Morgan Horse

The Morgan Horse was first bred in the United States in 1789. It is the all-around talent among the horse breeds. Due to its versatile talent, it can be used for all kinds of riding and driving sports.

Whether as a leisure, competition, or show horse, the Morgan Horse is a loyal and reliable partner. It can be adapted to practically any situation and application and is a relatively easy horse to hold.

A long lifespan and robust health make the Morgan Horse a worthwhile investment. Owners enjoy the friendly, willing nature, perseverance, and strong human bond of these noble animals.

With the purchase of a Morgan Horse you don’t get a horse, but a family member.

The patient animals are ideal for children and beginners and are also satisfied when they can just graze in the pasture.

Breed Description

The Morgan Horse has its origins in the USA in the 17th century. It was one of the earliest American horse breeds and is widely used today.

The noble animals with high, upright gaits are mostly brown, maroon or black, but are also bred in other colors.

There is an official breed standard for the Morgan Horse that applies to all breeds. The Morgan Horse is characterized by strength, endurance, intelligence and zeal, and a strong natural movement.

The German Morgan Horse Association, founded in 1989, is committed to high-quality breeding according to the standards of the American Breeding Association. For a Morgan Horse to be recognized as such, the parents must be two registered Morgan Horses.

The register was established in 1909. Before that horses were considered Morgan Horses when they were determined by Colonel Joseph Battell to be the descendants of the first breeding stallion Justin Morgan. There are currently around 350 registered animals in Germany, most of which are privately owned.

• Size: 145-155 cm;
• Weight: 500 – 700 kg;
• Origin: USA;
• Lifespan: 20-30 years;
• Color: Black horses, brown horses, and foxes, rarely palominos, falcons, red/black gray horses;
• Usage: Dressage, leisure, show, jumping, therapy, tournament, western, draft horse.

Origin and Breed History

The first breeding stallion of the Morgan Horse breed was born in 1789 and was called Figure. It was a small horse whose ancestry can no longer be traced today. It is believed that Arabs, English thoroughbreds, Berbers, and Welsh cobs were in the line of ancestry.

Singing master and composer Justin Morgan bought Figure and became the founding father of the Morgan breed. Since horses were then named after their owners, Figure was also called Justin Morgan’s horse. The figure was a strong, muscular little stallion with a short back and high erection.

He was fast, beautiful, and spirited and loved the contact with people. The figure was very popular as a stallion and influenced other American horse breeds as well, most notably his foals Sherman, Bulrush, and Woodbury.

Every Morgan Horse today can be traced back to one of these three stallions. Figure died in 1821 at the age of 32 after sustaining a kick from another horse.

His impressive legacy was evident when the Morgan Horse ruled trotting and galloping in the United States around 1840. The descendants of Figure were characterized by an enormous speed and a high fighting spirit.

The animals also had a quick regeneration capacity, were very resilient, and required little food. That is why they were used, among other things, as cavalry horses, pack animals, trotters, and over long distances by the pioneers of America.

With the establishment of the Morgan Horse Club in 1909, registration was introduced and breeding systematically refined.

Morgan Horse History and Origins

The first Morgan Horse came to Germany in the early 1970s. A US soldier brought the animal with him from the States. Since then, numerous imports have followed and the animals are now also bred in Germany.

The population is not yet very high, there are currently around 350 registered animals in Germany. Great emphasis is placed on high-quality breeding.

This claim is supported by the fact that the Morgan Horse was never a fashion horse and therefore quantity over quality was never decisive.

The Appearance of the Morgan Horse

The Morgan Horse is medium in size and has a compact, powerful physique. The horses are known for their arched, long neck, expressive eyes, slightly arched face, and high tail.

The head is long and narrow with a broad forehead. The ears are short and erect, the nostrils are large, and the lips are firm. The larynx pouch, where the head and windpipe meet, is wider than that of other horses. This makes breathing easier.

The chest is well muscled and the legs are strong but fine, with good joints. The Morgan Horse carries its tail high and straight. Overall, the compact but powerful physique gives an impression of strength, athleticism, and elegance, which is underlined by a particularly proud posture.

The height is between 145-155 cm. The Morgan Horse is mostly monochrome in dark colors such as brown, black, and chestnut. Some growers specialize in other colors such as palomino, pinto or gray. There is no official breed standard for the color of the animals.

Temperament and Essence

The loyal, personable and versatile Morgan Horse is one of the most popular horse breeds. Today’s Morgan Horse is characterized by breeding factors such as health, intelligence, character, reliability, courage, and versatility.

It has high resilience and rapid regeneration ability and is extremely nervous. This all-around talent is therefore suitable for practically all types of riding such as dressage, long-distance riding, cross-country riding, western riding, vaulting, high school, riding therapy, and driving.

The Morgan Horse is valued by riders because of its friendly, willing nature, healthy body, great endurance, and warm constitution. The animals love contact with people and easily adapt to the owner’s lifestyle.

They also have a very balanced character and are great for kids and beginners. They are also used for riding therapy.

The Morgan Horse is only fully grown when it is around eight years old but has a comparatively long lifespan. The Morgan Horse is very intelligent and quick to grasp.

It is even said to have a sense of humor.

Husbandry and Nutrition

The Morgan Horse is comparatively easy to keep. It requires less feed than other horses, but there are a few dietary rules that should be followed:

• Freshwater must always be available.
• It should be fed frequently and little.
• The horse should not work immediately after feeding.
• Feeding is based on body weight, age, condition, and workload.
• Measure the food by weight, not volume.
• Make changes in the diet gradually.
• Adherence to a regular feeding routine.
• Feed enough fiber such as hay or grass.
• Ensure regular deworming.
• Have teeth checked regularly.

If the horse can graze freely, it will likely be healthy. The Morgan Horse will choose what is good for it. If the horse is kept in the stable, you have to find out what it needs.

Grass hay (alfalfa, clover, timothy grass) should make up the largest part of the horse’s diet. Grains are very important to all horses, especially oatmeal.

Milo, corn, and barley are also acceptable. As a protein supplement, the Morgan Horse requires flaxseed, cottonseed, skimmed milk powder, or commercially blended protein supplements. Salt and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and others) should also be available.

Education and Care

Each Morgan Horse has its own individual character and can have different care and training requirements depending on its age, condition, and use.

A veterinarian can best assess your Morgan Horse’s needs.

Health and Typical Diseases

The Morgan Horse is a long-lived, very healthy breed and has remarkably few legs and hoof problems.

A genetic disease has been identified within the Morgan breed, type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy. It is a muscle disease that occurs mainly in breeding and draft horse breeds.

In one study, however, the Morgan Horse had the lowest occurrence percentage of any horse breed in the study. There are rare occurrences of diseases that are typical of most or all other horse breeds, such as B. Cushing’s disease.

This is a hormonal abnormality that occurs in many horse breeds at an advanced age. Fortunately, simple tests by your veterinarian can diagnose many of these conditions, and often treat them with medication.

The Morgan Horse can sometimes become obese, especially when given sweetened feed.

Life Expectancy of the Morgan Horse

This resilient breed has a longer lifespan than most other horses. With proper care and if there are no accidents, the Morgan Horse can easily live for over 30 years in good health.

Buy Morgan Horse

With the Morgan Horse, you don’t buy a horse, you get a family member.

Before making a purchase, you should inform yourself as much as possible about the horse, these points can help you:

• Find someone who knows about the Morgan Horse and who will honestly tell you what they think about an animal. This can be a rider, breeder, or trainer.
• Ask the seller why they want to sell.
• Don’t buy the first horse you see. Even if you are enthusiastic, you should still sleep on it first.
• The decision shouldn’t be based on a spontaneous feeling.
• Ride the horse on a trail. Don’t be satisfied with turning circles in a hall. See how the horse reacts in the great outdoors.

Decision Support

The Morgan is a good choice as a family horse, especially as a beginner’s first horse. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be much this versatile horse can’t do.

The Morgan Horse is suitable for many different disciplines and for almost every task and function. It is an excellent companion horse that is happiest in the company of its human family.

The Morgan Horse is relatively easy to keep. The animals are mostly healthy and they have no tendency to have leg problems. They eat less than other races.

This breed can convince not only as a leisure horse but also as a sport horse. The Morgan Horse is popular for showjumping and dressage riding but is also used for long-distance and trail riding or vaulting.

It is also used more and more frequently for therapy riding. The Morgan Horse has always shown its greatest skill in driving, where it attracts attention with its noble appearance.

“Not an hour of life that is spent in the saddle is wasted”

Sir Winston Churchill

Morgan Horse FAQ

How big does a Morgan Horse get?

A Morgan Horse is approximately 145 to 150 cm tall.

How heavy is a Morgan Horse?

A Morgan Horse weighs between 500 and 700 kg.

How long does a Morgan Horse live?

A Morgan Horse lives between 20 and 30 years. In exceptional cases, however, the age can also rise above it or fall below it in the event of illness.

What color does the Morgan Horse have?

The fur of these animals is usually one color. Commonly represented are black, brown, and chestnut.