168 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



There were some pure and many half-breeds in the Southern 

 cavalry during the war, and that fact accounted for the rapidity 

 with which the Southern cavalry clianged their points of 

 attack. 



We have only space to name two horses and say a word in 

 regard to them. We name these two because they have marked 

 the horses of New England infinitely more than all the rest. 

 We speak of the " Morgan " horse and the " Messenger " horse. 

 There are very few good horses in the Northern States that do 

 not have in their veins the blood of one or the other of these 

 celebrated horses, or of both. 



The first Morgan horse was called " Justin Morgan," from his 

 owner of that name. He was born in Springfield, Mass., in 

 1793. In 1795 he went with his owner to Randolph, Vt. His 

 sire was a " thoroughbred " stolen from Gen. DeLancy at King's 

 Bridge. The mother was a part "thoroughbred" and part 

 Canadian. From the Canadian mother the " Morgans " get 

 probably their hairy legs and heavy mane and tail. A descrip- 

 tion of this " Justin Morgan " may be acceptable. Flint says 

 he was a small horse, a trifle less than fourteen hands high, and 

 his weight nine hundred and fifty. He was a beautiful dark 

 bay, with hardly a white hair on his body. His legs were black, 

 his mane and tail were black, coarse and thick, with long, 

 straight hair, free from curls. He had a good head, not large, 

 but lean and long, with a straight face, broad and good forehead, 

 and fine small ears set well apart. He had a very short back 

 with wide and muscular loins, rather a long body but round 

 and closely ribbed up. He was compact or snug built, with a 

 deep, wide chest and projecting breastbone, short, close-jointed 

 legs, wide and thin, but very muscular, with some long hair 

 about and above the fetlocks. This peculiarity is to be noticed 

 in most of his offspring. He was a fast walker, but a short step 

 in trotting, a low, smooth gait, but square and fine ; what on 

 the whole is called " pony-gaited." He was sure-footed, and his 

 style of movement lofty, bold and energetic, full of life and 

 spirit, but of so mild a temper that any lady could drive him 

 with perfect safety. This is really the description of a good 

 horse to-day, and if any one in selecting a horse observes these 

 points, he will be much aided when he desires to purchase. 



