Morgan
Morgan horses are the most popular and loved horses in the United States. They are also one of the earliest breeds to have been developed in the U.S. Despite its compact size, it possesses amazing power, endurance, and resilience few other horses have.
Height
56-60 in.
Weight
900-1000 lbs.
Life Expectancy
20-30 yrs.
History of the Morgan
The Morgan horse is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States. Tracing back to the foundation sire Figure, later named Justin Morgan after his best-known owner, as well as mares of the now-extinct Narragansett Pacer breed, Morgans served many roles in 19th-century American history, being used as coach horses and for harness racing, as general riding animals, and as cavalry horses during the American Civil War on both sides of the conflict. Morgans have influenced other major American breeds, including the American Quarter Horse, the American Saddlebred, the Tennessee Walking Horse, and the Standardbred.
Read more: wikipedia
Characteristics of the Morgan
The Morgan is usually found in bay, chestnut or black, although it has also exhibited colors like gray, palomino, perlino, dun, roan, cremello, silver dapple or buckskin.
Morgan Care
Morgans are easy keepers, but they can become overweight if they eat too much hay or grain. This can lead to EMS or Cushing's Disease. They also have a genetic predisposition for a muscle disease called PSSM.
Feed your Morgan the right amount of food for its age, activity level, and health. If you take care of it, it may live to be 30, which is not uncommon for this breed.
Diet and Nutrition
Morgans are easy keepers and generally require less food than many other full-size horse breeds. They thrive on a standard diet of quality grass, hay, and grains. However, owners should be careful not to feed their horses too much, especially sweet foods. Morgans can easily be overfed, making them prone to obesity. It is therefore important to limit your horse to what they need to maintain a healthy body condition.
Grooming
Standard equine grooming practices are perfectly fine for a Morgan horse. Brush and comb your horse’s coat at least once or twice a week to remove dirt, debris, and tangles. Pay special attention to the notably thick mane and tail to prevent mats. Also, check your horse’s hooves daily for dirt, debris, infection, and injuries.
Pros
- Friendly
- Cooperative and trainable
- Generally easy to maintain
Cons
- Prone to becoming overweight
- Risk of developing metabolic disorders
- Genetic risk of polysaccharide storage myopathy
Did You Know?
They are good with all levels of riders, including children, and are easy to keep.
The Morgan breed has been declared as the ‘state animal’ of the state of Vermont in New England, NE United States.
Children’s authors Ellen Feld and Marguerite Henry portrayed Morgan horse in their books
