AS A BUSINESS HORSE 17 



and tails. So far is this from being true, that it is extremely doubtful if bay 

 be the prevailing color, chestnut being, we believe, quite as often met with. 



"Bay, chestnut, brown and black are almost the only colors, the latter 

 being quite uncommon, and with few exceptions, confined to the Black Hawk 

 family. Gray or buckskin is very rarely seen, and is a pretty sure indication 

 that what Morgan blood the animal has, has been derived through only one 

 branch of the parent stock. 



"The average height of Morgan horses may be stated at from four- 

 teen to fifteen and a half hands. There are a few that will fall below four- 

 teen hands, but the number is very small, and there are also some that will 

 exceed fifteen and a half hands, but it is by no means common, and in such 

 cases it will generally be found that the animal has but a small amount of 

 Morgan blood. Their weight may be stated to range from nine hundred to 

 eleven hundred pounds, the usual weight being about one thousand ; any 

 great deviation from this weight should induce the suspicion of a large infu- 

 sion of other blood, although exceptions may, and doubtless do occur, in the case 

 of animals that can show a good pedigree ; still they must be considered as 

 the exceptions to the rule, and not the rule itself. The hair of the Morgan 

 is almost invariably fine and soft, though in some instances a little long. In 

 the fineness and softness of their coats they resemble the thoroughbred, 

 though it is generally thicker. 



" In describing the temper, and style of action of these horses, we can 

 say but little more than that they come fully up to our standard in this respect, 

 with this exception, that they may sometimes have more fire and impetuosity 

 than we think is desirable in the 'business horse', but such generally make 

 very superior roadsters under proper management and good driving. 



"These horses having now been scattered a good deal in the Northern 

 and Western States, fair specimens of the race may generally be seen at any 

 of the State agricultural fairs, and the truth of our remarks can be verified so 

 far as they relate to form, and style of moving. Much may also be determined 

 on seeing them, as to their temper, and lastingness ; but as it requires more 

 than a short examination to determine conclusively an animal's temper, cour- 

 age and endurance, and as there are many who will have no opportunity of 

 seeing specimens of the breed, we will not leave the truth of our remarks to 

 depend upon our own ' dictum', but will introduce some evidence in support 

 of our positions, consisting of extracts from writers whose authority upon this 

 subject cannot be called in question. 



"The following extract is from a letter written by a gentleman of Phil- 

 adelphia to the 'American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine', in 1831 : 



* * 'It may not be generally known that 



the first trotting matches in this country took place in New England ; and 

 twenty years ago every stranger who traveled the road from Boston to Port- 

 land, a distance then of one hundred and twenty miles, must have been sur- 

 prised to see horses, not quite fifteen hands high, drawing heavy carriages 

 with nine passengers, at the rate of eight and ten miles an hour, accomplish- 

 ing the journey with ease in one day. * * * * 



