don't even have to be looked for. Like Topsy, it jest grows.
A n d it grows among all sort of horses, from the high-mettled
racer down.
Our horse history is nothing if not romantic—so much so
that very often we can't be very certain where and how to distinguish between the two. Of which no more fascinating instance
exists than the life-story of the little Vermont stallion Justin
Morgan, in many ways the most extraordinary specimen of the
genus Equus that America has produced. Though he has been
dead since 1821, and was foaled as far back as 1789, his ancestry, origin and history remain more or less enigmatic, uncertain and tantalizing, subjects for speculation and controversy
and destined, it may be ventured, ever to remain so.
Rockwood 7423
Recently our great authority upon the early history and anA bay, foaled 1924, bred by the U. S. Morgan Horse Farm,
cestry of the American thoroughbred, Mr. John L. O'Connor,
Middlebury, Vt.
whose inquiring mind and genius for investigation have also led
him into many of the by-paths of his main subject, has conSire: Bennington 5693, by General Gates 666.
tributed to The Maryland Horse some very interesting articles
D a m : Carolyn 2866, by Ethan Woodbury 6823.
upon the breeding of the "original" Morgan horse. They have
and
revived in m y mind the intense interest in this matter that formerly I felt and the vast amount of time and pains that, during
the pastfiftyyears, I have at intervals expended in the effort to
arrive at some definite conclusion. Be it said, without "making
the grade." At one time and another it has seemed to me that
certainty was just around the corner. But, upon turning the
said corner, it somehow wasn't there!
The "mystery of Justin Morgan"—for so, to drop into the
current vernacular, it may well be called—always has been and
always will be made deeper and more impenetrable by the fact
that he lived and died in almost utter obscurity, and not until
long after his death was the importance of his biood-lines appreciated.
1
In the supreme biological attribute of stamping his own likeness upon his descendants—as the founder and progenitor of a
strain, type, or breed of horses distinctly and consistently resembling himself—he has had no rival. Such, moreover, was
the vigor and mettle of this phenomenal pony (he was little
more than that) that his blood was inbred and inter-bred in an
extreme and even fantastic degree and withstood that test in an
amazing way. In m y childhood and youth the entire U. S. A.,
Bob Romanesque 7839
it might be said, was populated with horses of Morgan blood.
They were the favorite all-purpose "light" horse of the whole
A chestnut, foaled 193 3, bred by Elmer Brown, Halstead,
country. And they could be picked out from any and all other
Kan.
breeds, kinds and types on sight by anybody, almost, that knew
Sire: Romanesque 7297 (bred by Richard Sellman, Texas) ,
a horse from a cow.
sired by Red Oak 5249.
Small, symmetrical, plump and pleasing in outline; tough,
D a m : Maggy Linsley 04802 (bred by Brown), sired by
wiry and long-lived in constitution; wonderful roadsters and
Linsley 7233, by General Gates 666.
clever, nimble saddle horses; as surefooted as a goat and hardy
as hickory; full of life, speed and spirit but so tractable that
w o m e n and children could do anything with them; as intelligent
F R O M B U R T O N OF KANSAS
as they were good-tempered. The world has never seen their
like.
(To be continued)
"Here is that dollar for which you dunned me—pleas
v
THE
CLASSIFIED
FOR SALE My Romeo, foaled April 1934. Sire: Romanesque 7297;
D a m : Margett L. 04479. Well broke. Harold Sperling, Hill City, Kan.
AT STUD Jugo 7819, sired by Jubilee King 7570; Dam Gi-Za-Ne
04797
A gentle, beautiful dark bay twelve year old proven stallion
bred by Joseph Brunk, Springfield, 111. His style, conformation and
spirit carries the real Justin Morgan stamp. Fee $15.00. Mares reasonably boarded. B. M . Keene, Jr., Keenland Farms, R. R. 16, Box 651.
Indianapolis, Ind.
FEBRUARY, 1944
T H E
MORGAN
HORSE MAGAZINE
for another year to Pecan
Valley Farm, Coffeyville, Kan.
" W h y wouldn't it be a good plan to shift the publication
dates so that we would not have to wait so long after the big
trail ride to get a complete report?
" H o w come that you allow a magazine that you once classed
as fanatically Thoroughbred to be weeks ahead of you in the
publication of a big item of Morgan news? Have you gone to
sleep on your job?"
C. E. BURTON
Pecan Valley Farm, Coffeyville, Kan.
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
25
H O F F M A N ' S S T A T E M E N T WILL S U R E L Y
INTEREST O L D T I M E R S — A N D M A N Y
O T H E R M O R G A N LOVERS
My vocabulary is entirely lacking in words adequate to tell
the world what your magazine means to me. It is like opening
a chapter forever closed, a romance of m y boyhood days in which
I see the green hills of Vermont and all that they contained.
I taste m y grandmother's butter, her dried apple pies, the
hot-water johnnie-cake, golden brown, hot from the oven each
morning covered with maple syrup that was never absent from
the table at any meal, the hard cider in haying time with a chunk
of ice dropped in the pitcher. Yes, I see the hills and the hilly,
rocky roads, the Concord buggies with their yellow gear, the
fairgrounds all over the State, yes w e made 'em all. I see the
dirt tracks, the carts, the sulkies; the top doors of the box stalls
have been thrown back and the horses are standing, heads out
and over, their wide foreheads and the white blazes of the M o r gan studs, their soft kindly eyes tolerant as they watch the passing throng; they are the very life and soul of the people themselves.
In the old graveyard at Lyndon, Vt., lie what is left of m y
dear ones and in a remote corner is a moss covered stone which
bears an inscription, "Here lies the body of Henry Hoffman,
soldier of the Revolution w h o fought under Gen. George W a s h ington and C o m m o d o r e John Paul Jones." His namesake,
a grandson Henry, m y great uncle, lived in Wheelock. H e was
an historian famous for three things—his hospitality, his profanity, and his knowledge of Morgan horses. H e raised m a n y
good Morgans himself and in present day pedigrees you will
see m a n y a d a m or granddam referred to as a "Henry Hoffman
Mare," or " T h e Henry Hoffman Mare." I believe, although
not positive, he was a groom to old Billy Root. H e was constantly consulted on Morgan pedigrees in his old age as his
mind remained keen and clear to the end and he k n e w them all.
I used to listen to the stories told him by his grandfather, Henry,
stories of the Revolution most of which were very amusing.
O n e was of the French soldiers under Count Rochambeau stationed in Rhode Island. T h e y drank so m u c h applejack on
occasions that they became so petrified it was necesary to load
them into two-wheeled ox-carts as you would so much cord
wood, and haul them to their barracks.
I wish to say that I have been West m a n y years, have no
copy of or access to the Morgan Horse Register, and whatever
statement I make is from m e m o r y which will show h o w deeply
associated and inseparable m y family have been with Morgans.
A t Lyndon is located what was once the Cahoon Stock Farm
which has produced as good Morgans as were ever bred. M y
father's brother, Ed. Hoffman, managed and owned this farm
and it is today the property of his youngest son, Clayton. T h e
time I worked there w e had four Morgan studs, Billy Roberts,
great-grandson of Billy Root and a son of Billy Roberts called,
if I remember, Rosebrook, which was the property of, or part
property of, M r . C. C. Stillman; and Lyndon, then a two-year
old which I showed at St. Johnsbury Fair for thefirsttime
about 1906, I would say. These three studs were dark chestnut with white blazes and at maturity would weigh a thousand
pounds. L y n d o n was later sold to T h e Mountain View Farm
at East Burke; his pedigree traces to Justin Morgan forty-two
times, six of which are through Billy Root. T h e sons and
daughters of Billy Roberts were of excellent conformation and
became road horses unexcelled for action and endurance, and
were easy to look at.
Irving Lambert, by Lambert B., was at this farm at this
time. H e was a sorrel colt with light mane and tail. O f all
tbe Morgans I have ever seen I believe for symmetrical conformation, action, and style I have never seen anything more
beautiful. I left to come West that year and I do not k n o w
what became of him.
Ethan Allen III was also owned here. H e was a half-brother
to B o b Morgan. I never saw him although I have a wonderful
enlarged photo of him. H e would, so m y cousin Clayton says,
pull two m e n in a buggy at a three-minute clip at the age of
26 THE MORGAN
twenty-three, putting his knees most to his chin, but he was an
extremely gentle horse.
A t the time of Ed. Hoffman's death he was acknowledged
to be a bigger m a n in the Morgan horse breed than any other
one m a n in any other breed of horses or cattle. H e was k n o w n
from Coast to Coast, constantly doing business with m e n in
all parts of the United States and Canada. H e raised a very large
family and died a comparatively young m a n , from overwork.
H e also owned at the time I was there a dappled dark bay mare,
a Franklin mare k n o w n as A n n a A . It was said she could go
to the quarter-pole in thirty seconds, but w h e n raced no one
could keep her on her feet. She would hit the planking of a
covered bridge, hooked to a Concord buggy, like a peal of thunder and no sooner had the front wheels hit the bridge than the
back ones had almost cleared it. W e used to like to brush her
on the road as nothing around there could pass her. Speed was
what she had.
I read with interest in the last issue the article by Lawrence
D a m e : "Justin Morgan had more fineness than was present in
the Dutch horse and a little more weight and bone than the
usual Arabian." I like that statement and for m y part I would
like to cause the "Dutch" horse m y t h to evaporate for good.
T h e Chas. Williamson statements were most interesting,
also the Eugene Barker article on Morgan in the Civil W a r , and
the W m . Tennyson article hit m e in the right spot; and
in reading Clark Ringling's article "If the Morgan does not
descend from the Arab, he most surely comes from the same
stock that produced the Arab horse," I at once thought h o w
H o m e r Davenport w o n the Justin Morgan C u p with an Arabian
stud, imported from Arabia. T h e article by Lambert St. Clair
just about hit the nail on the head and I hope to live to read his
treatise entitled " T h e passing of the livery stable marked the
beginning of the decline of Civilization."
M r . Tennyson says, "Black H a w k , Ethan Allen, Daniel L a m bert, Aristos all founded families that were far better than anyone is breeding this very day." I a m inclined to believe he is
wholly right.
W e have some good Morgans in California, quite a few I have
seen are too large, too coarse, and their heads are not true M o r gan type. I have not seen G a y Mac, he ought to be good.
Jack Davis of Arcadia owns Red Vermont. H e came from
Walpole, N . H , I believe. H e has a good Chestnut color, white
blaze, and a nice head. I have bred a Steel Dust-Morgan mare
to him and hope to get a good cow-horse. W h e n M r . Tennyson mentions the horses that have contributed so much, I think
of so m a n y others. There was Gillig and Henry S., owned by
the Grouts, and so m a n y good ones around Shoreham, Middlebury, Bridport and elsewhere in the Champlain Valley. Eb.
Ryder of N e w Haven contributed Rex, foaled in 1898. Rex
was sired by Denning Allen w h o also sired Lord Clinton,
2.08J/2, and back in 1898 I should say, stood a seal brown
horse in Bridport called Edson Allen, owned, I believe, by a
m a n by the name of Grosvenor. M y father and I bred a mare
to this horse. H e was indeed an outstanding individual, a
counterpart of Billie C. Morgan, the M o r m a n of: the Morgans.
So often have I heard it said that a Morgan was a good buggy
horse but couldn't go fast enough to keep warm.
I left St. Johnsbury Academy in the Spring of 1900, I a m
quite sure, and went to work for Will Bailey at the Maplewood
Stock Farm at East Hardwick, Vt. T h e horses produced on
this farm would pretty m u c h give the lie to a statement that a
Morgan couldn't trot fast enough to keep warm.
Helen M . was a dappled gray mare, a Morgan w h o held the
N e w England two-year-old record of 2.2814 I believe. She
w o n this race at Portland, M e . She was a square line trotter
and raced in an open bridle without a check-rein, a weight, or a
boot, just as G o d made her. This farm was the h o m e of Cobden
and it was here that Ifirstsaw Lambert B. H e was a dark
mahogany bay with black points and a white star in his forehead and he had wind puffs on his rear ankles. H e was, I believe, sixteen years old at this time. I took the entire care of him
and carried for m a n y months a scar on m y hip from a bite which
I got in his stall w h e n m y back was turned. H e was a fast
HORSE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY,
1944
buggy horse but a little lazy. If Mr. Tennyson got a colt from
him in 1911 he must have been twenty-six when he bred the
mare.
I could write a book on the Maplewood horses, in fact I could
go on and on, but we will take just one last look before we hook
the horses to the road-carts to start home. Its forty years ago
and yet it seems like yesterday. The afternoon races will soon
be over and it's the last day of the Fair. They are working out
for the "Free For All," a motley collection, among them two
Canadian horses, a black pacer in hobbles and knee boots, and
an old big brown gelding—it's almost a cinch he's a "ringer"and now at last they are coming down the stretch. Cobden
Junior is in the lead and Guy Dresser driving; old Kendall is
second, and away back in the rear is a sorrel mare and she's coming up strong, coming up. She's a Red Elm filly out of a Lambert mare. She has the color of her grandsire, and her light
mane and tail are tossed to the late September wind. O n and
on she comes, her driver is a veteran—it's old Mort Richardson
of Littleton, or is it one of the Utton boys from Morrisville:'
He holds her steady and now he slips his hickery sweat scraper
from under the cushion and he taps her on the rump. O h ! oh!,
she is going to break, no she's reaching for speed and he's talking
to her, "Come on girl, come on girl, show 'em what you got."
The little mare is doing her best now and on and on she comes.
She is gaining swift and sure. She almost has the lead, she has
it and she is leaving them all. As she comes under the wire,
Charlie Bostwick, the band leader, raises his cornet and the band
strikes up and its "Stars and Stripes Forever."
JOHN
HOFFMAN
Hoffman Animal Home. Verdugo City. Calif.
POP S E N T N E Y WRITES INTERESTING
F R O M KANSAS
LETTER
R O S C O E S E N T N E Y 8442
"Whenever I get a new customer I always ask him if he is a
Rider—Pop R. S. Sentney, Hutchinson, Kan.
member of the Morgan Horse Club and does he take the paper?
Chestnut: f. M a y 14. 1941.
I try to get him to join the Morgan Horse Club and take the
Sire: John Allen 8122 (Tehachapi Allan 7910- AI
paper.
0 5 2 3 0 — b y Linsley 7233).
The colt I sold Mr. E. E. Gustason, Tama, la., Kenneth E.
Dam: Boney L. 05239 (Linsley 7233 by General Gates
Sentney 8775 I consider one of the best I ever raised. He is a
666—Jannace 04345).
beautiful, gentle, nice fellow and anyone to o w n him will love
Sold August 30, 1943 by R. S. Sentney, Table T o p Stables,
him. I think he will make Morgan horse history when he is
Hutchinson, Kan., to Supt. F H. McBride, Black Feet Indian
old enough. Kenneth E. Sentney has gone into good hands.
Agency, Browning, Mont.
It won't be long before Xmas. M a m m a , as I call m y good
wife, said to me, what do you want outside of diamonds. I
said twelve head of purebred Morganfillies—Linsley7233,
T H E ARTIST M A R S D E N
Headlight Morgan or Querido bloodlines. I also like Winterset
"I am enclosing $1.00 for THE MORGAN HORSE MAGAZINE.
7403 from Iowa.
I read with interest what comments were made regarding m y
I will go slow for awhile as I have no labor. I do all m y
painting. Certainly the one which said Marsden was not an
work myself. I run about 320 acres right close to Hutchinson.
artist was correct. I can make a better one myself, but C. C.
While I live in town m y land is from four to six miles from
Stillman would have gone insane had he thought it was not
town and I go to the farms every day. I milk three cows, am
genuine. He has told me enough about it but I have forgotten
feeding forty-five head of big sows, also have a small bunch of
nearly everything. His horseman, W . R. Watkins, n o w at
horses to take care of. I sold a truck load of saddle horses at
Windsor, Vt., probably could furnish you with many more deWichita two weeks ago. They made a little money. I sold also
a truck of work mares and they just held the money together.
tails."
Shelled corn is $1.25 a bushel, oats 85c bushel, barley $1 20
R. J. K E N T
bushel, alfalfa hay $25 to $30 a ton, prairie hay baled $20 a
Cornwall-on-Hudson, N. Y.
ton I sold m y cattle early. Looks like the cattlemen are taking
an awful beating and the hog boys look like will be next. Can't
BUY MORGANS!
handle the stock at the price of grain. Sell the gram and save
the hard work feeding cattle and hogs. Y o u can make money
"Enclosed is 25 cents in stamps for which please send me a
selling the grain."
R. S. S E N T N E Y
sample copy of T H E M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE as I am a
prospective subscriber.
Hutchinson, Kan.
"Also please send me the free booklet T h e Morgan Horse'
as advertised in the Western Livestock Journal.
FROM VERMONT:
"I am a great admirer of Red Vermont and Redman. Because
"Please send m e a one year subscription to T H E M O R G A N
of gasoline rationing I have not been able to go see Gay Mac.
HORSE MAGAZINE. Enclosed is one dollar.
As soon as the war is over m y wife and I are going to buy horses,
"I am the owner and trainer of a two-and-a-half year regand we are considering Morgans."
istered Morgan gelding, Townshend M a n n 8535."
W M . W. BUTSCHER
Newton School, So. Windham
Vt.
MARY
NEWTON
THE
M O R G A N HORSE
1252 North Edgemont St.. Hollywood 27, Calif.
MAGAZINE
LIKE BEGETS LIKE—OR DOES IT?
T h e coiner of that phrase should have added 'with variations.'
M o r g a n breeders are indeed fortunate in the fact they are
raising animals descended from one horse with sufficient prepotency that his offspring ten to fifteen generations later can be
readily identified. All to a greater or less extent showing the
excellence that made Justin M o r g a n the fountainhead of the
first family of American horses. H e also contributed generously
to a half dozen present day breeds through outcrosses that almost
led the M o r g a n into extinction.
T h e mothers of Justin's colts were of course not Morgans.
There were none at that time. But that they were well bred
cannot be doubted, all more or less partaking of the Desert
breeding, through importations which at that time must have
been difficult and expensive so w e m a y assume they were of high
class. Linsley tells us the d a m of Sherman was of Spanish or
English blood which of course means Arab or Barb, the English
so-called Thoroughbred as w e n o w k n o w it simply didn't exist
then, the Byerly T u r k having been imported into England between 1690-1695, the Darley in 1705 and the Godolphin in
1728, and these three horses are generally considered the progenitors of the English running horses.
Black Hawk's d a m is generally accepted as a Narragansett,
a breed n o w extinct, but their blood was handed d o w n to a
long line of present day horses, with easy saddle gaits.
Ethan Allen sired by Black H a w k had for a d a m a mare Linsley, described as of Messenger breeding, white, as was Messenger,
15 hands, about 1000 pounds. Note please that Messenger
through Hambletonian 10, and his son George Wilkes, founded
that present day Standard Bred trotters and pacers. Linsley
wrote this seven years after Ethan Allen was foaled, so he must
have hadfirsthand knowledge.
Daniel Lambert by Ethan Allen had for a d a m Fanny C o o k
w h o was a half-sister to Hambletonian 10, which makes him
practically identical in breeding with George Wilkes, whose
mother was a Morgan mare Dolly Spanker. Practically all
Standard Bred horses trace directly to George Wilkes and that
M o r g a n infusion must be responsible for the fact that he is the
only son of Hambletonian 10, whose family carry on in that
breed.
T h e same thing holds good in the Tennessee walking horse.
Old Black Allen, the foundation of best in the breed, was a
registered Standard Bred trotter by Allandorf by O n w a r d by
George Wilkes, and his d a m was Morgan through Black H a w k .
Steel Dust of the Quarter Horse is registered in the Second Vol.
Morgan Register N o . 3372, there being some question as to
whether this is the same horse as appears in Quarter Horse pedigrees.
American Saddle Horse pedigrees are replete with M o r g a n
breeding and w e note that two great sires of the breed, Indian
Chief and Pevine, were registered in three registers of their time,
the Morgan, Standard Bred and American Saddle Bred.
So w e must conclude that our present light horses are composite in breeding and through it all the prepotency of Justin
M o r g a n has carried on and stamped them all with the ability to
do. While our Morgan horses can't compete with present day
trotters or pacers, they can and do show with saddle horse
classes and w e all k n o w the bulk of prizes have gone to Morgans
in trail ride competitions.
I recently saw a Standard Bred trotter with a mark of 2:07
whose half-brother, Cardinal Prince, w h o trotted a mile in
1 :58^ 4 , and he was as typical a Morgan as you wish to see. Fifteen hands, 1000 pounds, chestnut, and with all the Morgan
disposition and intelligence. A check of his pedigree revealed he
traced to Morgan background direct. N o other breeding persists
like that. Compare the so-called Thoroughbred of two hundred years ago with the present type and note the changes. Messenger and Seabiscuit have very little in c o m m o n as to type. O f
course w e have differences in type in the Morgan, but the general
characteristics are the same.
General Gates was a full brother to Lord Clinton, Querido
a full brother of Mansfield and while all good Morgans were of
different types, so w e m a y choose which suits us best.
28
Arabians bred pure for t w o thousand years vary from 13
hands to as m u c h as 16.1 and there are three distinct types of
them. A check of the Second V o l u m e of our Registers will show
there were more stallions (where height s h o w n ) , that were over
15.2 than under that size. Size, I think, results from better
feed and care in growing period.
A s I see the picture, M o r g a n breeders are faced with the responsibility of holding what w e have, cutting out the prefixes
and keeping out blood of other breeds and improving our horses
with what w e n o w have. All other breeds of livestock have
been definitely improved through close breeding and that is the
w a y w e must travel, mating desirable animals of the same families close up, and having the courage to geld undesirable colts
and withholding any but first class mares from the breeding
herd.
T h e blood of Justin M o r g a n lives on and the conditions that
produced him can produce his like again. T h e old timer was
not so far wrong w h o advised if possible never to breed to a stallion whose mother never had but one good colt. Bing Crosby
says 'difference of opinion is what makes horses race,' and Bing
should k n o w . So don't run d o w n the other fellow's Morgans.
T h e y suit him or he wouldn't breed that kind and what suits
one section of the country m a y notfitinto other environments.
If w e cannot produce good horses from the Morgans w e n o w
have it is our fault not theirs.
R
L R A N R I N
Wellington, Kan.
MORGAN CROSS-BRED HORSES
By JOE H. MCCLARAN
Cody, Neb.
Morgan stallions crossed on Southern mares make ideal cow
ponies. T h e M o r g a n stallion that w e use is put out by the
W a r Department and w e are using him on t w o classes of mares.
T h efirstcross on the Thoroughbred gives a horse with a short,
higher set back, shorter back, a rounding croup, and has a heavier
bone than the Thoroughbred, they also have a quieter disposition. I have enclosed a picture of a two-year-old mare of this
cross she is fairly well broke and is already showing traits of a
real c o w horse.
Morgan Cross Excellent Ranch Horse
T h e M o r g a n stallion crossed with a Mexican mare makes an
excellent horse for the ranch. T h e y stand about 14:2 hands
tall w h e n they are t w o years old and from 15 to 15:1 hands at
three years old. T h e y are very compact in build and will stand
hard riding; are of a quiet disposition and can be worked at any
speed desired without fretting. T h e y become good c o w ponies
soon after they are broken. I have enclosed a picture of a threeyear-old gelding of this cross; he is fully broken and is one of
the best c o w horses I have .ever ridden.—From The Cattleman,
September, 1939.
M O R G A N HORSES IN W A S H I N G T O N ?
I would like to subscribe to THE MORGAN HORSE MAGAZINE starting with the September-October issue if you still have
a copy.
Enclosed you will find m y check for $1.00.
D o you k n o w of anyone that has M o r g a n horses for sale
around Seattle? I a m interested in buying a M o r g a n mare.
Snoqualmie, Wash. PEGGY REINIG
THANK YOU!
I received my first copy of THE MORGAN HORSE MAGAZINE and I sure was pleased with it. I must say it sure is a
great magazine and not only will I continue to get this magazine, but as soon as the war is over I a m going to get a pair of
real blooded Morgans. Y o u r magazine also has given m e some
good contracts to start with. H o p e to be a real M o r g a n fan."
1310 Cherry St.. Pottstown, Pa.
T H E M O R G A N HORSE M A G A Z I N E
J U L E S J. P R I N C E
FEBRUARY,
1944
T H E OTHER HOUSE OF
MORGAN
By L A B E R T ST. C L A I R
From "The Spur," September, 1938
(Continued)
The exact origin of the Morgan breed is unknown. In all
probability, Justin Morgan, progenitor of the race, was the
result of a thorough-bred sire and Dutch mare cross.1 All that
is known for sure is that somewhere in the line there was a bit
of the Arabian strain. I have reached the thoroughbredDutch mare conclusion after reading voluminously into history
and alleged history of the Morgan over a wide range. The argument over his origin used to be quite hot. That was about
1850 when good Morgans brought from $1,000 to $20,000
each.
Here is h o w the Morgan strain came into prominence. In
1795, Justin Morgan, a Randolph, Vt., school teacher and
singing-master, picked up a two-year-old colt,- along with a
horse, on a $600 debt down near Springfield, Mass. The colt,
small and lightly regarded, was more or less thrown in on the
debt for good measure. Justin Morgan rode the grown horse
home to Vermont and the colt followed without so much as a
lead strap on him.
The Surprise Youngster
agricultural publication, and horse publication in the United
States.
J. H. Wallace, founder of the famous year books, which
appeared annually so long as harness racing was a major sport,
was a particular advocate of the Morgan. He owned Ethan
Allen, declared by many to have been the most beautiful harness
horse that ever lived, and swore by him and his breed. Wallace
was responsible for thefirstprinted pedigrees of harness horses,
and he frequently was accused by his many enemies of tracing,
whenever possible, the best harness horses to Morgans or pacers.
He thought a combination would create the ideal trotter.
One of Wallace's bitterest enemies (albeit another Morgan
supporter) was the late Colonel Joseph Battell, of Middlebury,
Vt. Not liking Wallace's annual, he spent a fortune founding
the American Morgan Horse Register. Later, he founded a large
Morgan horse-breeding farm at Middlebury and presented it
to the Government. Thus, in all probability, was the breed
saved. Slowly, but carefully, the Government addedfinemares
and stallions to the farm, and each year it n o w raises a score or
more of really excellent colts. The best are kept, but a few are
auctioned off every year.
Unfortunately, Congress takes little interest in the Morgan
and hence, in recent years, the 1,000-acre plant, which Colonel
Battell passed along primarily to save the Morgan, has been
cluttered up with cows and sheep. Latterly, John Williams, a
true horseman w h o has judged at shows throughout the East
for years, has been made superintendent of the farm, and, as a
Then
result, the relatively few Morgan fans of the nation have taken
on renewed hope. Knowing the ropes in Washington, Williams
may be able to obtain more generous appropriations for Morgan
development. At least, since producing beef and mutton is not
his chief interest, the Morgan may n o w get an even break.
Scant attention was paid to the colt for a year or two.
Morgan found that the colt, despite his size (he never attained
more than 14J/2 hands and 950 pounds), was an unusual animal. Besides being intelligent, quick and docile, he was possessed of great strength. Entered in pulling contests, for kegs
of whiskey, against horses half again his size, the little fellow
invariably defeated them. This made the colt quite an attraction, and his services at pulling exhibitions were in great demand.
Morgan also showed him under the saddle and drove him to
vehicles, both light and heavy.
Finally, the singing-master honored the colt by giving him
his o w n name. But the teacher died in 1798 when the colt was
five years old and before he had become nationally famous. In
the ensuing twenty-four years the little stallion became as wellknown comparatively as M a n o' W a r is today in running horse
circles, produced hundreds of offspring, andfinallydied of an
injury in 1821. He is buried at Beantown, Vt., near Chelsea,
in an unmarked grave.
So great was the potency of Justin Morgan that he and his
offspring always have marked their get with many Morgan
characteristics.
For three-quarters of a century following the introduction of
the Morgan horse, he was in the lead as a harness race horse.
Then the Hambletonian began to overhaul him, and, finally,
with extreme speed put him out of the running as light harness
race contender. Virtually all fast harness horses today trace
back, in great part, to the Hambletonian line. The last fast
Morgan was Denning Allen, 2:08' 4 , a mark frequently excelled today by rather ordinary nags on the half-mile tracks.
Speed does not mean much to the true Morgan partisan, however. He will tell you that the Morgan breed has many other
attractive qualities, dear to the true horse-lover, that neither the
Hambletonian nor any other strain ever had. The high courage of the George Wilkes strain, greatest of the present so-called
Hambletonian line, he will say, traces to his dam, Dolly Spanker,
a Morgan. Further, he will insist that it was the Morgan in
Uhlan, Lee Axworthy, The Harvester, Hamburg Belle, trotters
and the Hal Family, pacers, which gave them not speed but
will-to-do.
Morgans and Non-Morgans
However, Morgan owners are so few nowadays that it is
difficult to stir up a really interesting row about the respective
merits of the Hambletonian and the Morgan. It was not always
thus. During three decades following the Civil War, especially
in the 70's, the battle between the two camps was bitter and
prolonged. It was waged in almost every barn, newspaper,
FEBRUARY, 1944 THE MORGAN
1
Editor's Note: W h y Dutch? What is the evidence? W h e n his dam was
bred in 1788 there was no thoroughbred breed. His sire was of Arab descent
and his descendants possess Arab characteristics.
-Editor's Note: Correct date foaled 1789.
FROM
OHIO:
"You willfindenclosed a money order to renew T H E M O R GAN H O R S E M A G A Z I N E for one year.
"I saw H a w k Jim. Mr. Merle Evans had him at Canton, O.,
Stark County Fair and Wooster, O., Wayne County Fair. H e
also had his stud, Captor and he is a beautiful stud. He had
some brood mares and some awfully nice colts at both places.
A n y man that wants some nice colts will not go wrong to breed
his mares to either of Mr. Evans' studs.
Your
MORGAN
HORSE
MAGAZINE
is a very interesting
magazine and I enjoy it very much."
GEORGE AGLER
Louisville, O.
FROM
IDAHO:
"You will find enclosed $1.00 for renewal of my subscrip
to T H E M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E .
Ifinda great deal of in-
formation in it. I sold m y three-year-old Morgan stallion
Willie Fly X 8 2 6 4 at a sale at Ontario, Ore. There were 1400
head of most all breeds. I topped the market with him. There
was a big demand for good saddle stock."
CHARLES COWDREY
Caldwell, Ida.
M O R G A N S IN J A P A N
It is interesting to note that the Morgan was interbred w
the Mongol pony to produce the cavalry horse of the Japanese
Army. The Morgan characteristics remain predominant in this
animal however. The stamina and bottom of this horse was
proved in Manchuria last year when, in sub-zero weather, and
in heavy snow, the only division of the Japanese A r m y that was
able to move was the cavalry."—Clipped under date of January,
1933.
HORSE MAGAZINE
29
A R M Y OFFICERS D O N O T A G R E E O N T H E
SUPERIORITY O F T H E T H O R O U G H B R E D
Generally speaking, the Army and Remount officers who get
their articles in horse papers, particularly those magazines primarily interested in the Thoroughbred, advance the theory of
the superiority of the Thoroughbred for R e m o u n t purposes,
and of late they have advocated the use of the Thoroughbred
for building up a n e w breed of draft horses. However, after
inquiry and investigation has been made it is found that all Rem o u n t officers do not agree with the superiority of the Thoroughbred.
It is to be recalled that Collier's magazine some months ago
stated that Thoroughbred stallions were so popular with the
R e m o u n t that they occasionally paid up to $7,500 for Thoroughbred stallions to place in the A r m y R e m o u n t Service.
T h e opinions that have been received from various sources
would seem to indicate that all cavalrymen are not in agreement
with the Thoroughbred philosophy for it is argued that the
animals in the R e m o u n t Service today need improvement and
that something has been lost under the present A r m y breeding
operations. There m a y be improvement in speed and the
jumping ability of horses that are used in some sections for
cross-country, steeple-chasing and polo, but a considerable n u m ber of cavalrymen believe that our present day A r m y horses—
w h e n comparison is made with those of an earlier d a y — a r e
nervous, more high-strung and not as intelligent as in the past.
Another pronounced expression by some of the m e n interviewed
is that the A r m y horse of today is not as tough or as hardy or
as enduring as would be expected. It is well k n o w n that in
m a n y endurance contests by the A r m y and abroad have not
s h o w n that the larger animals are the best. In fact a large
a n i m a l — a larger size than formerly—may carry a heavy load
a short distance, but a long-backed Thoroughbred is not suited
for rough country where stamina and toughness are required.
It has been stated that to secure an increase in the effectiveness
of A r m y horses it is necessary to secure horses with ruggedness
and of suitable type to meet the needs of the present war. E m phasis should first be given to good disposition, temperament,
hardiness, sure-footedness, toughness, endurance and easy-keeping qualities, and these qualities are not necessarily derived from
horses with greater height or greater speed, as in all uses the
very fundamentals of a horse—his bone, his feet, his legs are
of prime importance physically, and his intelligence and disposition and willingness to perform are also fundamentals that
should not be overlooked.
If it is. true that in modern warfare horses will be largely
used in rough country possessing streams, wet land and other
severe climatic conditions such as extreme cold or snow or heavy
rains, it is to be assumed that the horse is still more effective
than the machine. While machines are of prime importance,
there are conditions where they cannot perform as effectively
as a horse. L o o k at the effective use of the horse today in the
Russian A r m y !
It has been claimed in Russia where the horse is still of
great use in the A r m y that the horses used there are m u c h superior to American horses in endurance and in hardiness, and
that American horses could not withstand the severe campaign
conditions in Russia. This Russian officer suggested that an
American R e m o u n t officer might well find it profitable to observe the conditions in Russia and study the type of horse proving
best there.
Another statement has been made that the Russians do not
use m u c h Thoroughbred blood for producing cavalry mounts,
and it has been agreed in some quarters in this country that tbe
best horses obtainable are from the Northwest where they live
in rough country, on short feed and develop a hardiness and
sure-footedness greatly to be desired.
It is to be recalled that the Mustang proved a great horse under
difficult conditions, and even Frank Hopkins, the well-known
distance rider, used a Mustang w h e n he defeated Arabs and
Thoroughbreds in some European rides.
30
THE
It would, therefore, appear likely that the best horse for endurance and hardiness would seem to come from rugged country
and not from the polo fields of the South or the race tracks of
the East.
OBSERVER.
B U R T O N DISAPPROVES . . .
(Concluded from page 23)
If you would only take the time to learn some of the details
of R e m o u n t operations, instead of trying to bull through a pet
theory, you would realize that it would be enough to drive the
R e m o u n t officers frantic to try to get results from or through a
bunch of owners w h o would be inclined to feel that, because
they o w n e d the stallions, it was unnecessary for them to comply
with the regulations. T h e w a y it is, an agent either complies
with regulations or he is without a horse, and m y experience
tells m e that that is the only w a y to make a success of the Remount.
W h a t you propose would not only make intolerable confusion and conditions for R e m o u n t Officers but it would fail
completely to help the owners of the stallions.
Very few m e n w h o o w n stallions that are good enough to be
R e m o u n t stallions are willing to stand those stallions at the Rem o u n t m a x i m u m of ten dollars. Did you realize that the Rem o u n t put a ceiling of ten dollars on the cost of foals by
R e m o u n t studs, m a n y years before O.P.A. undertook to regulate prices for all of us? Only the Government can afford to
offer the services of stallions like Cranford, Gordon Russell,
Sir Barton, and M a r k Master for a lousy little ten dollars! ! ! !
Whether or not standing a stallion is afinancialsuccess depends on a number of variables, and R e m o u n t approval of the
stallion most certainly cannot change an operating loss into a
profit. R e m o u n t approval will not increase the number of
mares that m a y be available in a community. It will not convince the owners of mares that they can make m o n e y by breed- ,
ing their mares.
In any given location, with the same stallion, and the same
opportunity, if an owner does not make a success of his business,
then flying the R e m o u n t flag will not save him or even help to
save him.
Please note the enclosed copy of a letter that I wrote to the
late Dr. Frost. I have his written promise of a detailed reply
to m y questions but whoever encouraged h i m to write the
letter that you published evidently failed to help h i m with any
facts, because his promise of a reply was all that I ever got, regardless of several postal reminders from m e .
Perhaps you would like to take over and answer the specific
questions that I asked Dr. Frost.
If you ever publish any part of this letter, please be fair
enough to publish all of it.
CLIFF B U R T O N
December 26, 1943.
Coffeyville, Kan.
P.S.: For all I know, the Remount may have entirely different reasons
than I have expressed for failing to make your dream, of Remount approval
for privately-owned stallions, come true. W h a t I have written certainly
does not have Remount approval but five gets you twenty that you can not
find a Remount officer so d u m b that you can persuade him that your dream is
sound—it would be a "night mare" for the Remount! ! !
F R O M IOWA:
"Enclosed is my check for my renewal to your magazine.
I have just purchased a line-bred General Gates colt from R. S.
Sentney of Hutchinson, Kan. I have been looking for a colt
with this breeding for a long time and think I a m lucky to have
found one. His pedigree will top anything in the Middle West
and w h e n he is t w o years old I will s h o w h i m against any M o r gan."
E. E. GUSTASON
Tama, la.
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY,
1944
THE MORGAN HORSE IN THE WEST
(Concluded from page 22)
As the country settled up, turning more and more to farming
as people emigrated from the East, a different type of horse began to appear. Standard bred and coach horse began to appear,
then drafters. First came the Percheron then other breeds. But
for the most part they were crossed indiscriminately until all
semblance of type were lost.
A few tried to keep the Morgan type. In this immediate
vicinity a generation or t w o ago, the rich mining m e n went in
strong for good horses, driving, harness and short racers, not
merely buying for use but often owning ranches and breeding
the best. T h e record for a quarter of a mile, made at Butte,
Mont., by B o b W a d e , at that time owned by the late Marcus
Daly, still stands. T h e C. X. Larabbee Morgans also at that
time enjoyed a national reputation. Even the half-breeds were
in great demand by ranchers and cowboys. In fact about the
only recommendation a horse needed to sell was to carry the
Larabbee brand. Even yet a m o n g our local horses the imprint
of the Larabbee blood occasionally shows up.
But if it had not been for the U . S. Morgan Horse Farm the
type would have been almost lost to the Northwest. A bunch
of Morgans was taken to Fort Collins, Colo., for experimental
work, which wasfinallyabandoned. T h e y were shipped from
there to Buffalo, W y o . , and from there to Lander, a Buffalo
rancher buying the old herd stallion. A t Lander, I believed
they were turned over to the Indian department. But ranchers
here and there made it a point to get one of these Morgans. A n d
some ranchers would send East for a horse, such as the Standard Bred and the American Saddler which were coming into
favor. But very few were bred for any one type. A m a n perhaps would have a stallion of one breed at one time and another
the next.
B y the time of W o r l d W a r I the horse population of the
western range had deteriorated greatly, and eight or ten years
later the ranges were alive with horses that were worth nothing
— n o t even branded or castrated. There was a mixture of the
light and heavy breeds, Mustangs from the Bad Lands, all
crossed and inbred indiscriminately—the sorriest mess that ever
was seen, not a good one in a carload.
M a n y people have developed the killing off of the horses for
canning plants at this time, but having worked for one of these
outfits for t w o years, I say it was the only thing that could have
been done to save the range, and the best thing that ever happened for the horse business.
But a notable fact is that in spite of all the neglect and abuse,
n o w and then a colt would appear showing Morgan characteristics. A n d by picking mares of as good a type as possible, showing no heavy blood, its surprising what can be done with a good
sire of any of the light breeds. For the last number of years
there has been an improvement in the western horse,firstthrough
stallions issued by the U . S. Remount, chiefly Thoroughbreds,
then lately by private individuals. A n d the M o r g a n horse is
beginning to come back.
This is first noticed in hearing of a M o r g a n stallion here and
there. T h e n someone has a horse he thinks is pretty good and
begins to imagine him a Morgan. First thing you k n o w he has
built the horse an ancestry. O f course this is detrimental to the
breed, for today there are so m a n y people w h o do not k n o w
what should constitute a Morgan. M a n y horses that are from
a fourth to even a half M o r g a n do not s h o w it much, but w h e n
a horse is claimed to be a M o r g a n and does not show it at a
glance I lookfirstat his legs. If he has not a long, well-muscled
forearm, a long thigh, and short cannon bones, anything his
owner has to say about him is taken with "a grain of salt."
Wherever you find people with time and m o n e y on their
hands there you will usually find the greatest improvement in
livestock, especially horses and cattle; for these people want the
best, have the m o n e y to buy what they want, and the time to
experiment and improve. For this reason the Califormans have
done much, and it is notable that they have taken strongly to
the M o r g a n horse.
FEBRUARY,
1944
THE
W e of the West like to feel a lot of horse under us. For that
reason the Western M o r g a n has been increasing in size. A n d
I think the breed has been fortunate in the m e n that have been
at the head of the U . S. Morgan Farm. T h e y must have felt
the same way, for m a n y of the horses bred there are of good size.
I have just sold the registered Morgan stallion, Comidore
X 8 0 0 2 . H e stands fifteen : three and weighed thirteen-fifty the
day I sold him. Not fat, and I do not k n o w h o w there could
have been a better all-round saddle horse. H e is easy riding,
outtravels ninety percent of the small horses on the road, and
he goes up these Montana mountains as if they were level
ground.
Hats off to J. C. Jackson w h o bred him, for he is breeding
lots like him.
R. E. SPENCE.
Dillon. Mont.
ANIMAL POWER SERVES NATION
(Concluded from page Zl)
mares to jacks in 1944, and some increase in breeding mares to
stallions.
N o farmer, located in an area where weather and feed conditions are favorable to the production of young stock, ever lost
money on horses and mules by keeping enough good mares to
do his farm work and breeding them to a good jack or stallion
of type suitable to sire good work stock. Mule foals are salable
at weaning; horse foals can be carried through, adequately but
economically, on good pastures and hay, broken at 2 and used
to replace mature animals, sold w h e n at their m a x i m u m value.
W A Y N E D I N S M O R E , Secretary, Horse & Mule Association of
America.
T R A N S M I S S I O N O F C O L O R IN H O R S E S ' C O A T S
T h e Agriculture Department has issued some interesting records of matings of horses of different colors—of 1,618 matings
of chestnuts, all were chestnuts with the exception of sixteen,
and these m a y be due to errors of registration as chestnuts invariably produce chestnuts.
T h e foals from black on chestnuts gave 33 percent chestnuts,
with 37 percent bay; chestnut on brown gave 52 percent bay;
bay on bay gave 1,295 bays, 2 7 0 chestnuts, 125 browns and
one black.
Greys mated with other than grey produced seventy-three
grey foals andfifty-sixthat were not grey. Black on b r o w n
produced no chestnuts, but eight black, twenty b r o w n and
twelve bay foals. Black on bay produced twenty brown, twelve
bay and eight black foals and no chestnuts.
B r o w n on brown 123 chestnuts, ten blacks, 365 browns and
157 bays. It is recorded that a chestnut mare had eighteen
living foals, and every time she mated with a chestnut she produced a chestnut foal.—The Vermont Horse & Bridle Trail
Bulletin.
FROM
PENNSYLVANIA
Enclosed find one dollar ($1.00) for which please enter my
subscription to T H E M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E for one year.
I have received the magazine for the past year and find it most
interesting. I have always been a great admirer of the M o r g a n
horse and look forward to each issue of the magazine with m u c h
joy.
I have one complaint to make, and that is waiting three
months for the next issue. I realize there is a paper shortage and
hope that as soon as this war is over w e will see again the M o r e/an Horse Bi-monthly or better still a monthly magazine. I
a m sure there is enough good points and news to make a very
interesting monthly publication. W i t h best wishes for the coming year, I am.
„
G E O . E. KESSLER. JR.
717 Walnut St., Ashland, Pa.
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
31
C O M M E N T O N H A L F M O R G A N REGISTER
F A V O R S "THE O L D T Y P E " M O R G A N
"I wasn't sure w h o to send this letter to, but here it is. I
would like to get something settled about the Half-Morgan Register. It has its good points and it has its bad points (for some
people).
" T h e Half-Morgan Register will encourage the small town
breeder to get better blood in his stock, if he realizes that if one
of the colt's parents are registered he can register his colt. H e
will then go to the owners of Morgan studs, breed his mare and
then get better blood in his colts. Morgans have, d o w n through
the years, rated themselves very high a m o n g other horses. I m y self a m crazy about Morgans and Arabians. (The Morgan and
Arabian or M o r a b are a very good mixture.)
" N o w for myself, I o w n a part-Morgan part-Arabian mare.
Her looks are that of a Morgan but her head is the typical
Arabian. If I breed her to a Morgan stud I might get a chance
to use the Morgan Register myself.
" M a y b e even some of these small town breeders might go to
some of our big breeders of Morgans and buy some of their good
mares or even a good stud or two. If the breeders realize that if
they get good mares, maybe half-Morgan half-horse and the
mare is nice enough looking to be bred to a good stud, the colt
will be good enough. But N O T if a scrub mare is bred. T h e
colt in all probability will take on the side of the dam.
"Here's some of the bad points for some of our Morgan
breeders. Soon people would figure instead of paying a few
hundred or more dollars (and it is worth it too) 'why not buy
a half-bred? They're just as good as a registered horse.'
"Well, sir, I hope you will print this for some of those stubborn and selfish breeders w h o only think of themselves and do
not breed horses because they love them but do it for the money."
MISS BARBARA A D A M S
Your fine Morgans have always been praised throughout the
world. So it m a y seem strange to you that an outsider would
dare find fault with your present aims, which tend to get away
from the Justin M o r g a n type.
Gentlemen, it would seem to m e that, if you must develop
a n e w type of horse, you might have the good old-fashioned
down-to-earth love and respect for old Justin M o r g a n himself
not to expect hisfineblood to stamp his approval on your n e w
creations. This n e w type, no doubt, has supreme merit and
can stand on its o w n merits without the prefix "Morgan." A s
a suggestion it could be called "Vermont Breed."
O n page twenty-one of T h e Vermont Horse and Trail Bulletins, "Special M o r g a n Anniversary N u m b e r " there is an illustration of Justin Morgan which conforms very closely to the
statue at the U . S. Morgan Farm in Middlebury, Vt., and is
the type of Morgans I used to see, w h e n a boy, d o w n in the
South. This must be the true type k n o w n by our ancestors.
If these pictures were nailed on your stable walls, where they
could be studied closely, they would help greatly in guiding
your selection of mares as well as sires, in perpetuation of the
original stock. A n d they should have gentle manners.
I a m of the opinion that there is a real nationwide demand
for the old type for use exclusively as saddlers, especially if they
could be developed into five gaited mounts. In most parts of
our country bridle trails are over rather level land. Therefore,
enjoying a m o u n t which can execute the showy gaits is paramount.
Y. M . F E H L A U
General Delivery. Monterey, Calif.
MRS. STREETER BLAIR, EL GRANITO SPRINGS
FARM, EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA, WRITES:
Our Morgan filly, Hera, is a great help in solving the gas
problem for us. Hitched to an old high wheeled trotting cart
which has been remodeled to carry bundles and groceries, she
jogs, walks or trots out with speed to please her driver and help
the three gallons stretch for necessities. Hera is owned by our
daughter w h o recently married an A r m y Air Corps Pilot and
the enclosed verse is her idea.
T h e Morgans which w e and the Welborns shipped from Old
Orchard Farm, Champaign, 111., four years ago have made a
m u c h keener interest in the breed in this locality.
Our stallion El Granito has been shown in the stock horse
classes in the small shows this past season and considered successful. His trainer is Carl Helm and acknowledged as one of
the best in that line.
O D E T O A H O R S E BY A H O U S E WIFE
I'd rather have six dogs and cats running through my house
Than a carpetsweeper.
Than cooking, sweeping, dusting and de-louse
I'd rather be a stable-keeper.
A n d when I have to scrub a bath
T o de-manure would be a pleasure,
A n d when I have to cook a hash
I'd rather mix a barley mash.
Which I could always do at leisure.
It's a bore to manicure m y nail
But fun to oil a Morgan's hoof.
I'd rather bleach a Palomino's tail
Than try to make m y o w n hair pale.
Then get a husband's mild reproof.
If it came that I could choose between a house or stable—
In a stable I'm more capable.
Or if it came I had m y choice to groom a horse or m e —
I'm dull. The horse is beautiful to see.
SAZETTE BLAIR'
1
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Streeier Blair. El Granito Springs Farm, El
Cajon, Calif.
32
THE
127 Holland St., Lewiston. M e .
B U R T O N T O FROST
T h e recent issue of T H E M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E a letter
of yours is reprinted under the heading "Approves Certified Remount Idea," and I wonder if you will answer a few questions
for one w h o is wholly friendly to Morgan Horses?
1. Is you approval of the idea based on experience in the horse
breeding business, or are you just hoping that it might
make your hobby show a profit?
2. D o you k n o w the A r m y specifications, and have you ever
watched the actual buying of horses by A r m y Purchasing
Boards?
3. Where did you get the idea that it might be possible that the
A r m y does not k n o w what it wants, or that A r m y buying or breeding might be influenced by thefinancialpower
back of any breed? Have you any actual evidence to
support either idea?
4. Have you ever talked to any agents for R e m o u n t stallions
with the idea of getting an understanding of R e m o u n t
plans and problems?
5. W h a t effort has there been to push Thoroughbred stallions
into your section as R e m o u n t stallions? Y o u write that
the proposition of pushing Thoroughbreds into your
section as R e m o u n t stallions has certainly annoyed
you, but that you could not think of anything concrete
to do about it.
6. In writing that, did you k n o w that in thefivestates of Vermont, N e w Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts there are only two R e m o u n t stallions? Are you
that easily annoyed?
If you are not willing to answer the questions for m e , just
make an effort to answer them for yourself and see where it gets
you. If you make any study of the proposition, you are sure
to realize that the business that a stallion m a y do depends on a
number of variables, and R e m o u n t approval is not one of them.
R e m o u n t approval will not increase the number of mares that
are available in a district—neither will it convince the owners
of the mares that foals from those mares, by any stallion, can
be grown out and sold at a profit. In other words, if your stallion business has been showing a loss, R e m o u n t approval cannot
work a miracle for you.
September 13, 1942.
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY,
1944
T H E M O R G A N FIORSE
From The Jeftersonian. January 193} Issue
Official organ of the N. Y State Democratic Parly
The Morgan horse, recognized today as one of the finest
saddle animals of American strain, and, before the usurpation of
the roads by the automobile, one of thefinestlight harness roadsters ever produced by any blood, springs from a horse stolen
from a Loyalist commander of cavalry w h o operated in Westchester County during the Revolutionary W a r .
Sometime during the early years of the Revolution, the horse
True Briton was the m o u n t of Colonel James Delancey, commander of a troop of Tory young m e n from Westchester, w h o
called themselves the "Elite of the County." True Briton was
descended from the best saddle horses of England, tracing his
origin as far back as Godolphin Arabian thefirstrecorded horse
of Arab blood to be imported into England, and that during the
Crusades, w h e n he was probably brought over as the captured
mount of a Saracen knight.
T h e "Elite of the C o u n t y " had little to do in the w a y of
actualfightingand contented themselves in capturing cattle, pigs
and other animals which might serve to grace the commissary
of the British forces in N e w Y o r k City. Because of these nefarious operations they came to be k n o w n as " T h e Cowboys," and
are celebrated as such in the great novel " T h e S p y " by James
Fenimore Cooper.
James Delancey's mother, w h o was a daughter of Cadwallader
Colden, twice Royal Governor of N e w York under the king,
lived in the town of Westchester, then part of Westchester
County, n o w part of the Bronx, directly at the falls in the
Bronx River, where the family operated a mill for years. W h e n
his military duties permitted, James always visited his mother.
It was during one of these visits, w h e n a terrific thunder storm
swept over the countryside, that an u n k n o w n patriot lad stole
up to the barn, mounted True Briton, and galloped off to the
Continental lines in White Plains. Records show that the next
possessor of True Briton was one Selah Norton, a captain of the
Connecticut militia, w h o was often in Westchester County on
army business and w h o probably bought the m o u n t in White
Plains from the boy w h o stole him. Captain Norton renamed
the horse Beautiful B a y and offered him at stud under that
name in the Connecticut newspapers of the time.
F r o m Norton the horse passed to Justin Morgan, a Yankee
schoolmaster of Springfield, Mass., w h o later emigrated to the
hills of Vermont, and with him Beautiful Bay disappeared into
seeming oblivion.
Years later horse dealers in the East began to notice the particularly fine lines and stamina of a strain of horses which began
to emanate from Vermont. A t the same time breeders in the
South began to notice the fine quality of colts traced to an obscure horse that came from Vermont. Check-up from both
sources showed that all these animals were descended from a
horse called Morgan, a postillion in V e r m o n t named after its
owner, Justin Morgan.
Morgan, it w a s discovered, was sired by Beautiful Bay, alias
True Briton. T h e line began to be bred for saddle service and
was introduced into the United States A r m y R e m o u n t Service.
While his blood has been enriched by other strains, the M o r gan horse is still the horse of the United States cavalry. During
the early part of the present century, the M o r g a n strain was introduced into the remount services of most of the countries in
Europe, Asia, and South America.
Russell, Kan.
P.S.. Still think T H E M O R G A N FIORSE M A G A Z I N E should be a monthly.
IS T H E M O R G A N A "HAS BEEN"?
It is a legend that Justin Morgan was very fast for ' 4 mile.
In fact he was never beaten at that distance. Ethan Allen was
a world record trotter. Herod and lots of others had great track
records. H a s all the speed been bred out of the Morgan? W h o
has n o w , or has heard of a M o r g a n that has run a quarter in
say 2 4 seconds? W h o has heard of any M o r g a n setting any
track record in the present century?
T h e better strains of
American Saddle Horses are descendants of the Great Black
FEBRUARY,
1944
THE
H a w k , but w h y haven't those qualities persisted in the M o r g a n
breed? Is it because Morgan breeders did not properly preserve
these qualities? These famous blood lines have been preserved
if our records are correct, so the qualities of speed that these
Morgans should possess must be lying dormant. Is it a fact
that the American Saddle Horse has outclassed the M o r g a n for
beauty, style, and uniformity, as well as demand and prices obtained? Has the Quarter Horse breeders outclassed us on short
speed, uniformity, equalled us on tractability and c o w sense,
and surpassed the Morgan in price and demand? S o m e M o r g a n
breeders, and authorities, claim that the Quarter Horse has been
quite strongly influenced by M o r g a n blood, or that they sprung
from the same, or similar parent stock.
N o w isn't it well k n o w n by those w h o have studied that all
light breeds have been founded on blood of both k n o w n and
u n k n o w n ancestry, and also improvements made by infusion
of blood from other breeds. T h e n , if other light horse breeds
have drained and absorbed some of the best blood of the M o r g a n
breed wouldn't it behoove Morgan breeders to reclaim some of it
in the same manner? O f course, all livestock breeders are aware
of the problems that this entails. Isn't the contention that there
is not enough uniformity in the Morgan breed due to the facts
that breeders do not practice a strict enough policy of culling
and elimination of undesirables?
I have heard it contended that there is no such thing as a pure
bred horse, and after considerable reading I believe that this is
practically true. O u r different breeds of horses are largely a difference of type and size, arrived at through the process of elimination and selection. Registration papers are merely a record of
ancestry which, w h e n properly considered along with rules of
genetics, tell the breeder to a reasonable degree what to expect
from certain matings.
As a fairly n e w breeder of Morgans I have shied away from
securing anything that carried an " X " in front of the number,
but after some study of thefivevolumes of the M o r g a n Register
I can see that the " X " does not necessarily mean any inferiority
of type, or of any less M o r g a n blood. It is, as it should be,
merely a signal to proceed with caution to be sure that the blood
is such as will breed true to the type. T h e only " X " that I a m
afraid of is the one where there is some ancestry close up that is
u n k n o w n , or attested to by no concrete records, which increases
the uncertainty of future results.
It is not m y intention to unduly criticise, advise, or offer opinions of authority to experienced M o r g a n breeders. Rather, m y
purpose is to seek information and advice, and to advance questions that have come into m y hand, and have been lodged there
by others, and by extensive reading of material which I believe
to be authentic.
I made a trip to the Kansas City Royal in 1941 with high
expectation of seeing some fine Morgans. T o m y disappointment I could find no Morgans either exhibited or in the contests. T h e next spring I made a trip to T h e Fort W o r t h Fat
Stock S h o w . There are some M o r g a n breeders in Texas and
Oklahoma, and I thought surely at this type of show that M o r gans would be well represented. I only saw one M o r g a n entered in the cutting contest by Burnett Estate, but hundreds of
Quarter horses and Palominoes and American Saddle horses were
there. M y question is that if Morgans are good roping, good
cutting horses, good riding horses, good show horses, fast for
short distances, as w e believe them to be, w h y do not the big
breeders, or the small ones, enter them in the shows and contests, so w e will have something to brag of without having to go
back into ancient history?
ANDY MAHAFFEY
M O R G A N S IN M I N N E S O T A ?
"Please keep the paper coming. I enjoy it very much. I have
always admired the quality of the Morgans and would like to
o w n one of the good, present day Morgans, but there doesn't
seem to be any in this immediate territory."
j y KELLY
Cottonwood, Minn.
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
33
A B R E E D E R ' S V I E W IN 1916
Copy of letter from
A. W. Hinman
to H. S. W'ardner
Undated, but received September 28, I'M 6.
Dear Friend:
I presume you will be surprised to get this from m e but as
badly as I dislike to write letters I really shall enjoy this one.
I have heard very little about or from the Morgan Horse Club
for some time but I received from someone the catalogue of
the several breeders, yourself a m o n g the rest.
I was m u c h pleased with your comments as to Annie Laurie
being of good M o r g a n type and as being the best you k n e w of.
I trust her colts are proving to be of such type as will satisfy
your ideals.
N o w I wish to write you concerning this very matter. In
all m y relations with the breeding of Morgans I have only seen
a few of the type which were of the W o o d b u r y Gifford and
Green M t . Class.
M a n y I have k n o w n which approximated and only just
that. W h e n I look back or trace these typical ones I find it was
through certain close relationship in breeding I observed them.
Let m e be a little more definite. Through a fortunate circumstance I purchased the T w o Billies, as they have been called,
Billy Root and Billy King, bred and always owned up to the
time I bought them by John King, former'-/ of Olean, N . Y.,
w h o moved to Eelvedere, 111., and there resided w n e n iue purchase was made.
I had k n o w n them for a number of years before the purchase. T h u s there was an unusual clear title. Billy Root was
the sire of the d a m of La Port while Billy King was the sire of
L a Port.
N o w away back of the Billies I want you to realize that there
had been some intense breeding by M r . Epaphro Seymour of
Brattleboro. Vt., with the intention of centralizing the Morgan
blood and preserving the type. Taking a d a m fine type sired
by Hales G . M . and breeding to Putnam, a son of W o o d b u r y
which seems to have been of the same type as W o o d b u r y , he
began. T h e product was Wildair. F r o m the same d a m bred
to Gifford was also produced a stallion called the Seymour
Horse and afterwards w h e n he came into this country Cushings
Gifford.
While I never saw Wildair yet John King described him as
the equal of Putnam in all particulars. In fact he said to m e
he was the finest horse as a Morgan he ever k n e w and except
his half brother Cushings Gifford he never saw his equal.
H e k n e w both of these horses and said they were so nearly
perfect it was difficult to choose between them. I saw the Cushings Gifford after his coming West to Grand Detour. H e also
stood at St. Charles and Sycamore near here.
H e was a most wonderful horse as a Morgan and was the inspiration which started m y breeding Morgans. It has always
been considered most unfortunate that no sires of his were left
here. D a m s there were and those I k n e w were of the same type
as Annie Laurie. I had one of them but she proved too old
to breed. N o w I come to the Billies sired by Wildair. Full
brothers from a d a m by Arabian Morgan sired by the original
Billy Root.
Both were fine type but very old w h e n I got them. Yet w e
got a number of colts from them and all were fine type. I bred
mostly to Billy Root and from a d a m I purchased at St. Albans,
Vt., sired by Brainer's Charley, by Hales G. M., and second
d a m a descendant of Billy Root.
She was very m u c h after Annie Laurie's model and w e named
her Modest Morgan. She raised m e six or seven colts, one of
them sold as a gelding for $675, as a show horse. H e had
great action and was a beauty.
O n e of these colts was or is Jerome Morgan. H e is or will
be 20 years old next spring. But he has never been bred to but
a few mares each year and is in good form for breeding for
5 or 6 years. H e has about 10 mares in foal this year. H e
is very sure. I sold him to m y brother-in-law two years ago
with the expectation of his keeping him. But he has disposed
34 THE MORGAN
of him.
The man who owns him knows nothing about Mor-
gans and wishes to let him go. H e is half brother to Annie
Laurie. Breeds very true to type and I feel you of all breeders
should have him in your flock of dams.
H e will give you more colts after the true M o r g a n type than
anything in Vermont. Even if only a few it is worth it. Y o u
are the only one w h o has ideas of true Morganism. I will buy
him for you if you desire this breeding will carry if he has the
mates and you cannot it seems to m e fail to make good with
him. I also have a very fine mare about 9 years old out of the
same d a m Modest M o r g a n sired by L a Port whose sire was
Billy King and whose d a m was sired by King's Billy Root. She
is about the size of Annie Laurie Chestnut. She is m u c h like
her mother, her breeding is superb. Should you desire her I
will let her go, for you can do more with her than I can. She
is a breeder and her future will be a good one for you. In fact,
I k n o w of none superior in breeding of the sort to breed on and
produce true Morgans. King's Billy Root, Billy King and
La Port have never failed in producing a high class M o r g a n
from the old d a m Modest Morgan.
While I bred to Billy Root mostly yet the one which sold as
a gelding mentioned above was from Billy King. Those from
La Port have been equally satisfactory except her last colt w h e n
she was 26 years old. While he is a stallion and of good type
in general he is a little narrow chested and what is called pigeon
toed. H e breeds true, yet I have felt some caution. So far his
colts have s h o w n no defects. I consider this the best strain of
Morgan breeding in existence at this time.
N o w I wish to speak of Annie Laurie. Her d a m was full
sister of Sultan, by Colby's Green M t . Her d a m was a chestnut mare of very m u c h Annie Laurie's type but slightly taller
and about same weight. M r . Colby w h e n he bought her supposed she was sired by D a n Rice. But in a visit with him not
long before his death, I brought out the fact he had always been
uncertain about D a n Rice. It seems that Cushings Gifford was
at Woodstock about that time and he had been unable to locate
D a n Rice at the time she was foaled or her d a m was bred, or
anywhere near that time while Cushings Gifford was there at
the right time. There had been a horse by the name of D a n
Rice there a number of years earlier. Parties w h o could throw
any light upon the matter were dead. T h u s M r . Colby had
come to the conclusion that this d a m of Sultan and his sister
must have been sired by Cushings Gifford.
I feel that such is the true conclusion. Certainly she so resembled his stock that, in the absence of exact information I a m
drawn to that decision. If such is the case this is another link
in this same chain I have under discussion.
In this great machine age which has so changed the relationship of the horse as respects his future utility there is n o w but
one thought which can, so far as the M o r g a n is concerned be
entertained. That is to preserve him in his original type. This
must be done by those w h o dedicate themselves to the task and
have means to gather together a few with both breeding and
type and persist in the enterprise.
This purpose is worthy, and as there are only a few w h o
possess the true picture of what is needed it is all the more incumbent upon those to proceed steadily and steadfastly -to the
accomplishment. Were I a younger m a n and with m y present
ideals I surely would devote m y life to the work. T o think of
such a creation as this animal, the most beautiful of the genus,
by any possible chances of neglect or indifference passing entirely
out of existence. Becoming extinct is to m e most sorrowful
and depressing.
T h e only truly American product of the species, and born
as it were with the birth of our Republic it should enlist the
interest of every son of Rock Ribbed N e w England in the task
of perpetuating it in its highest excellence.
C o m i n g into being w h e n it did, thefirstof its type, pregnant
with all the energies, beauties and qualities consistently befitting
as a companion for the N e w Born Nation it should have been
as part and parcel of the great enterprise.
N o w if N e w England could only realize h o w like itself it
was: H o w typical it was the rising spirit in this N e w W o r l d
HORSE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY,
1944
in those young years, it would consider it a most natural and
choice concomitant of its o w n evolution to be nurtured and
treasured as a sacred trust.
I know you will pardon m y lengthy letter and if you will let
me know at once about the horse I shall appreciate it most truly.
Sincerely yours,
A. W. HINMAN
HORSE
SENSE
The records of history tend to show that mankind di
make much progress until he mastered the use of the horse, and
we then seemed to move forward in a steady and well-governed
manner.
The horse was used to some extent for war, but infantry
troops did the bulk of the fighting—his greatest use was in the
Dundee. 111.
drawing of heavy artillery. But for peaceful pursuits he did his
greatest good in agriculture, helping to produce food and fiber
T H E JUSTIN M O R G A N
CHART
for the added comfort of mankind.
Your letter with reference to the charted pedigree of JustinW h e n we substituted the garage for the livery stable, m a n
Morgan at the Los Angeles County Museum, Department of
then took a long step backword. A n d to add to our misery,
History, Science, and Art, Los Angeles, Calif., has been referred
unrest and peaceful existence along came theflyingmachine. I
to me.
think when they made thatfirstflightat Kittyhawk is when the
Our chart of the Foundation Sires of the American breeds of
lid was lifted off hell!
horses includes one (broken) line stemming from Byerly Turk
I look back with fond memory to the peaceful life I knew as
(imported to England 1724). through Traveler (imported to
a boy when father used to hitch up theflashypair of Morgans
America 1754) to Justin Morgan. Those are the only horses
to carriage and loaded us all in on Sunday to go to church.
referred to on the Morgan stem, and the line from Byerly Turk
Maybe some of the neighbors would come home with us for the
to Traveler is a dotted line, indicating gaps in the record. The
rest of the day and we would play games or any other diversion
chart as a whole is intended to show only the main lines through
that most suited us.
the English Thoroughbred stock leading to our American breeds
Of course, too, I recall the extra face-washing and especially
(American Thoroughbred, Hackney. Standardbred, American
the ear-scrubbing mother gave us too, that was mildly resented
Saddlebred and Morgan).
when preparing for that drive to church.
I am sorry that there are no photographs of the chart available, although, since it docs not include a detailed pedigree of
Justin Morgan it would probably be of little use to you any
G E N E R A L G A T E S 666
way. It is made with the silhouette of a horse as a background,
By F. B. HILLS
with the names (and pictures in some instances) of the English
Secretary Morgan Horse Club
Thoroughbreds on the body of the horse, the ancestral forms
(Darley Arabian, Byerly Turk and Godolphin Barb) below,
Soon after the organization of the U. S. Morgan Horse Far
and the horses bred in America above.
the Secretary of the U. S. Department of Agriculture appointed
a committee to choose an outstanding stallion to head the stud
HlLDEGARDE H O W A R D
at Middlebury, and that committee chose General Gates in 1907,
Curator, Department of Paleontology.
He was a black stallion foaled in 1894 and bred by Colonel
Joseph Battell. H o w the Colonel happened to breed this famous
LIKE M O R G A N S IN C A L I F O R N I A
animal is a long and interesting story but, briefly, the facts are
as follows: In 1885 there was produced in Arkansas a Morgan,
"Enclosed is $2.00 for which please forward THE MORGAN
known as Lord Clinton, that later made outstanding trotting
HORSE MAGAZINE another two years at the expiration of our
records for the breed, the fastest being a mile in 2:08?4- T h e
present subscription. W e couldn't miss any of your interesting
fame of this horse spread throughout the country. He was by
issues. It keeps us informed of all the Morgan news in which
Denning
Allen 74, grandson of the great Ethan Allen, but the
we are so interested and the various horses in which we are espedigree of his dam, Fanny Scott was unknown for a time.
pecially interested.
Colonel Battell corresponded voluminously in regard to
"At present we are the owners of Sheik F. 8567. an outFanny Scott and early in 1893 went to Arkansas to trace, if
standing three-year-old stallion we purchased last year from
possible, the mare's pedigree. His zeal was rewarded, for he
Roland Hill. A Sonfield colt of great promise. Also a beautiful
learned that she was by Revenue, Jr., and.out of a Coppermare, Fawnette 05168. The two Morgans are attracting much
bottom
mare. Lord Clinton had been gelded and Colonel Batattention and interest not only in our immediate neighborhood
tell decided to purchase the handsome sire Denning Allen and
but have recently had some visitors from other counties w h o
the 15-hand brown mare Fanny Scott and repeat the mating
have come to see these horses—not only Morgan breeders, but
which had produced the famous trotter. After exhibiting Denothers. W e are n o w looking for one or two exceptionally good
ning Allen at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago
mares to add to our beginning.
where he wonfirstprize for "Morgan Stallions Five Years or
"Here's to continued success of your fine magazine and to
Older," and Sweepstakes for "Morgan Stallions of A n y Age,"
better and better Morgans!"
p j^ CALLSEN
the pair was shipped to Middlebury, Vt. The result of the first
Box 265, Ripon, Calif.
mating of these two, in Colonel Battell's ownership, was General Gates, foaled M a y 6, 1894. He was kept at the Colonel's
Bread Loaf Stock Farms until July 1, 1907, when he went to
ACTION PHOTOS W A N T E D
the U. S. Morgan Horse Farm.
"Enclosed is $1.00 for which please send me the issues of
THE
MORGAN
HORSE
MAGAZINE
that have been published
since the May-June-July 1943 issue, which I have. Also can
you send m e the one which had Captain Kellogg's photo and
the one having Flyhawk's photo?
"May I suggest that you people get out a paper bound booklet (similar to the one you publish giving the history of the
Morgan) which would contain front, side, rear, and action
photos of some of the higher class Morgans and explanatory
notes showing h o w to judge and select Morgans. There must
be a need for such a book. Please send the magazines to m y
Seattle address."
r_) g LYTLE
1308 North 38th St., Seattle 3, Wash.
FEBRUARY,
1944
THE
R E P O R T O N C A P T A I N W I N G A T E IN N A P L E S
From N. Y. World-Telegram of January 14, 1944, dated Naples
"Capt. Harvey P. Wingate, Upper Montclair, N. J.—the
A M G officer w h o has been in charge of the water supply—
went to work on power. A new transmission line was built to
southern hydro-electric plants in Allied hands. Emergency
lines were rigged. By November 1 thefirstjob was completed.
Because of the danger of mines wired to the power system, everyone was moved out of the sections of Naples to get power while
the test was made. It worked without incident. Power was
turned on in the essential areas for special uses two days later."
M O R G A N HORSE
MAGAZINE
35
F A R M I N G IN V E R M O N T
Professor: How many kinds of farming are there in Verm
Elmer: Four—pretensive, extensive, intensive and expensive.
HALF-MORGAN RECORD ROOK
155 East 44th Street,
NEW YORK CITY 17, N. Y.
Q U E R I D O 7370
Applications are now being received at the above
address for registration in the Half-Morgan Record
Book. Application blanks will be sent on request.
Son of Bennington 5693, by General Gates 666.
LINSLEY 7233
THE RECORD OF HALF-MORGAN HORSES
By General Gates 666.
Registers only mares and geldings, and one parent
must be registered with the M O R G A N
HORSE
C L U B , 90 Broad Street, N e w York City. W e also
wish evidence that the other parent is a saddle horse
or of light harness type and not a pony nor a draft
horse.
HEADLIGHT MORGAN 4683
Son of Ethan Allen 2nd, 406.
Editor's Note: All three of best blood lines—two bred at U. S. Morgan
Horse Farm: one a son of General Gates and one a grandson.
NOTICE TO STALLION OWNERS
FROM
W e suggest that mares sired by registered Morgan stallions from
light horse mares be registered in the Half-Morgan Record Book,
the purpose of which is to retain the name Morgan in Half-Morgan
stock and preserve even in Half-Morgans some of the characteristics of Morgan blood and prevent it from being completely lost.
Part-Morgan is better than no-Morgan when it comes to horse
flesh for light use, and there are many reasons why MorsUm blood
should be recognized in Half-Morgan offspring.
The spread and recognition of the value of Half-Morgan stock,
especially mares, will promote a growing demand for registered
Morgan stallions.
KANSAS:
"Under separate cover I am sending a picture of Brown's
05756, sire Royce 7748, dam, Delight L 14786, foaled May,
1941, and purchased from Brown Brothers, Halstead, Kan.,
at the time they sold their horses two years ago.
"This colt is a dark bay with a black mane andflaxentail,
star and stripe, connected with four white fetlocks. The disposition of thisfillyis exceptionally amiable and gentle as evidenced
by the fact that this picture was taken the third time Mr. Zuhars
had the colt under a saddle.
"This winter Brown's Pink will be stabled and trained at
the Hiebert Brothers' Farm in Hillsboro, Kan. I feel this mare
will develop into afirstclass saddle horse and expect her to become a successful brood mare. In m y estimation thisfillyis
truly Morgan in all characteristics. If you wish to use the pic-
HALF-MORGAN RECORD ROOK
155 East 44th Street,
NEW YORK CITY 17, N. Y.
ture in T H E M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E you surely may do
so."
TALIA HOUSE ZUHARS
301 So. Sycamore, Wichita 12, Kan.
FREE S A M P L E
F R O M N E W YORK:
For More Than Sixty Years Trainers of "Enclosed
Fine
MAGAZINE
Horses Have Relied on
please find one dollar for THE MORGAN HORSE
for one year. I think your magazine is one of the
best horse magazines I ever read. I have taken your paper for
one year now."
KENDALL'S
COUNTER-IRRITANT
LESLIE J. BOYCE
R. 5, Fulton. N. Y.
FROM MISSOURI:
This favorite liniment, diluted with equal quantity
of ordinary rubbing alcohol makes a stimulating
"Leg W a s h " for strained, bruised or sore muscles.
It is antiseptic and it increases circulation to the injured part.
If you have not tried this product the coupon
below will bring you a generous free sample.
"I believe that my subscription to THE MORGAN HORSE
MAGAZINE is up and I am sending you another dollar for another year's subscription to your paper as I want to learn more
about the Morgan horse. I have learned a whole lot about the
history of the Morgan horse in the past year and I want to learn
more."
HERBERT RICE
Buffalo, M o .
FROM
DR. B. J. K E N D A L L C O .
539 Main Street Enosburg Falls, Vt.
rj Please send me free sample of Kendall's Counter-irritant.
OREGON:
"Enclosed please find money order for $1.00 for next year
subscription to T H E M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE. Y o u have
a wonderful magazine and I can't miss a single issue. Wishing
you the best of luck and success."
• Also send me Free Copy of your "Treati-e on the Horse."
(Revised Edition.)
ROBERT BEHNER
2785 Main St.. Baker. Ore.
NAME
"Please find enclosed $1.00 to renew my subscription to T
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE.
It is a good magazine and I enjoy
every issue of it."
ADDRESS
A. W..FRIZZLE
7144 N o . Concord Ave.. Portland 3, Ore.
THE
MORGAN
HORSE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY,
1944
TYPE, B A S E D O N
UTILITY
Although I am not as yet a breeder of Morgans, I am interested in the M o r g a n type. I have read arguments for and against
the old and n e w types of Morgans. A s in the promotion of a
war for victory, promotion of a breed, I believe, depends upon
unity of purpose with an ideal in mind.
Type, as I see it. is based on utility. In the case of the Morgan, general utility is emphasized: or, a desirable Morgan should
be able to turn out an acceptable performance as a roadster, as a
saddler, as a sprinter over short distances, and as a light draft
horse. Since these arc the requirements of the Justin M o r g a n
Performance Class at the M o r g a n Horse S h o w , w h y not let the
winner and runncrs-up of this class represent the desired type?
Some breeders m a y have other requirements, i.e., working cattle,
trail-riding, etc. I feel that anv horse capable of competing
satisfactorily in the Performance Class will meet all requirements
made of him.
With an idea of the desired type from the above, collect good
ohotographs of the ten or fifteen best stallions and a like number
of mares in the breed which approach this type most closely (as
selected by a group of judges, or by a vote of the breeders) . I
say good photographs because from some 1 have seen of Morgans
it is difficult to determine whether the horse depicted has fallen
prey to poor ancestors or poor photographers.
T h e n devote an issue of T H E M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E
to the publication of these pictures. Such a publication should
include a 3-generation pedigree of each horse (stating dams as
well as sires), and give the judges' reasons for the particular
placing a m o n g thefirstten orfifteenin the breed. A type study,
as described above, would give breeders and prospective breeders
a sound basis for their selection.
Vermont
VERMONT FARMS
MAKE IDEAL
SUMMER HOMES
\ nndsr the valley:, and highlands oi
L lie Green Mountains are hundreds of
small farms that m a ) ' double hir you
as peaceful homes and income earners,
nvestments
in family
security that
you'll appreciate now and after the war,
Erich year more and more discriminating families turn to \ ermont for partlime or permanent re-idence.
Here you ina\ find at modest cost the
farm or village h o m e of your dreams
by lake or slrc.im or mountainside. Or,
if your tastes run to the pretentious or
developed place
. vou'll find all
listed in F R E E official book. "Vermont
[•"arms and S u m m e r H o m e s for sale."
501) places desuibed.
T h e nciv l')44
edition (completely descriptive but not
illustrated) ready after March 15, is free
on request. Reserve your copy today.
Department of Cruiser vation and Development.
Publicity
Service, State
House, Montpelier, Vermont.
*\
N. B.
V E R M O N T FOR SECURITY
D R . R U S S E L L E. S M I T H
Veterinarian, Tahattawan Rd., Littleton. Mass
FROM
CONNECTICUT:
"Enclosed is a snapshot of my Pride & Joy, a purebred Morgan, three years old the last of August, 1943. I bought him
September 1, unbroken and a r r o g a n t — m y first attempt at
training a colt and to date he rides and drives quite nicely.
Y o u will note I a m using a hackamore-type bit with no mouth
bar and find it very satisfactory for riding. I use a straight bit
when driving. His n a m e is Feller and w e are getting to be real
pals. I might add that I read your magazine from cover to cover,
show it to m y friends and loan it to t w o other parties to read.
I only regret that it does not come more often. I a m hoping to
ride Feller up to your S h o w and Trail Ride this year if I can
possibly get away."
W I L L I A M P. C L A R K E
N e w Preston, Conn.
Enclosed are pictures of our mare Pam, and her filly foal
Tinker 06084, taken w h e n Tinker was about t w o weeks old,
also m y son Gerald Minor, Jr., w h o is pretty proud of his first
Morgan filly, and he should be, for she is about as perfect as any
filly could be.
Tinker's sire is Goldfield 7991 by Mansfield 7255 out of
Juno 03284, by Forester 6 9 1 8 .
Her d a m is P a m (unregistered) , foaled June 25, 1939, by
Carphyl 8051.
Tinker was foaled August 14, 1943, and is turning in color
to a liver chestnut, with one white hind foot, and a small white
star in her forehead. She is beautiful, and bright as a button as
all Morgans are.
W e have had her mother, P a m , since she was a yearling, and
have trained her ourselves. She is a fine saddle mare and also
as fine a driving mare as anyone could wish for.
H o p e the pictures m a y be of interest to other M o r g a n lovers
and readers of your magazine.
G. A. M I N O R
FARMS AND S U M M E R HOMES
FOR YEAR 'ROUND RECREATION
Literature Upon Re quest
VERMONT PUBLICITY SERVICE
188 State House
Montpelier, Vt.
Bethelehem, Conn.
Editor's Note: Regret the pictures were not clear enough to reproduce well.
FEBRUARY,
1944
THE
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
37
SHAMROCK MEMORIES
1
Meeting Waters Morgans
(A booklet containing 41 poems—four of which mention Morgans.
By ELLEN E. PRINCE
Morgans
Home of the famous sire:
JUBILEE KING 7570
Copper chestnut, strip, light m a n e and tail.
Horses are horses and I like them all
Be they Arab, Thoroughbred, Standard bred, Suffolk or Perch
But there's one name I miss today
As through your pages, I search.
'Tis the magic name of Morgan,
Gamest of all game breeds,
W h o . while not winning world favor,
Is there, at least, with the deeds.
Height, 15.2—Weight, 1100
Fee, $50—Vermont-Owned Mares, $25
Though his speed is not of the fleetest
His courage and endurance are strong
A n d when it's Morgans you tie to
Your judgment cannot be wrong.
Also at stud to a few approved mares:
SPRINGFIELD 8421
Foaled 1941. Rich chestnut, strip, snip; hind fet-
So I say, "Hurrah for the Morgans,"
Long live this excellent breed
A n d thanks be to the tavern-keeper's Justin
Whose soul lives on in deed.
1
locks white, red m a n e and tail.
Copyright 1943, 28 pages, Ellen E. Prince, West Farmington, Me.
Height, 14.3V2—Weight, Approx. 950—Fee, $25
This beautiful grandson of Jubilee King combines the best
M o r g a n blood of V e r m o n t and the West.
("ETHAN A I I H N
2 N D 406
'CROYDEN PRINCE
5325
)
1
DOLLY
1 (By Morgan
• Hunter 2nd 342 1
ASHRROOK
7079
[ E i MAN ALLEN
J 3 R D 3987
.NANCY
03553
Sire:
LIPPITT
7857
- D K W or Jl N L
0528
SAM
fBlI.LY RoiiERTS
r
BlI I.Y' H O N MAN
6043
J
4550
} DAM
I
(By Billy
Folsom 677)
^TlPPUT SALLIE
04565
TETHAN ALLEN
3RD 3987
MARY' A L L E N
~ 03443
PENROD
6140
TAI-KEN F R A N K L I N
J 5722
F R O M INDIANA:
LBLACK BESS
0300
"Enclosed please find $3.00 for a one year subscription f
rVKNAicm
KNOX
J 6132
I DAISY D E J A U N E I I H
0494
PARAGRAPH
04027
^Al.LEN FltANKI.lN
-
^Ar.i.EN K I N G
7090
J
5722
[ B L A C K BI-KS
0300
.NELLA
04235
Lt/A J A N E
03377
fKNUX MoHCAN
j 4677
I IJONIILE DAISY
02999
MEETING WATERS
SPRINGFIELD
Mrs. W . J. Bryant, Owner
R.F.D. 2
Humboldt, Neb.
Editor's Note: The Morgan-Draft cross has always been trustworthy, as
the Morgan blood adds a docile disposition, quick intelligence, soundness and
long life.
MARE
{By Houghton's
Beauty 39b9)
7570
Dam:
"Enclosed is one dollar for a year's subscription. I am
ing a stock mare of unknown breeding to Robert Tynan's
Agizizz and have two nifty colts, well made, best of dispositions
and a good sorrel color. Have a pair of black ton mares sired by
a grandson of the famous Percheron Carnot and a great-grandson
of the renowned Calypso. After reading Mr. C. J. O'Neill's
article in the November issue, expect to breed these mares, or at
least one of them, to the Morgan. A n y suggestions or advice
from Mr. O'Neill will be pleasing.
"I am 58, alone, as m y son is a Marine in the South Pacific.
Wish a horse that would not have to be worked every day, a true
puller, one that will be a joy to handle.
"I like m y Percherons but changed conditions make them too
big for m y present needs. I have put off crossing with the Morgan for fear of too much life and friskiness—maybe not trustworthy. I gave one colt to m y daughter-in-law and expect to
use the other as a stock horse only, provided he breaks nicely."
OSCAR L E A C H
1[DOYLE
JUBILEE KING
DAISETTE
^ 04264
F R O M NEBRASKA:
VERMONT
L. H. Wyman, Manager
THE
M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E to each of the following:
"Dr. J. O. Chaille, Fort Branch, Ind., w h o bred his registered
saddle mare Bo Peep, by King's Fancy, by Bourbon King, to
our Morgan stallion Halstead, by Linsley, by General Gates—
dam by Headlight Morgan. This mare is a proven dam by high
class saddle stock. Dr. Chaille is a prominent veterinary and
horseman in this locality and very much interested in Morgans.
"Mr. M . J. Fleener, Princeton, Ind., has a large number of
mares from which he raises stock for local markets and he is also
interested in Morgans.
"Also m y o w n renewal subscription. W e have the only Morgans in this locality, the nearest being aboutfiftymiles from here.
Besides the stallion, we have two Morgan fillies. One is coming
three years old, the other coming two years old. Both are chestnut with flaxen manes and tails, and are both granddaughters
of Jubilee King, bred by Mr. J. R. Brunk of Rochester, 111.
"Last, but not least, we enjoy T H E M O R G A N HORSE M A G A ZINE very much. T o we w h o are beginners in breeding Morgans,
it is a valuable reference."
C H A R L E S R. A L L E N
R. R. 1, Princeton, Ind.
THE
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY,
1944
FROM
CALIFORNIA:
Find enclosed $1.00 for magazine. I sent you a picture of a
colt that I brought 300 miles in a trailer. H e pulled back and
fell on the floor six times and I thought I would never get him
home alive. I had him tied short so he could not jump out of
the trailer. H e was all cut up w h e n I got him out. H o w could
I have tied him to keep him from doing this?
UPWEY FARMS
WOODSTOCK, VT.
FRANK JOHNSTON
3835 Dozier St.. Los Angeles, Calif.
Registered Stock For Sale
"I am enclosing a check for one dollar to renew my subscription to your magazine. I have enjoyed it very m u c h in the past
year and I hope that after the war it can become again a bimonthly or a monthly magazine.
"I have colt from a Thoroughbred mare and sired by a
Morab. T h e colt looks like a pure Morgan though the Thoroughbred disposition shows. Next year I hope to take m y mare
to a registered Morgan in Nevada and should have afinecolt. I
have owned Thuioughbreds for some years and love them, but
hey are really too temperamental to be used for anything but
pleasure or racing."
* *
MORGANS
*
ENGLISH
SUFFOLK-PUNCH
DRAFT
J O H N E. D U N E S M E
HORSES
Taylorsville. Calif.
"Please renew our subscription to THE MORGAN HORSE
MAGAZINE. Start with the current issue.
"With California leading in the number of Morgans, I a m
surprised there is so little about them in the magazine.
"This last October w e purchased three Morgans from Roland
Hill, n o w of Hollister, Calif. Thesefillieswere sired by Sonfield and their mothers were all sired by Querido. O u r Morgan
stallion is R e d m a n 8065 which is very outstanding. W e feel
sure that the Sonfield and R e d m a n cross will result in some fine
colts.
"With best wishes for the continued success of your maga-
*
HIGH P R O D U C I N G JERSEY C A T T L E
PRIZE W I N N I N G S T R A I N S O F
SUFFOLK SHEEP
W. J. HALLIDAY
Bishop, Calif.
"Enclosed you will find check in the amount of one dollar for
which please send T H E M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E to:
Sgt. Robert J. McGinnis. 39539043.
U. S. Army.
995th Eng. Treadway Bridge Co.,
Camp Barkeley, Tex.
For Sale: ROBERTA J0NAY 35343
Registered American Saddle-bred mare, chestnut,
white blaze, both hind stockings white. Height 15
hands. Foaled 1937.
"Sgt. Jack McGinnis for years has been the owner of good
horses doing all of his o w n training. Then, a few months before
he was called for A r m y Service, he rode for some of us w h o had
Morgans. It did not take him long to decide to breed his mares
to Morgan stallions. H e n o w is anxious to get the war over
with so that he will be able to o w n a Morgan stallion of his o w n .
"It is m y firm belief that Sgt. Jack McGinnis will be a credit
to the long list of Registered M o r g a n Horse owners."
W
KING'S L E E ROSE
853
B E N SORY
4473
KINGSTON'S
CHOICE
No. 10644
OVERTON'S AMERICAN
7285
J
r
REX
KATHRYN HAINES
MONROE
2063
J
10872
JAPANETTE
9929
E. F R A N Z
Box 66, Canoga Park, Calif.
O A K L A N D PEAVINE
FROM
10725
DIXIE KING
WASHINGTON:
Thanks!
11274
"I'm terribly sorry I didn't wait just a little longer before
writing. M y M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E arrived today. F r o m
what I have read from T H E M O R G A N H O R S E M A G A Z I N E its
really a swell magazine: plenty of interesting articles to be read."
M. C. PETERMAN
510 Engr. L.P. Co., Ft. Lewis, Wash.
"Enclosed please find two dollars for a two year subscription
to your magazine. I got a May-June-July issue after I bought
a registered M o r g a n stallion and had the papers transferred.
Please send m e the back copies as I want the one with the transfer of m y horse. M y horse is Sun Dial 7874; dark chestnut;
l6]/2 hands; weight 1300 lbs."
J. M.
Dam:
DOROTHY
DUCHESS
No. 26848
J
DOT
PEAVINE
FAIR A C R E BLOSSOM
<,
;:O A K L A N D
< 10725
18982
t-
15035
PEAVINE
D U C H E S S PEAVINE
I
13194
This m a r e is afineharness horse single or double, also
rides. H a s well set tail. Is sound and gentle. Is
very stylish.
MRS. GORDON HARWOOD
N O R T H B E N N I N G T O N , VT.
Tel. Bennington 191-M2
MCLEAN
Medical Lake, Wash.
FEBRUARY,
1944
THE
M O R G A N HORSE MAGAZINE
39
THE
MORGAN HORSE MAGAZINE
i!iM.i;Hii;iii*iiii:nn7m ,
Devoted to the Interests of the Morgan Horse
Sec. 562 P. L. R.
Return Postage Guaranteed
VOL. Ill FEBRUARY, 1944 NO. 2
Subscription Price—$1.00 Per Year in Advance
Publication Office—South Woodstock, Vt.
In This Number
TO
a 9.
The Morgan Horse
in the West
Hoffman writes
of old Morgans
Half-Morgan Record
Book opened
—d^^u^
i
0-
Views of Hinman, 1916
GENERAL GATES 666
Black; 15 h., 1045 lbs. f. 1894.
Bred by Joseph Battell,
Middlebury, Vt.
The foundation of breeding at the U. S. Morgan Horse Farm, Middlebury, Vt.