ETHAN ALLEN. 105 



Tlie Sherman horse was by the original or Justin Morgan, 

 his dam variously represented as an English and as a Spanish 

 mare, of good blood. In truth, nothing is known of her 

 blood. 



Ethan Allen is a handsome bright bay horse, with an im- 

 mensely full black tail and black mane. He is claimed by his 

 owners and friends to be the fastest trotting stallion now alive, 

 but the claim seems to be doubtful. 



The performances of Ethan Allen, so far as known, are as 

 follows ; — 



On the 10th of May, 1853, a match took place on Long Isl- 

 and between Ethan Allen, three years ten months old, and 

 Rose of Washington, several months older, mile heats, for one 

 thousand dollars a side, the best three in five. 



The match 4vas won by the horse in 2.42—2.39—2.36 ; which 

 is claimed to be, and probably is, the fastest time on record for 

 that age, since horses are rarely put to trot so early. 



In 1855, at the Fair of the United States Agricultural So- 

 ciety, he received the first premium for sjoeed, beating Colum- 

 bus, Sherman, Black Hawk, and Stockbridge Chief, in 2.34^ — 

 2.37. 



In 1856, Ethan Allen beat Hiram Drew twice, respectively, 

 in 2.44^—2.401— 2.40— and in 2.46^— 2.32|— 2.35^— and after- 

 terward was started for the Agricultural Society's purse at Bos- 

 ton, against Flora Temple, by whom he was most signally 

 defeated in 2.32^ — 2.36^, although at the time of his starting 

 his friends were confident of his beating the famous mare. 



The portrait of this liorse, so faithfully preserved and care- 

 fully engraved by Mr. Dutliie, is said to be a very striking like- 

 ness. The horse is of a light yellow bay, and has that particu- 

 lar redundance and coarseness of tail, which especially charac- 

 terizes the Morgans, and which may be regarded as undeniable 

 proof of their having an admixture of Canadian blood. 



One would say, at first sight, that the extraordinary length 

 of the tail is exaggerated in the engraving ; but I am assured 

 by Mr. Attwood, the artist, from whose very beautiful and 

 spirited picture it is made, that while he was engaged in taking 

 his portrait, the horse actually trod upon -his tail, more than 

 once, pulling out several of the long, coarse, wavy hairs. 



