HORSES. 205 



most conspicuous in their construction. These horses are most 

 admirably adapted to common draught and farm use ; they are 

 commonly about sixteen hands in height, with broad breasts and 

 powerful hind-quarters ; they are closely ribbed up and possess 

 good legs and feet. These horses have no match in the world 

 for draught and farming purposes ; kind, but not sluggish, 

 powerful, but not slow, they combine the two great essentials of 

 a fine draught horse,^strength and activity. 



About the commencement of the present century, a horse 

 owned by Mr. Justin Morgan, of Randolph, Vt., became quite 

 celebrated in that locality as the usual victor in the short races, 

 then so common in that part of the country, in which he fre- 

 quently engaged. This celebrity has increased and continued 

 till now ; so that the rage for Morgan horses, as the descendants 

 of this horse are called, finds its counterpart only in the popular 

 passion of a few years since, for Shanghai chickens, and the 

 more recent one for Jersey cattle. The celebrated horse Ethan 

 Allen is a fine specimen of this class. 



An attempt has been made to trace the pedigree of this horse. 

 It proved unsuccessful, however ; but in its place a pedigree 

 has been " trumped up." No authentic record exists of the 

 history of this family, farther back than to the horse, before 

 mentioned, owned by Mr. Morgan, the first that attained any 

 especial note ; and the statement made by the friends of this 

 horse that he is "thoroughbred," bears the falsehood on the 

 face of it. The abundance of hair in the mane and tail, is a 

 conspicuous proof that he is not " thoroughbred," and confirms 

 us in the belief that he possesses a considerable portion of Can- 

 adian blood. This is a marked feature in all Morgan horses. 

 In short, the Morgan family is a class of the Vermont horses, 

 and is finely adapted to the needs of this section of the country 

 — strong, courageous and active, they meet the requirements of 

 every class of people. 



We recommend to the farmers of this county a more exten- 

 sive and general use of horses. They are attentive, quick to 

 learn, and a thing once learned they never forget. Their capac- 

 ity is greater than that of any other animal, except man, by 

 whom they may, in gentleness, be taught almost any thing. 

 Horses, like children, should be trained, not " broken." No 

 animals in the world better appreciate kindness. The Arabs, 



