MORGAN HORSE SEMEN

 MORGAN HORSE HISTORY

The Morgan horse was one of the first horse breeds to be developed in the United States. The founding stallion of the breed was a horse named Figure, owned by Vermont schoolteacher Justin Morgan in the late 1700s. No one knows for certain what Figure’s pedigree was, but it’s generally accepted that it was the offspring of horses with Arabian, thoroughbred, and perhaps Welsh cob or Friesian bloodlines.

Figure was a compact horse, standing at only around 14 hands (56 inches) tall. But the stallion developed a reputation for his athleticism and pleasant disposition. As people of New England heard of Figure’s ability to out-pull and out-distance many other horses, it became a desirable stallion for breeding.

Figure passed his traits to his offspring, and the breed eventually was named after his owner. Over time, the Morgan became the ultimate all-purpose horse, equally at home in harness, under saddle, on the race track, or at work in fields. It also contributed to the bloodlines of other horse breeds, including the Canadian, saddlebred, Tennessee walking horse, American Standardbred, and American quarter horse.

The American Morgan Horse Association was established in 1909 to serve as a breed registry.

They were also admired for their friendly behaviors and well loved for their colors which were then made as coat patterns.

Morgans were used as trotting horses on the race track and cavalry mounts in wartime. They also were hitched to wagons or ridden by pioneers who were traveling to the American West. Today, Morgans can be found competing in almost every equestrian sport. Morgan horse shows often feature sidesaddle classes, trotting races under saddle, driving classes, dressage, jumping, and more—all showcasing the outstanding versatility of the breed.