The New York herald., 1921-10-09
ForLargerM Morgan Horses
at the u. S. Govt. Farm
Secretary of National Trotng Association Says Views
of the Late H. r. C. Watson of New York Are Now
Being Followed in Uncle Sans Vermont Stud.
BY w. III. GocHEN.


When the statue Of typical Morgan
horse was unveiled at the United States
Morgan Horse Farm near Middlebury.
VT, a week ago those present saw a
would term twelve hundred pound
horse on short legs. The sculptor,
Frederick G. r. Roth. produced a type
for. the management of the farm to
breed up to. In his work he blended
the airy poise of the Black Hawks with
the substance and power which made
the Woodbury. and Bulrush members OF
the family famous on the stage coaches
before the railroads penetrated the re-
mote corners ce New F,rglend.
One hundred years have elapsed since
Justin Morgan died on a farm near
Chelsea. VT. In that century the Nor
gan horse climbed the ladder of fame,
reigned supreme for a time in the show
ring and on the trotting tracks, and
then began to fade. The Denmarks and
larger breeds took their place under the
saddle, the hackneys and trotting breeds
supplanted, them in heavy harness. while
the speed developed by the Hambetonian
strains sidetraclked them on the turf.
The late Joseph Battell Of Middle
bury, VT, saw the cloud coming. He
owned Daniel Lambert when he died
and had General Gates, a brother of
Lord Clinton. 2;0S&. in the stud. Hav-
Ing faith in the Morgan as a utility
horse. he met it by establishing the
Morgan Register. Later on when he
began to close UP his affairs Joseph
Battell presented his farm to the Cow
ernment and transferred the stock on
it for $4,000. About fourteen years
ago a group Of admirers of the family
organized the Morgan Horse Club. 1t
presented the statue to the Government
and now owns and controls the Morgan
Register
General Gates Not Typical.
AS soon as the Government began
breeding operations a difference of
opinion arose as to the proper size of
the Morgan horse. Selections were made
from the inbred descendants OF Ethan
Allen, the majority of them being nearer
IA hands than Is hands, and weighing
between 500 and $50 pounds. General
Gates remained at the head of the stud.
He was under IS hands, had bad tenn
per. something very unusual among
Morgan horses, and bred small HIS
foals were stylish and had solid
colors. most of them being black like
their sire. They we're not, however,
large enough for cavalry or farm work.
The stallion was eliminated from the
stud two or three years ago.
The late II. r. C. Watson, who Tor
of years bred Morgans at Bran
don. VT. was strong advocate Of
la rger type. He was satisfied that the
stages in the early days were not horsed
by II hand ponies. In 1911 he DECIDED
to make a canvass of Vermont ana
learn from the oldest horsemen what
he could about the size Of the old Nor
gan horses Statements were received
from men who bred or owned horses
that were got by the sons OF Sherman
Morgan. Bulrush Morgan and Wooo-
bury Morgan, the three sons of Justin
Morgan. which made the reputation OF
the family. Sherman Morgan sireh
Vermont Black Hawk. Billy Root
whalebone and Flint Morgan. The
Woodbury. line was continued by Nor
gan Caesar. Chittenden County Morgan
and Clifford Morgan. The Bulrush
strain was continued through the Ran
dolph horse. Jennison Colt and Morrill,
itceHoung Morrill,. the sire or FearnaYqsW
and Winthrop Morrill,
At ST. Adams Erasmus d. Fuller was
located. He was born In 1884 ana MS
father in 1897. The latter In the early
30s started the first livery business In
st. Adams. Erasmus grew UP with 1t.
They used up seventy-two Morgan
horses year on their stages and In the
livery and sold from sevepty-hve to a
hundred each season. All or these
horses were from 15A to 1bA hands.
blocky built and weighed from 1850 TO
1 100 pounds. They were prompt, cheer
ful drivers. good roadsters and could
make ten miles an hour. They were
largely OF the woodbury. and Morrill,
strains. They were not as trim or
handsome as the Black Hawks. but were
stronger and heavier.
what the Old Timers Said.
At Shorelam w. w. Moore was
found. He was born in 1926. He said
.,rhe first Morgan horse I remember was
Hale's Green Mountain Morgan. He
would weigh LOO pounds and stood
over 15 hands This horse was very
stylish under the saddle. I remember
Black Hawk. He. was a beautiful horse
with a rapid gait. He stood Is hands
and weighed 1000 pounds. He founded
a distinct family.
"At the first State fair held at Mid
die bury there was a spirited contro-
versy over the difference between the
Black Hawks and the Morgans. At that
fair there were thirty black stations In
the show ring. All Of them were by
Black Hawk have never seen a fam
.ily that could equal 1t in style. beauty