12 Department Circular 199, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 
North Dakota, Oregon, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, 
Washington, the island of Guam, Porto Rico, Central America, and 
Japan. 
ENDURANCE OF THE BREED 
In the first of the official endurance rides, sponsored by various 
breed associations and individuals interested in horse improvement, 
which was held in 1919, Castor, the 800-pound registered Morgan, 
completed the ride in the second-best time, but owing to a slight acci- 
dent which affected his condition score was awarded sixth place. 
Castor was bred by the U. S. Morgan Horse Farm and was foaled in 
1909. He was sired by General Gates 666 out of Babe 089, by Bob 

Fic. 9.—Castor 5833. Morgan gelding. Successful competitor in three endurance rides 
Morgan. The following spring Castor was shipped to Norwich Uni- 
versity, in Vermont, where he was prepared for the 1920 endurance 
ride. With an inexperienced cadet as rider for the first three days he 
made a good showing, drawing seventh place in the final awards. 
Although not so fast as several in the next year’s (1921) endurance 
ride, Castor made a consistent performance throughout, and carried 
the required 245 pounds (nearly one-third of his weight) without 
developing any leg trouble; and his temperature, respiration, pulse, 
and appetite demonstrated conclusively that he was up to the task 
and had been properly conditioned. His loss of only 12% pounds 
during the ride was a remarkable part of his performance, especially 
considering the fact that he was by far the smallest horse in the test. 
One of the judges of the 1921 endurance ride said: “Justin Morgan 



