Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-06-01


to Youatt's Treatise on the Horse, p.
5I.
This we believe comprises all that is
positively known in regard to the blood
of the first Morgan horse. His immedi-
ate descendants were numerous, and re-
markable for their good qualities and
striking resemblance to each other. In
deed, so remarkable was their similarity
that they were readily recognized by or
binary observers even when crossed with
the common country stock, their peculi-
arities were often obvious to the second
and third generation. A horse called
Sherman Morgan, got by the old Morgan
and owned by Mr.. Bellows of Bellows
Falls, VT, is generally believed to have
done more towards giving character and
fame to the Morgan stock than any 9TH
er horse, not excepting the first of that
race and name. This horse lived to great
age, and his progeny, which were very
numerous, were of unrivalled excellence
as roadsters. OF the blood of the Sher-
man Morgan on the side of his dam, we
know nothing, but hope TO obtain more
particulars in future. In 1881 this horse
was kept by Col. Samuel Jacques at the
Ten Hills Farms, Charlestown, Mass.
Col. jacques considered him a horse hav-
ing rare combination of valuable quail
ties.
Though we never had the good fortune
to see the Sherman Morgan, we saw
many of his foals, and without disparag-
ing other horses can safely say that they
were, as road horses, superior to any 9TH
er stock with which we have been ac-
quainted. 1t will be recollected that Mr..
Hills horse, Black Hawk, spoken of in
our June number, is son of Sherman
Morgan.
Perhaps there is not at the present time
in existence horse which possesses
more of the characteristics for which the
Morgans are Justly esteemed than Black
Hawk. He is certainly noble and beau
tiful animal, and we cannot but think
well calculated reproduce highly valua-
BILE stock. We say this from conviction,
and with no other motive whatever than
wish to benefit the public.
And here our Vermont friends will per-
nit us to suggest that in order to secure
as far as possible the valuable properties
for which their horses have heretofore
obtained such extensive notoriety, an as
ISOLATION for the Improvement of the
breed be at once organized. The congen-
iality of the soil and climate of Vermont
to produce the best of horses for certain
purposes has been shown and acknowl-
edged by the high estimation in which
many of them have been held wherever
known, and had so valuable stock as
the Morgans originated in England or in
any country where superior animals are
properly valued and the principles of
breeding duly regarded, there can be no
question that successful effort would
have been made to prevent its deteriora-
ton. But what, it has been asked, has
been done in this case: Instead of efforts
to preserve and improve their peculiar
stock, is it not fact that the practice in
general has been quite akin to that of
the boy, who, according to the fable
''kiled the goose which laid the golden
egg; in the anxiety to realize immediate
profits, ultimate consequence have too
often, it is feared, been overlooked; and
tempting offers of hundred, or a hun
dred and fifty dollars, have too frequent
ly induced the farmer to part with val
liable mare, apparently regardless of the
fact that by doing so it is depriving him
self of an important pecuniary resource
In this way much of the best breeding
stock has been taken away from YER
mont, and worn out in the stage coaches
and other carriages of other States, with
out being allowed to increase and null
tiply." This has so far operated to les
sen the number of good horses in the
State that there are not now, probably, as
many as there were few years ago. The
object of such an association as is sug-
gested should be to secure the best mares
and stations for breeding-an object
which beyond all doubt might be effected
with advantage to the individuals engage
ed in it, and still greater advantage to the
public. We trust that the obvious neces-
sity of the case will induce some effective
action among those farmers who are de-
sirous that Vermont should maintain her
pre-eminence for rearing valuable horses.
At Addison, we saw the horse Eclipse.
owned by Mr.. E. Long, Cambridge, N.
Y, which received the first premium of
the New York State Agricultural society
in 1912. The horse, we believe, is a son
of the celebrated American Eclipse. We
should suppose him to be an animal well
calculated to produce horses of large size
with fine form and spirit.
We were shown some mares of excel
lent points. Among the best were those
of Mr.. Y. G. Drake and Mr.. Jewett of
Weybridge and Mr.. Langdon of New