Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-18
Morgan Horses.
M non. JOHN GREGORY.

ton, u MADE me ieel PROUD OF DOT only our
Morgan horses, but our good little State,
and never dreamed that should be called
upon 10 1872 to show reasons why this race
Of horses should not become extinct in our
State. 1t seems like attempting to show
that railroads and telegrapbs should not be
discontinued in this country, or that Cue
wool sheep should not be allowed to show
beautifully less" because the dne mutton
sheep, Leiccstershire and Cotswold are
larger, and their mutton preferable.
VALUE OF MoRGANs OUT WEST
During the maby fairs which | attended
in the Western country, Morgan horse
would receive more attention than any other
class, and many Kentuckian heard de.
clare they were far superior for all pur-
poses to their own booded stock, whose
only recommendation consisted in running
good for sporting, but not for hard, service
able work. And it amused me at times to
see with what oarnestness some livery sta.
ble.keeper would contend that he had
Morgan horse that was brought out from
Vermont years before by some Yankee
peddlor, and that he had been running in
his livery business some ten or twelve years,
killing two-thirds Of the long-backed and
small.boned animals that had worked with
him. and l would be asked to examine said
horse and give my opinion, if he possessed
the Morgan characteristics
Said Missourian, You Yankees have
done one good thing for us, and that is in
bringing out here your fine Morgan stock
to cross with our breed Of horses Our
stock are more or less blooded from the
South, and consequently are too fue, limbs
too small, chest too narrow, and legs too long
for hard service. A crossing with your
Morgans on this stock, said he, makes
it just right" The ayidity with which
thousands of our Morgans were pure. asod
at large prices South during the twenty
years before the war, shows that this Mis-.
souriau was correct in his high estimate Of
this race.
MoRGANs EXCEL ron LIVERY HORSES.
A gentleman from New Bedford, Mass,
once informed me, that he made it rule
to come to Vermont every spring and pur-
chase from ten to twenty of our little Nor.
gans for livery stable purposes. Said he,
=" | prefer the Billy Root stock, as they are
best adapted for the livery. They are
small, square and compact, very hardy, and
scarcely ever become sick or get tired"
Aud | remember among other good things
he said Of them, was that among his GUS
toners were many young men, who almost
invariably drove his teams twice as far as
they represented when they engaged them
but, said he, "the little Morgans always
come home fresh and strong, and ready for
another trip the next day but the long
backed, long-legged kind, when driven by
those fast young men, seem to have Pc
culiar 'goncness,' and become so stiff and
sore by the same kind of driving that they
have to lay by day rtwo to recuperate."
MoRoASs MADE BEST STAGE HORSES.
This is the experience Of all who have
tried the Morgans, and it argues well for
the race. Numerous are the instances that
might be cited to prove this. Years ago,
/ was interested in letter written by Milo
June Of Jefferson City, Mo, on this sub
ject. He says, 4" have spent the greatest
portions Of my life in staging, formerly in
Vermont, and now 10 Missouri, and take
pleasure in bearing testimony to the decid-
ed superiority Of Morgan horses for coach
service, over any others that have even
used. | have bought wrote he) many
horses in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Hi
>pois aud Missouri, and though occasionally
good roadster can be found they are moi
'mmon. Many of the horses Of these
Eates have fne forms and good carriages
4 yet lack the high, free spirit, unainchipl
courage and iron constitution which the Yer
mont horses 80 generally possess. Yer.
many of the Western horses are too large
Large horses may be the best for draft, bu
l have always found horses of medium Siz'
weighing say about ten hundred and Eft
pounds, much the most serviceable and GU
during when used before coach"
So also did Mr.. Walker, of Chicago
write to Mr.. Lindsey, on the value of tn
Morgan horse, words Of commentator
He, like Mr.. june, had been engaged
the stage business for long time, an
could we'll attest to their superiority. II
says, Being Vermonter, have know
Morgan horses as long as | have know
any. have resided in Chicago the la
seventeen years, during which time ha'
been largely engaged in the business Of stag
ing, which business affords constant Ell
ployment for about 1900 horses, and ha'
thus had opportunities for observing al
testing the capacity and endurance
horses. | have no hesitation in saying,
consider the Morgan horses far superior
any other breed or blood | have ey
known for the road or farm. In fact
would prefer them over all others for a
kind Of service on the American Contine
They are invariably good feeders, and G
lily kept, and will endure more service tn
any other breed Of horses ! have e.
known"
Many, who now listen TO me, can well
member the Incompatible class Of hor