Breed History Of Morgan Horse
Do you want to know about the Morgan horse breed? Then, you are curious to know about one of the famous equine breeds in the world.
Morgan is an excellent breed with a willingness to co-operate people. These horses tend to make their owners happy.
Furthermore, Morgans can make them comfortable in almost any situation. They contribute to a host of applications. Besides, these horses are easy to groom and handle. In short, Morgan horses are so friendly that even kids can handle them in most cases.
So, are you curious to know about the rich history of Morgan horse? Here we go!
Do you know Morgan was among the first equine breeds that the US gifted to the world? That means the origin of these horses was the US.
The source stallion of Morgan was “Figure” (the name of that horse). The horse owner was a schoolteacher in Vermont whose name was Justin Morgan. And the timeline was of the late 1700s.
The bloodline of the stallion horse of Morgan is uncertain to date. However, some assumption has been made that “Figure” came from thoroughbred or Arabian. Some people also link it with Friesian or Welsh cob pedigree.
As much as information revealed about “Figure” is that it was a robust horse with a height of 56 inches. Moreover, it used to show great athletic skills as well as an amazing temperament.
According to citizens of New England, this stallion was superior to a large number of horses. That is why it was chosen for breeding.
The wishes of the horse buffs came true and “Figure” successfully transferred the great qualities to his descendent. And the offspring was named after the owner of “Figure” that is Morgan.
Time passed by. Morgan started showing incredible traits and became an all-purpose equine breed. It had started showing excellence on race tracks, fields, and even under saddle, etc.
Additionally, Morgan also acted as the source of many other equine breeds, such as the American Standardbred, saddlebred, Canadian, and so on.
The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) started its journey in 1909. It has been working for breed registration in the US.
So, what does AMHA has to say about the eligibility of a Morgan horse?
An ideal Morgan horse ought to exhibit a bit deeper throatlatch, eloquent eyes, robust body structure with a brief back, a bit concave face, straight legs along with small cannon bones, and full-fledged chest.
Do you know what the exceptional thing about the Morgan breed was?
Its breeding was not a planned process by the horse buffs. Hence, it is no wrong to say that Morgan is nature’s magic since no unique strategies were applied in this instance.
Physical Characteristics Of Morgan Horse
Morgan horses exhibit smaller size than loads of other full-size equine breeds. The average length of a Morgan horse is between 14 to 15 hands.
Moreover, no specific standard of size is prevalent for Morgans. That means they can taller or shorter than this limit. Coming to weight, Morgans often weigh from 900 pounds to 1,000 pounds.
You can easily distinguish a Morgan horse from other horse breeds. It is due to the unique traits of its telling eyes, free movement, typical head (short head along with broad forehead), and deep body. Furthermore, Morgans exhibit muscular & robust body structure and dense tail & mane.
One of the best aspects of Morgans is the availability of almost all coat colors that you can think of. Some of the coat colors of Morgans include palomino, black, bay, buckskin, and so on.
Some other worth-noting traits of Morgans include athletic characteristics, regal posture, distinguished head, cooperative temperament, perfectly arched neck, and so on. The most common coat colors of this breed include black, chestnut, and bay.
Nevertheless, some horse buffs can also breed Morgans with somewhat rare colors like dun, roan, grey, and palomino.
Lippitt Morgans deserve a special mention in this regard. They are unique and different from other Morgans in terms of physical traits, bloodline, etc.
Colors
The Morgan breed is available in every coat color. Especially, they exhibit solid yet dark colors like black, bay, and chestnut. Some less prevalent colors include roan, palomino, gray, dun, pinto, etc. However, no specific color standard is there for Morgans.
Health
You already know, Morgans possess a cooperative nature. Owing to this trait, people can easily train them. Moreover, they do not show any worth-mentioning behavioral problems.
The Morgan is typically a healthy equine breed. And they usually do not show health issues or lameness. In some cases, these horses may show a genetic connection with equine polysaccharide storage myopathy. It destroys muscle tissues and may result in stiffness, discomfort, and other signs.
Temperament Of Morgan Horse
When it comes to a family equine breed, Morgans appear to that list. Even they can be also chosen for newbie equestrians. If you are looking for an easy-to-handle family horse with versatility, you can adopt a Morgan horse.
Morgans show excellence in multiple regimens under saddle. Also, they can excel in various skills in harness. They like to interact with people and perform tasks whatever they are asked for.
Furthermore, Morgans are simple-to-maintain horses, as they can survive on fewer servings of food than an average cob.
Activities
Morgans inherited a host of excellent traits from its ancestor. It includes versatility, athletic skills, and cooperative temperament.
A Morgan horse is an all-purpose equine breed. It exhibits a huge list of abilities and skills. Industrialization indeed has a great contribution to agriculture & transportation. However, once upon a time, Morgans used to plow fields because of its prowess of puling family buggy.
Morgans also used to work as trotting cobs. Therefore, they were regarded as a valuable breed on cavalry mounts and race tracks. Even many settlers used to ride Morgans on their journey to explore West America. Nowadays, Morgans are showing their competency in equestrian sports.
The Morgan breed shows incredible ability in driving classes, sidesaddle classes, jumping, dressage, and so on. All these aspects provide the testament to Morgan’s great versatility. Besides, Morgans are suitable for all kinds of riders.
Diet
Morgans are easy keepers. They can live on lesser food as compared to many equine breeds. You need to arrange a standard serve of good quality hay, grass, and grains. Nonetheless, the quantity of food must be taken care of. Do you want to serve sweet foods to your adorable Morgan? Then, the amount needs to be limited.
People often tend to over-feed Morgan that can cause them obesity. Hence, you should consult an expert to know about ideal serving size for your Morgan horse. Thus, you can keep a healthy body of your cob.
Grooming And Upkeep
A Morgan horse does not need any special grooming requirements. Standard horse grooming disciplines are fine for them.
Set a schedule of once or twice per week for brushing and combing the Morgan’s coat. It will keep their coat away from unwanted tangles, dirt, and scrap.
Moreover, you should also take good care of its tails and mane. Thus, you can keep mats at bay.
Do not forget to check your Morgan’s hooves on a daily basis. As a result, you can instantly spot injuries and infections along with debris and dust. Therefore, you can address these issues accordingly.
In simple words, Morgans do not call for high maintenance requirements. Besides, they are typically not prone to health problems, as it lies in their pedigree. A Morgan horse has a lifespan of over 30 years.
Adoption
The average cost of a Morgan horse is approx $1,000 to $5,000. However, it is not a fixed price range rather it depends on various factors, such as Morgan’s health, age, bloodline, and training.
One of the best aspects of this breed is its high availability. You can adopt a Morgan horse all around the US. However, Vermont remains among the best places of its availability, as it is the place of origin of Morgans.
Do not forget to examine a horse well before finalizing the adoption process. Spend as much time as possible with the horse.
You should know about Morgan’s health, training, history, or temperament from the respective breeder or authority. You can also request the authority to show its training if that’s feasible. Resolve all your queries before taking the horse to your home.
Things To Know About Morgan Horse
Height: 56 inches to 60 inches
Live Weight: 900 to 1,000 pounds