Figure, Founder of America's First Breed
Morgan Stallion He was born in 1789 in Springfield, Massachusetts, a stout little guy with a rough coat. He was so well built, they named Figure. As a two year old, not having grown larger than 14 hands, he was sold to a schoolteacher named Justin Morgan. Although his breeding was unknown (thought to be of Welch Cob, Thoroughbred, or Arabian crosses), the colt had straight clean legs, deep muscling in the quarters and shoulders, a well arched neck with clean throatlatch and an intelligent head with large expressive eyes and short, pricked ears. He moved out beautifully, with a square and reaching stride at all gaits, and had a thick but silky mane and tail. His new owner had intended to make a quick sale of him, but no one but Justin Morgan realized what a little giant he was. Justin Morgan used the little bay stallion to work long, hard hours plowing fields and carrying his master in the saddle, and pulling a carriage on the roads of Vermont. He became known as "the Justin Morgan horse". Though he was not as big as the colonial workhorses and not as tall and long-legged as the racehorses, he consistently outperformed both. Once he pulled a log no draft horse could budge, once he carried President James Monroe on a muster-day parade ground, and once he outran the most winning racehorse central Vermont had ever known. He made himself famous. Justin Morgan remained sound of eye, wind, and limb throughout his lifetime, and a long lifetime it was. He had showy, ground-covering gaits with speed to spare at any one of them; a gentle disposition that made him safe enough for a child to handle yet great spirit and courage when called upon, and beauty men would recall years after his death. As the fame of the little stallion grew, hundreds of mares were bred to him. Justin Morgan proved to be one of the greatest stud horses of all time. So prepotent were the genes of this stallion that no matter what type of mare he was bred to, draft to racing-type, his get inherited his conformation and abilities. While most breeds develop by breeding horses of similar characteristics to each other, Figure's ability to pass his characteristics to his offspring for generations to come allowed this single stallion to found an entire breed in his likeness. Today, every registered Morgan traces back to Justin Morgan through his best sons Bulrush, Sherman and Woodbury. Morgans have been a part of American history from Figure's birth. When harness racing reached its heyday in the 1800s, the World's Fastest Trotting Stallion was Ethan Allen 50, Figure's handsome great-grandson. Not only did the Union's General Sheridan ride his Morgan Rienzi, Stonewall Jackson rode his Morgan, 'Little Sorrel,' for the Confederacy as well! In the Indian Wars, the only survivor in the Battle of the little Big Horn was Keogh's part Morgan, part Mustang horse Comanche. Morgan blood has influenced many other breeds. The great speed of today's racing Standardbreds was produced by crosses to the fastest Morgan blood. In the 1860s, the Morgan stallion Shepherd F. Knapp was exported to England where his trotting speed became a byword. Today, many English Hackneys carry his name in their pedigrees. In American Saddlebreds, such famous champions as Edna May, Bourbon King, Rex Peavine, and Wing Commander trace to Justin Morgan. The foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse, Allen F-1, was a grandson of the Morgan stallion Bradford's Telegraph. In addition, many good Morgan mares were sent to Texas and other Western States to contribute to the Quarter Horse foundation. Many American mustangs also carry the blood of Morgan horses. The oldest of all American breeds, the Morgan has been strong enough to contribute greatly to almost every other American light horse breed while retaining its own identity across more than two hundred years. Today's Morgans differ little from Figure. The average size of a Morgan today is between 14.2-15.2 hands, with some a little over or under. Morgans are predominantly bay, chestnut, or brown, although some black, palomino, buckskin, and even a few grays appear in the breed. The breed's courage, kind disposition, substance, and type has remained through 200 years of breeding. Wherever you see Morgans, you will see horses with the same deep bodies, arched necks, lovely heads, and straight clean legs. |
There is a great book about Figure called Justin Morgan Had a Horse --
look for it in your library!
Here is more information about classic Morgan horses
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