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THE GENESEE FAEMER. 



MORGAN HORSE "PAUL CLIFFORD. 



pressure of the bit, and moved side-ways almost as 

 ■willingly as he moved t'orwiird; in sliort, was peiiectly 

 trained to all the paces and evolution?! of a parade 

 hor.-e; and when ridden at military reviews (as was 

 frequently the case,) his bold, imposing style, and 

 spirited, nervous action, attracted universal attention 

 and admiration. He was perfectly gentle and kind 

 to handle, and loved to be groomed and caressed, but 

 disliked to have children about him, and had an in- 

 veterate hatred for dogs, if loose always cha.sing them 

 out of sight the instant he saw them. When taken 

 out with halter or bridle he was in constant motion, 

 and very playlul. 



He was a fleet runner at short distances. Running 

 horses short distances for small stakes was very com- 

 mon in Vermont fifty years ago. Eighty rods was 

 very generally the length of the course, which usually 

 commenved at a tavern or grocery, and extended the 

 distance agreed upon, up or down the public road. 

 In these races the horses were started from a 'scratch,' 

 that is, a mark was drawn across the road in the dirt, 

 and the horses ranged in a row upon it, went oft at 

 'the drop of the hat,' or some other signal. 



It will be observed that the form' of the Justin 

 Morgan was not such as in our days is thought best 

 calculated to give the greatest speed for a short dis 

 tance. Those who believe in long-legged racers, will 

 think his legs, body and stride were all too short, 

 aod to them it may perhaps seem surprising that he 

 should be succe-.«fal, as he invariably was, in such 

 eonteats. But we think his great muscular develop- 

 ment and nervous energy, combined with his small 

 size, gave him a decided advantage in the first start 

 over taller and heavier horses; just as any ordinary 



horse can distance the finest locomotive in a ten rod 

 race. When brought up to the line hi.s eyes flash and 

 his ears quiver with intense excitement, he grinds the 

 bit with his teeth, hi.s hind legs are drawn under him, 

 every muscle of his frame trembles, and swells almost 

 to bursting, ai-id at the given signal he goes otf like 

 the springing of a steel trap. His unvarying success 

 in these short races may perhaps be partially account- 

 ed for in this way, though he w£.s undoubtedly pos- 

 sessed of more than ordmarj speed, and was a sharp 

 runner. 



In harness the Justin Morgan was quiet, but full oi 

 spirit, an eager and nimble traveller, but patient in 

 l)ad spots; and although for a long lime "steadily en- 

 caged in the heavy work ol a new farm, his owner at 

 that lime informs us that he never knew him to refu-* 

 to draw as often as he was required to. but he pithily 

 adds: 'I didn't very often have to ask him but oiice, 

 for whatever he was hitched to generally had to come 

 the first ti .le trying.' This unitbrm kindness at a pull 

 was one of the striking characteristics of the hors*?, 

 and the same trait may be observed in the gn-atcr 

 part of his descendants. ' Pulling matches' and 'pall- 

 ing bees' were as common in those days as ?hfrt 

 races, and the 'httle horse," as he was often called, 

 became quite celebrated for his unvarying willingness 

 to do his best, and for his great power at what is 

 called a ' dead lift.' " 



Our engraving is a good likeness of the beautiful 

 Morgan horse "Paul Clifford," now owned by Messis. 

 HuxsDE.v & Wilcox, of Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y. 

 He received the first premium at the Fair of the 

 United States Agricultural Society, held at Spring- 

 field, Mass., in 1854. 



