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Morgan
The Morgan is a versatile and hardy breed.
It can pull a carriage, carry a rider over long distances, and even compete in rodeos. As an athlete, it competes in dressage and driving events.
Height: 14-15 hh (horse hands)
Color: Bay, Chestnut, Brown, Black
Body Type: Light
This breed comes from...
Springfield, Massachusetts
Explore the traits of this breed!
SIDE VIEW
Look at its well-angled pasterns. They give the Morgan a "light, springy step"!
Compared to other breeds, the Morgan's front legs are positioned slightly forward on the body.
Compared to the Thoroughbred, the Morgan is a short breed. It averages 14.3 hands (59 in, 150 cm) high at the withers.
The Morgan has a short, strong back and noticeable withers. These traits make it an excellent riding horse.
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FRONT and BACK VIEW
Look at its deep chest and rounded barrel. These traits provide for large lung capacity and endurance.
The Morgan has large eyes, a broad forehead, and a small muzzle.
For a light horse, the Morgan has surprisingly powerful legs. Strong muscles in the hindquarters give it plenty of power for running and pulling.
It has a lush tail. Sometimes it is so long that it touches the ground!
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about traits
The Morgan Story
Every Morgan horse is believed to trace its origins back to to a single "super" horse named Figure. It was born in 1789 in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was owned by Justin Morgan, a farmer and well-known composer. The Justin Morgan Horse, as it was called, was both strong and fast. According to legend, it never lost a race or contest, whether carrying a rider, in harness, or in a "hauling" competition.
This new and versatile breed spread across the United States. Morgan horses worked clearing fields for farms, pulling stagecoaches, riding into battle during the Civil War, and herding cattle in the West.
Several American breeds were influenced and even founded by Morgan stock. They include the American Standardbred, the American Saddlebred, the Tennessee Walking Horse, and the Missouri Fox Trotter.
Appaloosa | Arabian | Belgian Draft | Connemara | Dutch Warmblood | Friesian | Haflinger | Hanoverian | Icelandic Horse | Lusitano | Miniature Horse | Morgan | Oldenburg | Paint | Percheron | Quarter Horse | Selle Français | Thoroughbred
Credits:
All images, © AMNH