Here is a link to the farm: http://equine-ranch.com/ranchinfo.php?ranchid=114358
Our Morgans
Physical Appearance
The official breed standards:
"The Morgan is easily recognized by his proud carriage, upright graceful neck, and distinctive head with expressive eyes. Deep bodied and compact, the Morgan has strongly muscled quarters. The intelligence, willingness, zest for life, and good sense of the Morgan is blended with soundness of limb, athleticism, and stamina. In addition, Morgan thriftiness and longevity have made this breed a good bargain for more than 200 years - easy to love and affordable to own. The Morgan horse is free moving and calm under western tack or elegant and aristocratic ridden in English style. A tractable temperament allows the Morgan to excel when driving in single or multiple hitches. Companionable and comfortable on a quiet pleasure ride anywhere open skies beckon, working as a sensible partner in a long day of ranch work or endurance riding, waiting alert and ready to enter a show ring, or performing in formal riding disciplines, the Morgan is a versatile horse within a versatile breed. The Morgan horse agreeably adapts to his owner's life style. This first American breed can be found worldwide."
-From The American Morgan Horse Association
In addition, here is a link to the Morgan ideal.
One of the most well known things about a Morgan horse is their versatility. Morgans can do it all and do it well, as they say.
Morgans today can vary pretty substantially in appearance, though they should all have basic similarities. This variation can be attributed to breeding for specialization versus versatility, and, as with a lot of other breeds, some desired traits are a kind of "fad." One will find what are known as "modern" Morgans, and older style Morgans. The older style Morgans can also be separated into several distinct bloodline groups too: Brunk, Lippitt, Government, and Working Western. I'll give a few examples.
Old Style Morgan Stallion
Old Style Morgan Stallion
Old Style Morgan Mare
Lippitt Stallion
Lippitt Mare
Governement Stallion
Brunk Stallion
Older style Morgans are very versatile, with smaller, compact bodies, sloped shoulders, and well-curved, even cresty necks. They are also known to have thick manes and tails, and expressive faces. Stallions are typically much more muscular in the neck or cresty than mares.
Many older style Morgans exist today, but saddleseat style Morgans have become increasingly more desirable, creating a more refined, less compact modern Morgan.
Modern Morgan Stallion
Modern Morgan Mare
I prefer a Morgan somewhere in between old style and new. I really like Morgans who look like these guys:
UVM Cantor
Waseeka's Nocturne
Cattle Lack Deville
We breed Morgans with expressive, refined faces, curvy, cresty necks, compact bodies, and level hips.Our Morgans also must have a well sloped shoulder, with neck set nicely on top to create a curvy topline.
Old Style Morgan Stallion
Old Style Morgan Stallion
Old Style Morgan Mare
Lippitt Stallion
Lippitt Mare
Governement Stallion
Brunk Stallion
Older style Morgans are very versatile, with smaller, compact bodies, sloped shoulders, and well-curved, even cresty necks. They are also known to have thick manes and tails, and expressive faces. Stallions are typically much more muscular in the neck or cresty than mares.
Many older style Morgans exist today, but saddleseat style Morgans have become increasingly more desirable, creating a more refined, less compact modern Morgan.
Modern Morgan Stallion
Modern Morgan Mare
What We Breed
Modern Morgans are nice to look at and all, but I have seen some trends in the show ring I do not like. I absolutely cannot stand it when I see a Morgan who can win classes, but looks like a Saddlebred. A Morgan should look nothing like a Saddlebred by breed standards. Many modern Morgans lack the compact bodies and thick, cresty neck of an older style Morgan too, which I really liked. For some reason, I am obsessed with movement, particularly the trot, and so are a lot of other Morgan enthusiasts, but a lot modern Morgans don't move like I think they should; they have beautiful action up front, but nearly drag their hind feet!I prefer a Morgan somewhere in between old style and new. I really like Morgans who look like these guys:
UVM Cantor
Waseeka's Nocturne
Cattle Lack Deville
We breed Morgans with expressive, refined faces, curvy, cresty necks, compact bodies, and level hips.Our Morgans also must have a well sloped shoulder, with neck set nicely on top to create a curvy topline.
Movement
For some reason, I care more about movement than most anything else. Extremely Good or better movement is a must for the majority of our horses. We love high knee and hock action, but it must be square and not sacrifice suspension. Our horses are great at motoring off their hind ends!Our Showing and Fitness Goals
Gaited/Saddleseat Morgans
Best ratings in movement, agility, temperament, and conformation.Cutting Cow Morgans
Best ratings in movement, intelligence, speed, and agility.This goals of our ranch are of course, all fictitious.
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