Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-13
FIRST UF FAMOUS MORGA Ms
He Came to Vermont Two
Year-Old in 1895.
Old Justin Could OutwnIk. Outrun and
Outdraw Any Horse Of His Weight
left Three sons Richly En-
dOwcd.

of the Morgan horses to say that their
famous progentor belonged to the COM
mon stock of New England horses. with
a large infusion of French Canadian
blood. Their pedigree can be traced no
farther back than Old Justin Morgan, n
horse owned by man of that name. who
removed from Springfield, Mass, to Ram
dolph. Vt. in l795 taking this two-year-
old colt with him. Strange as it ma :
seem. nothing is certainly known of his
pedigree-not even the name Of his sire.
II was said by some that he was sired by
True Briton. kept somewhere i'm Massa
chusetts about that time. and that True
Briton's ancestry could he traced back
to Byerly Turk. an Arabian horse. but
there Is no proof of II. and the proba bill &.
tiles are against 1t.
Mr.. Morgan knew the sire of his colt,
but as the horse had no fame or pedigree
to boast Of he was willing his horse
should stand on his own merits. He never
claimed that the horse had any thorough.
bred blood In him. but was willing that
people should think so If they saw fit
That he had n strong infusion OF Cana
dian blood was proved by his heavy name
and tail. He had fine head. of medium
size, wit straight face. broad forehead.
small ears set wide apart, and eyes fun
Of intelligence and gentleness. His back
was short, but rather long body, and
wide, muscular oins. His body was
round. closely ribbed. and compa city built.
with deep. wide chest short close iointed
legs, remarkably muscular and with long
hair near the fetlocks lie was a small
horse. only about Il hands high, and his
weight about 80 pounds. In color he was
a beautiful dark bay. with black legs, and
coarse black tail and name
He was said to have been very fast
walker. but not remarkably IA trot-
ter. as no attempts were made to de-
velop his speed in that direction. 1t was
said that he could outwalk. outrun. and
outdraw any horse OF his weight ever pit
ted against him.
His style OF movement" says writer
OF his day, was lofty. bold. majestic
full Of life and spirit but he was managed
with the greatest ease. and lady cou'l
drive him with perfect safety"
He was much admired as parade horse
n military trainings. where he would
dance at the music of the fife and drum.
and stand on his hind legs half the time
Like most OF the stock horses Of his
time. kept in the country districts, he had
TO work hard in clearing and cultivating
new land-a work most trying to spirited
horses. He exhibited wonderful strength
and Willingness to draw heavy loads. and
patience in enduring uncomfortable la bor.
Old Justin Morgan lived TO no % yea-s
old. and died in 1921. from the effects of n
kick by another horse. He had three sons
who inherited his good qualities in an
eminent degree. and we'll sustained his
fame
Sherman Morgan. the oldest. was foaled
in 1908. Nothing is known of the linea ge
" his dam. He was a bright chestnut il,
color less than ID hands high. and weighed
only 925 pounds. being smaller than his
sire In shape and build, he greatly re-
sembled his sire except being more swaS-
bellled. From the age of four wears he
was kept at ha I'd work for nine or II
months OF the year. his owner being en-
gagged in teamng. He was a free. quick
traveller with great power of endurance
He was willing. steady. and powerful "a
draw at dead lift" which some horses
dislike. He was less stylish, less nervous
and not so high-tempered as his younger
brother, Woodbury. Morgan. He lied at
the age of z years.
Woodbury. Morgan. another son Of old
Justin Morgan. was foaled in 1916. Not
much is known of his dam. except that
she was of good size. Woodbury. Morgan
was over Il hands high, and weighed over
loo pounds. Woodbury. Morgan was 4
beautiful dark chestnut. with a whit,
stripe in the face. snuglY and compact y
built, with a short broad back and lons
/ He was bold, resolute. spirited. like his
father, making a fine parade horse. Hi:
power of endurance was unsurpassed b.
any horse OF his time, He left a numer
Gus progeny of good trotters
Bullrush Morgan. the other son OF Ole
Justin Morgan. was foaled in 1918. being
five years younger than Sherman Nor
gan and three years older than Wood
bury. He possessed a more remarka BIZ
development than his sire. showing mo~
of the Canadian conformation, and NOR
evidence of the Canadian blood He ha,
a longer back, without the swag belly
which was considered objectionable In HI
brothers. He was faster trotter thai
either Of them, and had greater power o
endurance. lie died at the age of .
years.
The Morgan horses possessed a wonder
fui combination OF good qualities. whicl
they were able to transmit to their colt 5
j. w. Ingham in Maine Farmer.
NUGGETS AMONG GIANTS