Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-07-19


his symmetry. TO the Morgan crosses
found here and there in nearly all ped. |
grees is to be credited that particular and
most desirable quality. The stamp of
the Morgan cross for symmetry's sake is
Indispensable. No other of the horse
kind have been so highly finished, and
having been inbred more than any other
family the prepotency in this direction
should rapidly improve whatever stock
they are crossed upon.
do not care what Justin Morgan de-
scended from. 1t is as an undisputed
fact that from him have descended
through his posterity for 100 years the
most highly finished specimens of the
equine race. 1t is said he inherited TINS
from his Arabian ancestors. III so, 1t
must have been away back and beyond
anything traceable. | find no resem-
bance in Justin Morgan or his descend
ants to any Arabian [ have ever seen,
or indeed TO any of their portraits as far
back as we have any authentic records
But what is remarkable is that where
we find very old inscriptions, with
representation of horse at that period,
If is almost certain that the artist or
sculptor produced a form of his Ideal
more faithful to the type of true Nor
Gan horse than can be found elsewhere.
have a strong impression that at some
time in the past there must have been
his exact type and after passing over
many generations in some mysterious
way such blood lines met which produc-
ed another of that exact type. The fact
that he was so different from all other of
the horse kind, and that except having
descended from him we have never sue
ceeded in producing another of that type,
is strong evidence that it must have had a
very remote origin and wonderful fixed
ness. 1t certainly must have existed be-
fore his time, yet no one can contend
that it was brought about by any per-
sistent and intelligent course of breeding
leading up gradually to his type; hence,
as say, the probabilities are that his
production at that time was simply re-
production from some remote and fixed
type.
Now not only is this symmetry of the
Morgan desirable, but also their peculiar
compact muscular form is equally so,
when raised to l54 hands in height.
Fifteen and one-half hands, and properly
balanced by 1000 pounds of muscular
development, is much to be preferred to
any othtr size rs IA fine driving horse.
This height and weight, with good
length neck, set upon the shoulders in
the good "old-fashoned Morgan style,
is truly inspiring. Now add too this the
trappv knee action of the Morgan, with
the energy, spirit and fine disposition Sc
characteristic of the family, and what
more can even the most eXacting horse
man desire? This can all be brought
about by the Morgan cross upon the best
trotting stock of the country SO il
seems to me that had | a breeding estab-
lishment for the production of higf
class of gentlemen's roadsters for either
single or double use | should certainly
get tirst-class Morgan stallion, of higf
Morgan breeding, to cross upon my bes
dams. | would select the dams who
were most symmetrical, of good size
good disposition and good action.
should then cross the Morgan upon these
and upon nothing else. This produce
should make my foundation stock, anC
90 on inbreeding them. 1t might b.
necessary in some instances to MAKE
more than one cross in order to create
the proper degree of symmetry. If so
make it. But when the stock reache
the desired point then stop the Morgan
cross and inbreed the foundation stock
| do not believe there is so much DANCE
in inbreeding as some seem to fear. !
certainly needs more care in selecting
: for fear of intenslfying defects. Ruiz
out defects every time; never breed to
defective animal, no matter what bloot
lines 1t may possess. Now withou
special defects the intensfying tendenc!
/, is turned toward tlle Deller uudlllleS AN
traits to make them still better. In m.
opinion the damaging results of inbred
ing have been wholly due to imprope
selection and many times to no selection
at all. 1t Is certain that no breed can b
produced without inbreeding. 1t is tn
one great reason why we have no dis
, tinct breed in our harness horse. 1t
: impossible to fix type and establisl
/ character in the horse kind or any othe
field without inbreeding. Without in
breeding we never will have distinC
breed of horses. But to do this some on
? must inbred the Morgans as pure a
| possible and keep them up to their high
2 est type.
This is now being done by number o
! breeders who are devoted to the Morgan
2 and realize the factor they are to becom
! in the future American harness horse
= One of the most damaging features i
borse hraedinO has bppn the dignOsltlO