The present day Morgans, as I see them, in Vermont are of two distinct types
and blood lines. Those most popular amongst pleasure riders and show
horse owners have come from "Bennington" 5693 and his sons, most notable of
which is "Mansfield" 7255. In general, they are a fine type of horse, large
for Morgans, with excellent action, good disposition, and conformation
pleasing to the eye. "Friendly", 04963, winner of the Lightweight Division
of the 1942 Trail Ride, with the highest score of any horse ever to win the
event, and "Buddy" 7764, second place winner in the Heavyweight Division of
the same ride, are good representatives of this type. Both are sired by
" Mansfield". A considerable part of their desirable characteristics may be
attributed to the dam of "Bennington", "Mrs. Culvers", an American Saddle
mare.

"Mansfield" himself, shows more of the old type Morgan conformation which
may be attributed to his dam "Artemisia" 02731, who had over 20 per cent of
the original Justin Morgan blood in her veins. This mare came from good
Morgan stock in use when Morgans were Vermont's utility horse. This blood
having been diluted by American Saddle-bred and other desirable blood is
producing the type of Morgan so much in demand as show and pleasure animals.

The other type of Morgan in Vermont today is the so-called old type, very
much as he was before the automobile age. They are about 14.2 hands, a few
over 15 hands, with the blocky conformation and general characteristics of
old "Justin Morgan". These horses weigh from 800 to 1000 lbs.

Some years ago, A. Fullerton Phillips brought together the best of this type
remaining in Vermont. With a few exceptions, the younger generations have
been bred to "Ashbrook". 7079. of the Green Mountain Stock Farm Randolph,
Vt., and "John A. Darling", 7470, until recently at Townshend Morgan Horse
Farm, Townshend, Vt. Both of these stallions were produced by Mr.
Phillips. Each of these two horses possesses well over 20 per cent of the
original Justin Morgan blood. There are no other animals with such a
background. For the most part, these stallions have been bred to daughters
of "Ethan Allen II", 406, and "Ethan Allen III", 987, also direct
descendants of "Justin Morgan" and possessing about the same concentration
of his blood.

Such animals as "Sadwin", 04746, 1941 winner of the Lightweight Division of
the 100-Mile Ride and several times winner of the 80-Mile Ride in Maine,
" Ping Pong", 04730, third place in the Lightweight Division in 1941, and
" Lippitt Miss NeKomia", 04938, winner of the Heavyweight Division of the
1942 Hundred-Mile Ride, are the result of such breeding. They have shown
their heritage in that they possess the old Morgan conformation and have
been able to compete repeatedly and place in the trail rides. They are also
remarkably well adapted to pleasure riding and driving.

The point we must keep in mind is that, as time goes on, the popular type of
Morgan may not continue to reproduce the good qualities they now possess,
due to the diminution of the dominant blood of the old Morgans. We must,
therefore, try to keep the best of the old type Morgans, now in Vermont, and
keep them as pure as possible in the future that we may be able to draw from
them again as time goes on.- From the Vermont Horse.

-contributed by Joanne Curtis