Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-10

many oil the Western horses are too large
Large horses may be the best for draft. tut
l have always found horses of medium size,
weighing say about ten hundred and fifty
pounds, much the most serviceable and en-
during when used before a coach"
So also did Mr.. Walker, of Chicago, write
to Mr.. Lindsley, on the value Of the Morgan
horse, words Of commentator. He, like Mr.
june, had been engaged in the stage business
for long time, and could we'll attest 10 their
superiority. He says " Being Vermonter,
l have known Morgan horses as long as
have known any. have resided in Chicago
the last seventeen years, during which time l
have been largely engaged in the business Of
staging, which business affords constant en-
ployment for about 1900 horses, and have
thus had opportunities fer observing and
testing the capacity aud endurance Of horses.
l have no hesitation in saying, consider ,e
Morgan horses far superior to any other
breed or blood | have ever known for the
road OF farm. In fact | would prefer them
over all others for any kind OF service on
the American Continent They are invari-
ably good feeders, and easily kept, and will
endure more service than any other breed of
horses l have ever known"
Many who now listen to me can we'll re-.
member the Incompatible class of horses that
were used for staging in Vermont when Cot
trill, OF Montpelier, was the stage king, ac-
knowlcdged so in New England, some thirty
years ago. They would handle a stage
coach. with some eighteen or twenty passen-
gers and baggage to correspond, in a manner
that would make staging pleasant, lively and
agreeable | think even at the present day,
travelling as we do by steam power, we
should not object to an occasional ride in q
light, handsome Concord stage coach, drawn
by four or six horses of the best specimens of
the Morgans. II is my opinion that this
class OF horses have lost good deal of their
sprightliness and ambition, or to use com.
mon phrase with horsemen, their " vim,"
which distinguished them above all others.
1t seems that the horses selected by our
stage proprietors did have more of the quail
tiles Of this race, that made them so famous
and gave them such a reputation for smart
ness, energy and endurance. | we'll remem-
Der while travelling in this way by stage,
how We were hurled along over our beautiful
roads at the rate Of ten or twelve miles an
hour, and that frequently, when the horses
would come to a hill, they would jump
and spring in manner that was frightful,
laying almost to the ground, and keep rush.
ing along, until they could see the top of the
hill before them, when they would slacken
into Il walk with as much calmuess as though
they had not been excited. D those were
splendid days, eclipsed in speed | know by
the iron horse, but | doubt after all, ic the
latter afforded the traveller any more sub.
stantial happiness and pleasure. Gliding
over hill and dale, one is almost led to be
poetical and exclaim with Idler,' who in
in 1882, wrote on My Horse" Il think he
must have been a Morgan,) as follows
with CHANGING eye and curving name,
lie neighs and champs on the Birdie rein
And ours Is n common happiness
lis the rapture Of motion, hurrying cloud
When the loosened winds are breathing loud -
shaft from the paihted Indians how t.
bird In the pride of speed we 20.
Dark thoughts that haunt me where are We now,
While The clen air gratefully cools my brow,
And the dizzy earth seems reeling by,
And naught Is az rect but the archng sky
And the tramp of my steed so swim and strong
Is dearer than fame and sweeter than song!
There Is life in the breeze as we hasten on;
WIN each bound some care OF earth has gone,
And the languid pulse begins TO play,
And the night OF my soul Is turned to-day.
richer verture the earth o'erspreads
Sparkles the streamlet more light In the mead
And It's voice to the flowers that bend above
Is SOFT as the whisper Of early love"
This is beautiful poetry, and there is more
Of 1t, but | will come down to terra .frma
and talk little longer on matters pertain
ing to the Morgan horse.
Gen. Banks and Green Mountain Morgan.
In 1859 there was an old fashioned gen.
eral training or muster" in the Bay State, at
Concord, and quite rivalry sprang up
among the field officers to secure the finest
horses for the parade. Governor Banks sent
a special ambassador to the owners of "Green
Mountain and after some negotiation the
old horse was taken from his obscure retreat
at WillamstOwn, Vermont, and at the age OF
twenty-five years was taken long distance
10 contend with field of chosen studs, in
the trying and fatiguing evolutioDs of mill
itary drill. Age had not dimmed the fire of
his eye, nor checked the full aud vigorous
pulsations Of his blood, nor tanned the I'm.
flinching courage and dauntless bearing which
never iai! to rouse the enthusiastic applause
of all behoIdors. The staunch old veteran
was the observed Of all observers" and it
seemed 10 be the general feeling that, instead
of the horse being honored by bearing in the
cavacade the distinguished Governor Of Mas.
sachusetts, his Excellency was rather honor
ed in being allowed to bestride the finest pa.
rade horse in the country, as Gen Wool de-
clared him to be.
jobs Description ola Horse going 90 Battle.
No wonder Vermonters were proud of this
noble representative of the Morgan race To
admire him you should see his mettle and
grand bearing as he almost danced to the
strains Of martial music He would remind
one Of an instance recorded more than three
thousand years ago by a sacred writer, who
gives Us Il sublime account Of the manner in
which the horse at that time appeared, es.
pecially when entering into the spirit of the
battle job 80, l6: Hast thou given the
horse strength Hast thou clothed his neck
with thunder Canst thou make him afraid
as the grasshopper The glory of his nos
trils is terrible. He paweth the valley, and
rejoiceth in his strength he goeth on to meet
the armed men. He mocketh at fear, aud Is
not afrghted neither turneth his back
from the sword. The culver setteth against
him, the gittering spear and the shield. He
swalloweth the sword in It's 6erceness and
rage. He saith among the trumpets, lila
Ha He smelleth the battle afar off, the
thunder Of the captains and the shoutings."
EngIand's greatest Poet describes a Morgan.
Shakespeare must have been quite horse
man, judging from the description he gave of
a fine horse, and which is truly fine type Of
the Morgan. lie says
"ROund-hOOied, short Ointed etOcks shay and long
Broad breast, full eye small head and nostrs wide
High crest short ears, straight legs aud passing strong
Thin name, thick tail, broad bullock, tender hide
Look what a h rsc should have he did not lack
Save proud rider on so proud back.
MOrgans Popular.
We have found that the Morgans are good