01/18/2017
Tamarack Hill Farm
Morgan type is vastly confusing to many people, because it assumes that there IS one specific "look" that says "Morgan" while anything else is either less Morgan or not Morgan.
Here are just three examples, a "modern" Lippitt Morgan, a modern "Heinz 57" Morgan and a Lippitt Morgan from 60 years ago, all ones that I rode/ride.
Weathermont Ethan, the dark brown horse, has the disadvantage of being an older stallion and probably "overweight" so his athleticism is somewhat masked by extra poundage, especially in his massive neck.
High Brook Rockstar, the red bay, is distance riding fit, as was Lippitt Sandy, the chestnut, which takes away some of that "little draft horse" appearance that some older type Morgans have.
One thing to remember is that there has only ever been ONE pure Morgan, Figure, and he died 196 years ago. Every Morgan since has been some sort of cross-breed, Yes, a Morgan type has emerged, but plenty of variation within that general appearance.
I am mainly a rider, so for me, a Morgan needs, number one, to be an efficient riding horse. Getting too hung up on type smacks of what has happened to those unfortunate creatures we see in modern Quarter Horse halter classes, huge, bulbous bodies perched on tiny, unsound hooves, about as useful for roping longhorn steers in rough back country Texas as a 14.2, 875 pound Arabian would be hauling a stone boat.
Sound. Sane. Athletic. These three have to be there in any breed for the horse to be of any real use. Now, on top of that, add breed type. Not instead of.
Lots of people do it backwards, and when too many breeders do it, they take down entire breeds.
