84 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



was low and smooth, and his step short and ner- 

 vous; he was not what in these days (1857) 

 would be called fast, and we think it doubtful if 

 he could trot a mile much, if any, within four 

 minutes, though it is claimed by many that he 

 could trot it in three." 



So we see that the founder of this great type 

 was, whatever his breeding, a pony of most ad- 

 mirable conformation. In his performances he 

 was the most remarkable horse in the neighbor- 

 hood of his owner. He won against all comers in 

 the various contests that were indulged in by the 

 somewhat primitive sportsmen of the Green 

 Mountain State. He won at walking, trotting, 

 and running and also at pulling. Besides he was 

 in great demand on muster day as the mount of 

 the commanding officer, who would make a great 

 show on this elegant, graceful, and intelligent 

 horse. So we gee the founder was exactly what the 

 Morgans have been and are to-day, a good all- 

 round, general utility horse. And his progeny 

 have been like him. Many of them, however, 

 have been much larger and much faster as trot- 

 ters, and, as we shall presently see, a breeder of 



