The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-01-03
rENPETUATE THE WAR HORSE,
Government to Establish n Monster
Stock Farm I'm Vermont,

Stock Farm I'm Vermont
The national government has de-
cided to equip the mounted portion
Of the army with horses which shall
be either descendants or relatives of
the famous steed which. over two
score years ago, carried General
"Phil" Sheridan to Winchester,
twenty miles away"
Sheridan's gallant mount, by his
pluck and endurance saved one bat
tie for the Union.
He was of Morgan breed, the most
famous brand OF horsenesh which
ever came out of Vermont.
The government is to establish
monster stock farm at Weybridge,
Vt, Just to breed these Morgan
horses for the army.
! Reinzi was the name of Sheridan's
/ horse.
Both the War and Agricultural de-
partments at Washington have taken
an active interest In breeding these
horses that nave brought fame to
Vermont through their great endur-
! ance, combined with activity and in
telligence.
THE Yankee Horse" is the namc
that has been given all over the
country to this strain of horsefesh.
Justin Morgan" the founder OF
| the breed in the Green Mountain
State, was a wonderful little horse.
He had very low action, for he was
close to the Arabic foundation In
hrapdfnU 10 H. L.
fact that the Arabian horse bends
his knees less than any of the mod
ern thoroughbreds.
Yet despite that descent, among
the descendants of Justin Morgan,
high steppers, though not valued
greatly. soon began to appear.
Through the infusion of Hamble-
tonian and Wilkes blood, the de-
scendants of Justin Morgan have be-
come the most priced horses of New
England, and can be recognized as
Morgans, though there may be but
a fraction of original Morgan strain
in them.
About 1870. the preference for the
Morgan strain began to die out
among New England horsemen, and
from that time until about 1890.
nearly all of the farmers In New
England who raised colts wanted the
Hambletonian blood that showed the
Wilkes strain.
In the breeding a Wilkes stallion
was preferred, even If he was
unsound or vicious, rather than n
Morgan sire.
A few breeders In other parts of
the country religiously clung to the
Morgan strain.
No family of horses is said to be
more remarkable for their longevity;
at the present time they are bred to
some extent In New Hampshire but
to greater extent in the vicinity of
the new stock farm.
Throughout Maine and Vermont
they still tell well authenticated
stories of the marvellous endurance
-and speed of the old-time Morgan
driver and charger that the govern
ment is now intending to revive. The
government, however, intends to
breed them in such a manner as to
insure a gain in size
1t is said to be the proposal of the
scientists who are to take charge of
the stock. farm to gather a band of
pure Morgan mares. or as nearly pure
as may be purchased, and thorough
breds and begin breeding for size
first, and then for a revival of the old
Morgan strain as narly perfect as
possible.
They believe that the combination
of the Morgan mares with thorough
breds will produce horses with the
rounded forms and arched necks of
the best carriage horses.
By many 1t is believed that these
experiments may result in producing
Morgans that will be be very easy,
elastic In action, moving close to the
ground and acting as II they were
supple as snake.
Less than decade ago one of the
most highly priced hackney" sires
In England was Maine-bred horse.
1t was raised in the toughest part of
the backwoods, far from the rail-
roads and large towns.
The dam of this horse happened to
be highstrung Morgan mare and
the sire OF Messenger descent. one of
the type that possessed size, a long.
low gait and speed.
The colts ability was not mark
edly shown as fast trotter, but the
beauty OF shape and fine action
brought about his sale to New York
parties.
After performing there on the
road and track for few years he
was taken to France. where he won
many races against the Russian
horses with American breeding He
was afterward taken to England,
where the rest of his life was spent,
and the Morgan cross of his strain Is