296 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



ment like himself, and he knows beforehand what he is 

 to have : anxiety is dismissed. He knows how the colt 

 will look before he is foaled. This is the first, and per- 

 haps the most characteristic, peculiarity of the Morgan 

 horses. Other things being equal, no stallion is so good 

 for stock-purposes as one strongly infused with Morgan 

 blood ; and the reason is simply because the Morgan 

 blood is a strong, masterful blood, yielding to none, 

 but conquering all, and transmitting itself to those 

 born of it. 



The second excellence for which the Morgan horse is 

 noted is beauty. 



Twenty years ago, speed was every thing. If a horse 

 could go^ that was enough. We have lived beyond that 

 period. Beauty is demanded now in the markets, and 

 paid for handsomely ; and the questions with every 

 breeder, therefore, necessarily are, " What is the cross 

 by which I can add beauty to speed? Where can 

 I get the fine, rich coat, the spirited face, the quick 

 ear, the arched tail, the small black hoofs, the flat, 

 wiry legs, that shall cause men to contend for the pos- 

 session of my colts ? " That is what Mr. Taggart, Col. 

 Eussell, Mr. Dorsey, Mr. Nevins, and Col. Sprague, 

 wished to know ; and that is why they all went to 

 the Morgan family for stallions to head their respective 

 stables. I ask any man to select in all the country six 

 other stallions of such striking beauty as Taggart's 

 Abdallah, Fearnaught, Young Fearnaught, Ethan Allen, 

 Rolla Gold Dust, and Lambert, — all direct descend- 



