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[ INDEX ] Equine Type: Horse Breed: Morgan [ PREV ] [ NEXT ]
The Morgan is one of the oldest native American horse breeds, and is one of the few horse breeds where all of the horses of the breed can be traced back to one foundation stallion. In the case of the Morgan breed, this stallion is Figure (also known as Justin Morgan).
Justin Morgan's little Figure:
The story of the Morgan starts with a bay stallion named 'Figure', who was foaled in 1789, and who belonged to a man called Justin Morgan.
Figure was a small horse, standing at only around 14hh, but was nevertheless stronger and faster than horses larger than him. These impressive characteristics made him famous in the state of Vermont, where Figure was often referred to as "the Justin Morgan horse" and "the little Morgan". After Justin Morgan passed away, Figure was renamed after him.
A super versatile horse:
Figure became a popular sire, who sired hundreds of horses, and passed them all of his incredible abilities, in what was the beginning of the Morgan breed. Morgan horses were versatile horses who were used for a variety of tasks, including working in agriculture, pulling buggies, racing, and serving as ranch, riding, and even cavalry, horses.
During the 19th century, Morgan horses influenced several American breeds, among which are the Standardbred, the Tennessee Walker, the American Saddlebred, and the American Quarter Horse.
The Park-type Morgan:
Morgan horses were always known for their fine trot and pacing abilities. At some point, the fastest trotter in the world was a Morgan horse.
During the 20th century, Morgans were crossed with American Saddlebreds in order to refine their trotting style and to enhance their "showy" appearance. This created a new subtype of the Morgan horse, called the 'Park-type Morgan', which is lighter and has higher-stepping gaits than the original Morgan, and which is therefore better suited for harness shows.
The Morgan today:
Today, Morgan horses are a popular breed in various countries, but especially in the USA, and can be seen in a variety of Western and English disciplines, as well as in harness shows.
Conformation:
The Morgan is a relatively small breed that has iconic and elegant stature and posture.
Morgan horses have a short and light head with large nostrils, a straight or a bit concave profile, a wide forehead, large eyes, and small upright ears. Their high-set, arched neck is broad at the base but tapers toward their throatlatch. Their withers are smooth and connect to a short back.
The croup is either flat or slightly rounded, depending on the Morgan's type. The chest can be prominent, and the body varies from sturdy and compact to slender and refined, again, depending on the Morgan's type. The legs are usually stretched behind the body to a certain degree, giving the Morgan its iconic stance.
The mane can be of any length, and its hair either straight or wavy. The tail grows long, and the legs are clear from feathering.
Performance metrics:
The following are the: range, average, (SD), and MOE of performance metrics of ordered Morgans in Horse Isle (not bred ones). In rare cases,horses might have metrics outside of the range. Breeders can produce horses that are beyond this range.
Speed: 14.8-16.4, 15.6 (0.3), 0.07.
Sprint: 54-68, 61 (3), 0.58.
Accel: 1.00-1.18, 1.09 (0.04), 0.01.
Decel: 0.92-1.08, 0.99 (0.04), 0.01.
Jump: 4.89-5.22, 5.07 (0.06), 0.01.
Pull: 2.04-2.73, 2.39 (0.15), 0.03.
Turning: 55.48-67.73, 61.36 (2.76), 0.54.
Reverse: 2.7-3.3, 3.0 (0.1), 0.03.
Stamina: 47.47-53.07, 50.05 (1.17), 0.23.
Reaction: 0.69-0.81, 0.76 (0.02), 0.00.
Coats & Height:
Colors & patterns: all colors and patterns except for champagne, dominant-black, dominant-white, mushroom, pearl, leopard, manchado, and tobiano.
Height: 14.1hh to 15.2hh.
(For more info about the subtypes of the Morgan horse, see the 'Foundation Morgan' and the 'Park-type Morgan')
Justin Morgan's little Figure:
The story of the Morgan starts with a bay stallion named 'Figure', who was foaled in 1789, and who belonged to a man called Justin Morgan.
Figure was a small horse, standing at only around 14hh, but was nevertheless stronger and faster than horses larger than him. These impressive characteristics made him famous in the state of Vermont, where Figure was often referred to as "the Justin Morgan horse" and "the little Morgan". After Justin Morgan passed away, Figure was renamed after him.
A super versatile horse:
Figure became a popular sire, who sired hundreds of horses, and passed them all of his incredible abilities, in what was the beginning of the Morgan breed. Morgan horses were versatile horses who were used for a variety of tasks, including working in agriculture, pulling buggies, racing, and serving as ranch, riding, and even cavalry, horses.
During the 19th century, Morgan horses influenced several American breeds, among which are the Standardbred, the Tennessee Walker, the American Saddlebred, and the American Quarter Horse.
The Park-type Morgan:
Morgan horses were always known for their fine trot and pacing abilities. At some point, the fastest trotter in the world was a Morgan horse.
During the 20th century, Morgans were crossed with American Saddlebreds in order to refine their trotting style and to enhance their "showy" appearance. This created a new subtype of the Morgan horse, called the 'Park-type Morgan', which is lighter and has higher-stepping gaits than the original Morgan, and which is therefore better suited for harness shows.
The Morgan today:
Today, Morgan horses are a popular breed in various countries, but especially in the USA, and can be seen in a variety of Western and English disciplines, as well as in harness shows.
Conformation:
The Morgan is a relatively small breed that has iconic and elegant stature and posture.
Morgan horses have a short and light head with large nostrils, a straight or a bit concave profile, a wide forehead, large eyes, and small upright ears. Their high-set, arched neck is broad at the base but tapers toward their throatlatch. Their withers are smooth and connect to a short back.
The croup is either flat or slightly rounded, depending on the Morgan's type. The chest can be prominent, and the body varies from sturdy and compact to slender and refined, again, depending on the Morgan's type. The legs are usually stretched behind the body to a certain degree, giving the Morgan its iconic stance.
The mane can be of any length, and its hair either straight or wavy. The tail grows long, and the legs are clear from feathering.
Performance metrics:
The following are the: range, average, (SD), and MOE of performance metrics of ordered Morgans in Horse Isle (not bred ones). In rare cases,
Speed: 14.8-16.4, 15.6 (0.3), 0.07.
Sprint: 54-68, 61 (3), 0.58.
Accel: 1.00-1.18, 1.09 (0.04), 0.01.
Decel: 0.92-1.08, 0.99 (0.04), 0.01.
Jump: 4.89-5.22, 5.07 (0.06), 0.01.
Pull: 2.04-2.73, 2.39 (0.15), 0.03.
Turning: 55.48-67.73, 61.36 (2.76), 0.54.
Reverse: 2.7-3.3, 3.0 (0.1), 0.03.
Stamina: 47.47-53.07, 50.05 (1.17), 0.23.
Reaction: 0.69-0.81, 0.76 (0.02), 0.00.
Coats & Height:
Colors & patterns: all colors and patterns except for champagne, dominant-black, dominant-white, mushroom, pearl, leopard, manchado, and tobiano.
Height: 14.1hh to 15.2hh.
(For more info about the subtypes of the Morgan horse, see the 'Foundation Morgan' and the 'Park-type Morgan')
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