The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-07
The WEIGH COB HORSE
Useful Animal was Progenitor of Yer
mont Moraans

Useful Animal was Proaenitor of Yer
mont Morgans |
Under the above caption, T. w. Jen-
kins writes the Country Gentleman:
"a WEIGH cob. is a small, compact |
horse of the rounded conformation |
known in America as Morgan" Cobs |
are usually IA hands high or possibly
14.2 and measure around the fetlock
8 inches, at bone below the knee
eight inches, around gaskins 1S19 In
ches, have girth of 70 inches, and
weigh 800 or 900 pounds. The weight
is purely guess work. as not one OF
many farmers that I asked could give
me the actual weight. They are very
useful animals, and / have seen them
working In the lead OF teams deliver
ing coal-that Is, as leaders OF tan
dems, as that Is the usual mode OF
working teams In Wales-the shaft
horse being a heavy animal. have
also seen them cultivating In fields
or going to market on market days
or to church on Sunday with the
whole family in a two-wheeled gig.
Then they will be ridden over the
mountains after sheep or cattle, and
as often will participate in a fox hunt
when the farmer owned is out for a
days sport, and what fences they can
not clear, they climb over OF course
fox hunting in Wales is not the usual
chase over level grounds, broad fields
and wide brooks, but is along ridges,
up hill and down dale. Neither are
the fences five or six bars, but banks
of earth with a hedge on top and
there is usually a handy gate or a
break in a hedge where man is ac-
customed to 90 over, and here the rid
er dismounts, climbs up the bank and
"Mr. Cob goes over too.
The origin of these horses Is lost
in obscurity, but from general appear
ances they are improved WEIGH pom
: les, probably by selection of large
, specimens, more liberal feeding anc
little judicious use of thoroughbred
stock as in this little country warn
blood Is well thought Of But they
must not have any of the angular lines
. of the thoroughbred ! saw yer!
i perfect specimen of a miniature hors'
:. refused enrolment in the cob stool
l. book and here again | think them t
d be more of production than a breed
n as the agricultural shows offer prize
for cobs suitable for registration, AM
|. the prize winners are admitted an,
also stations stand and are adyertis
e ed as suitable to get cobs.'
l. However, they are very useful an
It imal and do very we'll in stirrups o
2, saddle for ladies' use; also at deliver
Il carts from grocery and other store
8 in addition to all the aforesaid pul
I, poses. When the mares are crosse
4 with thoroughbreds a very clever rae
g horse is produced, which participate
in the frequent Galloway races. Tha
IS part of Wales now known as Glamort
Y shire was the ancient kingdom Of 81
q uria, and much could be said of 81
n uria.
u Among other things We read in Re-
o man history that the ninth legion wa
Is lost there. Now among the kings c
" Siluria the name of Justin Morga
frequently occurs. Morgan Is
h. Welch name, Justin not occurring a
IS frequently now as in olden times.
III As far as ] can read in the histor
a of the Morgan horse in America, Jul
Z. tin Morgan. the man, did not bree
IS Justin Morgan the horse, but rattle
"a selected him and by him produced tn
g. excellent Morgan breed. Vermont
re geographically very much like Vale
Re and is almost identical geological,
AT with North Wales Therefore my In
as agination can readily conjure up
n romance-that Mr.. Justin Morgan,
m Welchman familiar with Wales an
nj Vermont, also familiar with WelC
v Cobs. selected that type. as no tv
h breeds of horses are more alike tha
ne Morgan horses and WEIGH Cobs.