20 Department Circular 199, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



carry the same weight as readily as larger horses. A short loin is 

 generally associated with a short coupling, which in turn denotes 

 easy keeping qualities and the ability to withstand a long trip without 

 becoming noticeably " lucked up." 



USES FOR MORGAN HORSES. 



Morgan mares do farm work on the I'. S. Morgan Horse Farm. 

 Morgans walk, much faster than draft horses; they generally trot 

 with an empty wagon, and they eat less feed. The U. S. Morgan 

 Horse Farm has a striking illustration of these characteristics in a 

 Morgan gelding weighing 1.100 pounds that has worked on the farm 

 for several years as mate to a 1.450-pound draft gelding. The. draft 

 gelding; is an extra good horse, but the Morgan is the better horse of 

 the pah' to-day. He has been given no advantage over the draft 

 gelding, does his full share of the work, and stays in better condition 

 on less feed. He is quicker, stands heat much better, and makes a 

 good carriage horse in an emergency. 



MORGANS AS SADDLE HORSES. 



As pleasure saddle horses Morgans are in demand on account of 

 their great intelligence and hardiness. They generally have a smart, 

 alert walk, an easy trot, and a smooth, collected canter. Morgans 

 have made a good reputation with the cattlemen of the South and 

 West as cow horses. They have the intelligence and courage to 

 "hold" a steer after it has been roped. Morgan stallions crossed on 

 the proper type of range mares are said to produce the ideal cow 

 horse. 



The great reputation made by the First Vermont Cavalry in the 

 Civil War is a matter of record. This regiment was mounted on 

 Morgan horses, and official reports made to the War Department 

 stated that the horses in this organization stood the hardships of 

 the campaigns better than any others. Their short, strong legs, 

 round, full-muscled bodies, and beautiful heads called forth universal 

 admiration. Hardiness and endurance always have been and con- 

 tinue to be the prime essentials of a cavalry horse, and it is doubtful 

 whether any breed excels the Morgan in the proper combination of 

 all the characteristics demanded in such a horse. 



The police horses of New York City have a national reputation for 

 their uniformity of type, color (all being bays), good looks, intelli- 

 gence, and altogether suitability for the job. They are probably 

 nearer the type of good-sized Morgans than any other present-day 

 American breed. In fact, Jetmore. a U. S. Morgan Horse Farm 

 product, won first prize at both the Brooklyn and New York shows 

 in 1922 as best police horse, when shown with the pick of the New 

 York police department horses, of which he is one. (See Fig. 14. ^ 



