The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-06-06
Agricultural Department.
CortuakD) nySAJ-urgrl qaArifNAfi
Horses Agaln.

:
get all DC information attainable,
aniwe publish two articles this week
showing tie appreciation others, aud
those outside of Vermont, have of our
favotitc breeds. There are some facts
in the following article (Which wc,talSe |
FROM the Al ericen Caltiyaof) which
we have published before, but we can
MOI do Justice to the article as q whole,
if NC eliminate them:
Dustin MORGAN.
The founder of the noted Morganl
breed of hopes was a small, compact,
hardy animal, about fourteen hands
high and Weighing about $50 pounds.
ZIG Vas foalcd in 1898, and taken in
1795l by Mt. Justin Morgan, whose
name he afterwards bore, from "Spring-
field, Mass. ,.or the immediate vicinity,
on. HE Connecticut Riyeri, 10 Ran
doaph, VT, where Mi. Morgan them
lived.
hiring tie last forty years there have
been. periodical discussions concerning
the true pedigree of this wonderful
horse, but the one now accepted by
well-informcd, unprecedented horsemen
is that his she was q horse called True
Briton or Beautiful Bay, at one time
during the Revolution ridden by an of
ficer of the English army, and supposed
to have beehl nearly oriquite thorough
bred. The dam of Justin Morgan is be-
lieved to have been of Arabian descent.
although small IN size, yet wciiauthen-
ticated reports credit him with immense
strength and great speed at short dis
tances, the latter being quality inner
tied from his ancestors, while the form
er was developed by early use in draw
ing logs upon newly cleared land, to
which service he was put when but
three years old. At twenty-ninc years
of age he was compelled to run loose,
without shelter during the Winter sea-
son, in yard with other horses, from
one of which he received kick that
caused his death. Notwithstanding the
hard usage to which he had been accus-
toned during the twenty-six years pre-
vious, yet at the time of the injury cost
ing him his life he was perfectly sound
and free from blemishcs. He left sew
eral sons, from which descended some
of the best road horses that have ever
been produced.
Forty years ago there was not more
popular breed of horses, or one whose
individuals brought higher prices or
gave the purchaser better satisfaction,
than the Morgans, which at that time
were quite numerous i'm certain sections
of Vermont, and contributed so greatly
to the wealth of that thrifty State as to
awaken an interest in its agricultural
society sufficient TO cause it to offer a
premium for the best essay on the orr
gin and history of this remarkable
breed of horses. The result was a work
known as Linslcy's Essay on the Nor
gan Horse, written by candid, trust
worthy man, in q straightforward man.
ner, and containing all the facts posi-.
BILE for him to obtain during the time
allotted for its completion.
Contrary to the design of this work
although its author was sincere in what
he wrote, and careful TO state only what
he believed to be facts, vet the merits
OF the Morgans were so strongly stated
as to excite the envy Of those whose in
terests were invested in other breeds,
and they soon exerted themselves to
create a prejudice against them, the
chief argument being based on their
lack of size, in which respect they were
interior TO some other breeds that at
the same time hey-really surpassed in
strength and endurance. Those who
were most active in condemning them
were, as rule, strong admirers fof the
English thoroughbred, which for en-
durance and speed in his way Of going
was then, as now, unquestionably un-
surpassed, yet this very breed, whose
merits we all acknowledge and admire,
are indebted for their superior qualities
to tine small Arabians from which they
descended, and it is stated upon appar-
emily good authority that English
Eclipse, the most noted horse that was
ever produced on English soil, was the
son OF horse inferior in size to the
founder of the Morgan breed.
Another point urged against the Nor
gan horses, was lack of stride sufficient
to enable them TO become fast trotters
at short distances. So successful were
their enemies for time i'm creating n
prejudice against them, that those pos
sessing animals of Morgan blood were
anxious to conceal the fact, and during
the last twenty years many choice ami
mails, whose valuable qualities were in
herited from their Morgan ancestors.
have been credited to other breads.
During the past few years, however,
there has been gradual change in pub
lie opinion in favor of the Morgans.
which are fast regaining their former
popularity. One wear AGO n leodino
turf journal, that has been a strong par.
tisan of other breeds, stated that.
Through his dam, Kentucky Prince
mas q strong Infusion of the highly
priced Morgan blood, which seldom
fails to contribute stoutncss and endur-
ance. These strains, which
meet and mingle in Kentucky Prince
are aIi o,freco$nized potency in a trot-
SThis change inpubiic sentiment is tte
result OF ludicious breeding, on the part
OF rev individuals, by which the size
OF the Morgan has been increased, and
me speed developed to such an extent
mat they compare fhsorably in these
Two points with any other family of
horses, ana no man in the country is
entitled to greater credit in bringing
me breed to its present high standjne
man l.; l.. Dorsey, Jr., of Louisville
n.y., who, by the use of a Morgan stall,
non, founded a breed known rs The
Ioid1Onsfs, the most noted member Of
"hicn, Luclile GOfu-Dust, has TO her
credit record of 2:l6 Ia.
IL Is hct worthy of note that iRarus.
whose record of 81 - Ia to harness has
never yet been equalled, Hopeful, with
a wagon record of 2:16 1-2, the fas,est
ever made, and Gloster, which died he.
lore coming TO maturity, vet had ac-
quired . record OF 2:i7 10 harness
which As better than that of any offer
horse nj the Hambletonian1 family nil
inherited through their dams a strain of
Morgan blood. SAN VI
~ Is a well-known fact that the best
STOCK horses an New England, those
whose produce have been most distin.
gnished upon the turf and sold for the
highest prices, are Of Morgan descent,
and Include snch animals as Gen. Knox
which has to his credit seven i'm fhe
2:SO list Winthrop Morrill,, an inbred
NJ II