MORGAN horse: HIS RELATION TO BREEDING. 309 



possessed of more than ordinary speed, and was a 

 sharp runner. 



" Among the many races of this description that he 

 ran were two in 179G, at Brookiield, Yt., — one with a 

 horse called Sweepstakes from Long Island ; and the 

 other with a horse called Silver Tail from St. Lawrence 

 County, N.Y. : both of these he beat with ease. Mr. 

 Morgan (who then owned him) offered to give the 

 owner of Silver Tail two more chances to win the 

 stake, which was fifty dollars, by walking or trotting 

 the horses for it ; which was declined. There are many 

 accounts of other races which he ran and won ; but, 

 these accounts not fully agreeing as to the details, we 

 have not mentioned them. 



" In harness the Justin Morgan was quiet, but full of 

 spirit ; an eager and nimble traveller, but patient in bad 

 spots ; and, although for a long time steadily engaged 

 in the heavy work of a new farm, his owner at that 

 time informs us that he never knew him refuse to draw 

 as often as he was required to : but he pithily adds, ' I 

 didn't very often have to ask him but once ; for what- 

 ever he was hitched to generally had to come the first 

 time trying.' This uniform kindness at a pull was one 

 of the striking characteristics of the horse; and the 

 same trait may be observed in the greater part of his 

 descendants. ' Pulling matches ' and ' pulling bees ' 

 were as common in those days as short races ; and the 

 ' little horse,' as he was often called, became quite cele- 

 brated for his unvarying willingness to do his best, and 

 for his great power at what is called a ' dead lift.' 



