THE MORGAN HORSE 89 



say the least. Black Hawk's son, Ethan Allen, was 

 a magnificent roadster, and his great speed in 

 trotting matches did harm, I think, to the perpetu- 

 ation of the Morgan type, for the Morgan breed- 

 ers began making efforts to get fast trotters rather 

 than to preserve the type, with the result that 

 there was, in the course of twenty or thirty years, a 

 distinct falling off in the interest that was felt in 

 these very superior horses. Ethan Allen was foaled 

 in 1849 at Ticonderoga, New York, and his dam 

 was said to be an inbred Morgan. The colt cer- 

 tainly had all the Morgan characteristics, and 

 was the fastest stallion of his day, trotting three 

 heats with a running mate when he was eighteen 

 years old in 2.15, 2.16, and 2.19. He was also 

 the most popular public performer of his day; 

 and at that time trotting was more attractive to 

 the people in America than running. "No one 

 has ever raised a doubt as to Ethan Allen being 

 the handsomest, finest-styled and most perfectly- 

 gaited trotter than had ever been produced," was 

 said by the "American Cultivator," in 1873. He 

 was a bright bay, a trifle less than 15 hands, and 

 weighed 1000 pounds. He was the sire of a great 



