Morgan

What is a Morgan?

The first American breed, 142-155cm, compact and powerfully built with an arched neck, expressive head and high tail carriage. Deep-bodied and short-legged relative to their substance, with an energetic, ground-covering trot.

Every Morgan descends from one stallion, Figure, born in 1789 and known by the name of his owner, Justin Morgan.

History and origins

Figure was a small bay stallion of uncertain breeding who stood in Vermont and proved able to out-pull, out-walk and out-race larger horses. He passed his type on with unusual consistency, which is the defining fact about the breed.

Morgans went on to influence the Standardbred, the American Saddlebred, the Tennessee Walking Horse and the Quarter Horse. They were used as cavalry horses in the American Civil War.

They remain uncommon in Britain, where the population is in the hundreds rather than the thousands.

Appearance and size

142-155cm, 410-500kg. Compact and muscular with a deep chest, strong back, clean legs and good feet. An expressive head with large eyes and small alert ears.

Bay, black and chestnut predominate; palomino, buckskin and grey occur.

Temperament and personality

The breed's great strength. Morgans are willing, people-oriented and genuinely interested in their handler - they are often described as wanting to be involved in whatever is happening.

They are forward and energetic rather than placid, which suits an active rider and can be more than a nervous one wants. They are not sharp or unkind.

Intelligence and trainability

Very intelligent and very trainable, with a real work ethic. They learn quickly, hold their training and take to almost any discipline - carriage driving, dressage, western, trail, showing and endurance.

They are sensitive to unfair handling and remember it.

Children and other pets

Good for confident children and improving adults. The size is manageable and the temperament is kind, though the forwardness means a nervous beginner may find them busy.

Easy in a herd and sociable on the ground.

Health problems

Sound overall, with a long working life, and the specific risks are metabolic.

PSSM1, a muscle glycogen storage disorder found in some Morgan lines, causing tying-up and reluctance to work. DNA testable and manageable with a low-starch high-fat diet and daily exercise.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome and laminitis. Morgans are efficient feeders and British grazing is richer than anything the breed was developed on. Weight management is the recurring job.

PPID (Cushing's) with age, as in most horses.

Some lines carry cerebellar abiotrophy, which is DNA testable where it is known in the pedigree.

Twenty-five to thirty-five years, and Morgans are notable for staying sound in work into their twenties.

Daily care routine

Daily checks, feet out daily, farrier every six to eight weeks - the feet are generally good - teeth annually, vaccinations annually, worm counts through the season.

Condition-scored regularly. A fat Morgan is a common sight and a preventable one.

Grooming and coat care

Straightforward. A moderate coat, a full mane and tail, and clean legs with little or no feather. Clipped for winter work with rugging to match.

Exercise needs

Four to six days a week for a horse in work. They have genuine stamina and are happiest with a job - driving, schooling, trail or endurance.

Feeding and diet

Forage first and modestly. A balancer and soaked hay suits most, with conditioning feed only in hard work. If PSSM1 positive, low starch, added fat and daily movement is the treatment and it works.

Price

£4,000-£12,000 for a registered riding or driving horse in Britain, and more for a proven performer. The small UK population means limited choice and occasional importing.

Keeping one costs £3,000-£7,000 a year.

Buying advice

Ask for AMHA or British Morgan Horse Society registration papers and check the microchip.

Ask for the PSSM1 DNA result, and ask whether cerebellar abiotrophy is known anywhere in the line.

Ride it - the willingness is the reason to buy one and it is obvious quickly.

Five-stage vetting from your own vet, and ask about laminitis history. Given how few are available in Britain, be prepared to travel and to wait for the right one rather than taking the nearest.