Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-01-11
THE EARLY MORGANS.
AN INTERESTING STATEMENT
IErnnn thn Annrinnn Cultivation


We were recently favored with a very
pleasant call from Mr.. Benjamin Hib-
bard, probably the best-posted man on
Morgan stock that lives. Mr.. Hubbard
took care of Billy Root the winter before
that horse was four years old. Billy
Root, also known as Comet. was by Sher-
man Morgan. His DAM" says Mr.. Hib-
bard, was small mare that would weigh
about $50 pounds. She was dark brown
bay. Her breeding was not then known
to her owner. Billy Root was foaled in
1888. He was bred by Capt Hezekiah
Martin, who sold him to Mr.. Root of
Burke, VT, in 1887. He would weigh
about 800 pounds. His dam was IA ia
nous road mare. At three different times
to st. Johnsbury, VT, in one day. The
distance was called 40 miles. She looked
as though she might, as stated by Lins-
ley, have been by Justin Morgan and out
of "A French mare. Capt. Martin had a
mare of French descent at the time he
owned the dam of Billy Root, which
would weigh about 1000 pounds. Mr..
Linsley probably got this French mare
confused with Billy Boots dam, as he
describes the latter as being about 1000
pounds weight.
''The dam of Billy Root, as before
stated, would weigh only about $50
pounds. She had straight face, fine
muzzle, small, but quite good Morgan
head and prominent eye with no white
around its edges; was pretty well cut up
in the jowls had short neck, and was
rather low headed, but her shoulders
We're oblique and very strong. She had
fair-lengthed barrel, but very short
back. strong loin, and the strongest
muscled quarter" says Mr.. Hubbard,
"that | ever saw. She had wide, thin
fat legs, with strong cords that stood
out prominently, little hair around her
fetlocks, small but sound feet, and never
took lame step. Billy Root was her
only foal. She was sold to man in
Brattleboro, Vt. In harness she was
right up on the bit all the time"
Mr.. Hubbard persuaded Capt Martin,
with whom he then lived, to let him
have her to go to mill with once when a
boy, and finding that she was likely to
tire him out holding her back on her way
home. he tied the reins the right length,
and slipped them over his shoulders, so
that he could throw the whole weight of
his body upon them, in addition to pull
ing with his arms. By this piece of
strategy he escaped the logging prom
ised him in case he let her run away.
Billy Root was splendid roader. He
could be ridden into the house or store.
If half-doZen men were collected in the
street he would travel right over them,
if asked to do so. without swerving to
the right or left
Mr.. ii. knew five stations sired by old
Sherman. One was Morgan Robin, or
the Mather Allen Horse. He was a
bright bay with three white feet. Royal
Morgan or Steele Horse was another of
the lot, and Vermont Morgan Champion,
or Knights Horse, another. Mr.. Hubbard
was intimately acquainted with the man
who owned Vermont Morgan Champion,
and learned from his own lips that he
was by Sherman out of black mare
"Vermont Morgan Champion" says Mr.
Hibbard, chad the Morgan characteristics
but was larger than the average of the
family. He was an extra good traveller,
could trot close to three minutes, was
somewhat inclined to be cross, made SO
by the man that took care of him, who
was addicted to pretty free use of spir-
ituous liquor. Mr.. II. saw Royal Nor
gan when thrty-five years old running
In yard with lot of colts, and he was
then as nimble as the youngsters.