Justin Morgan's versatility lives long and strong

By Marty Metzger
North Forty News

Less than 20 years after the United States became a sovereign nation, it gave birth to its own unique horse breed.

Varying dates for its founding stallion's foaling include 1789 and 1793. Regardless, Figure, as he was originally named, was a small horse that soon made a huge impact.

Figure's first recorded owner was Thomas Justin Morgan, a Massachusetts music teacher and church music composer. He and subsequent owners worked the 14-hand, 850-pound horse hard.

Throughout his years, Figure was unbeaten in saddle and harness races, as well as in pulling contests. He ploughed fields, hauled logs out of woodlands and became a popular and prepotent sire. At some point after changing owners, Figure's name was changed to Justin Morgan, for his original owner. But by either name, he passed on his traits of strength, stamina, speed and mild temperament to his progeny, which also bred true. Three of his sons had a tremendous impact on the fledgling breed: Sherman Morgan, Woodbury Morgan and Bulrush Morgan.

Not only was Justin Morgan the sole stallion founding his breed, the Sherman Morgan line strongly influenced the foundation of the Quarter Horse, Saddlebred, Standardbred and Tennessee Walker breeds. The Bulrushes were known for trotting speed, and the Woodbury line was touted as topnotch saddle mounts and parade horses.

In 1909, devotees founded the Morgan Horse Club. Thanks to their promotion efforts, Morgans thrive in the U.S. and are also popular in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, Italy and Spain. The Morgan's original versatility now expands to the show ring in such diverse classes as dressage, hunter/jumper, stock, reining, cutting and driving.

Today's Morgans carry an attractive head with broad forehead and large eyes atop an arched neck. A short back and well-sprung ribs precede muscled hindquarters and high-set tail. Morgans' legs are strong and sound, with short cannons, sloping pasterns and good, dense hooves. Their manes and tails generally grow thick and long, sometimes wavy.

One famous Morgan was Comanche, the only cavalry survivor of the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn. His wounds fully healed and he lived to age 29.

While Morgans are certainly far more ubiquitous in the Midwest and East, they do have followers in Colorado. Masonville horsewoman Luanna Schauer grew up in Montana, where her father bred Morgans, primarily for ranch use. Some of the bloodlines he favored were Funquest and Waseeka In Command.

Although Schauer also had a Quarter Horse and Quarter cross, she preferred the versatile Morgans that carried her between ranch and show ring. From 4-H, she and her horses advanced to regional level competitions.

Schauer's childhood was a horse lover's dream. Her dad, a commercial pilot, kept horses in both Choteau and Kalispell. For $5, she flew back and forth on weekends to ride both places. She also competed on a stable's show team throughout her high school years and spent summers working with trainers who had multiple breeds.

All those "other horses" didn't sway her from Morgans, though. For the first six years of marriage she couldn't afford a horse. But then she purchased a single Morgan, then five more. When she moved to Colorado 12 years ago, she brought her horses along and eventually got more.

At just 10 months of age, her oldest daughter Brianna began riding in front of Mom's saddle. Now a 19-year-old Colorado State University student, she represents the family's third generation of Morgan advocates. (Younger sister Rylee prefers art and sports.)

Schauer teaches riding and conducts summer Bible horse camps. She currently owns six Morgans: one gelding and five mares, ages 2 to 28. Brianna's college schedule precludes working them all regularly, so Schauer is selling some so they each can "have a job".

Even old Morgans fight retirement. Schauer used to own a mare that, at age 29, was co-leased by two students. They rode her until she was 32.

"She loved her kids," recalled Schauer. "They kept her going."

One of Shauer's current Morgans is 28. The former endurance horse has also found herself a second career.

"Now she's 'Mama' to the other horses. She always has a project," said Schauer.

When asked what she most admires about the Morgan breed, Schauer animatedly said, "They're honest, not lazy. They're over-achievers that always do their best and try to please. Morgans are very intelligent, and they love people."

This area's regional breed organization is the Circle J Morgan Horse Association, which puts on a big January futurity show and a regional championship show in early July, both held in Denver. Another club conducts the Continental Divide Show in Loveland each August. For more information about the Circle J Association, visit the web site, www.circlejmorgan.com, or call vice president John Aranda at 303-550-2029.

As do many other breeds, Morgans have their own rescue organization. Information about it and horses available for adoption can be found at www.forevermorgans.org.

For those seeking a more traditional conformation, there's the Foundation Morgan Horse Society. This group preserves and promotes horses that have no Saddlebred crosses after 1930 and have a sire line tracing back to Figure. Web sites include www.foundationmorganhorse.com. For info on Lippitt Morgans (no 20th century outcrosses), visit www.lippittclub.net or www.lippittmorganbreedersassociation.com.