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Morgan Horse, Go Figure!
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Meet Figure, the Founding Father of the Morgan Breed.
he Morgan horse traces its hooves back to 1788, when Justin Morgan came to Randolph, Vermont. Within a few years he owned a foal he named Figure. Little did he know, Figure would be the founding father of the Morgan breed. There is some debate on who was Figure’s sire, but many agree that he was the son of True Briton and a mare from Wildair. As Figure grew from foal to stud he developed a compact muscular body, with distinct fluidity when he moved. The villages and towns of Vermont and New England talked of his beauty and strength. When Justin Morgan died, Figure was sold to successive owners, and spent the remainder of his life working on farms and hauling equipment. Although Figure died in 1821 after a kick from another horse went untreated, by then he had sired many colts and fillies, guaranteeing his line would continue.
by Jackie Emory, Staff Writer
The Morgan Horse reputation didn’t die with Figure, either. In fact, Morgans were the horse of choice during the Civil War. Because of their loyalty, brute strength and ability to march for days, the Morgan Horse became a standard for the cavalry soldiers. T h e American Morgan Horse Association shares sevPhoto: by Dave & Andy eral letters from soldiers about their beloved Morgans. One reads: “The other day, a very fine horse being offered at the Inspection Ground, I bought him…” It continues: “He is of the Morgan breed, proud and high spirited, yet fearless…In fact, he is a prince among horses, and I doubt not that I shall be envied my treasure when I rejoin my regiment… continued, see ‘morgan horse,’ page 26 April 2012
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