377 Horse Related Booklets 1944, 1947 and 1952 FEB 84

1944 30 pages "Our Equine Friends"; missing cover, text and images. 1947 28 pages Rowell Saddle Company Brochure of Hayward CA showing photos and text 1952 19 pages "The History Standard of Perfections and judging Outline for the Morgan Horse" by Clarence D Parks DVM.

37180208

1944

1947

1952

SOS 377 OCR Horse Related Booklets 1944, 1947 and 1952 FEB 84.pdf

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Cities and towns

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Pamphlets

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

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Valentine
SNIPPETS of SALEM
377- Miscellaneous Horse
related booklets
Contents:
1944 30 pages
images.

"Our Equine Friends"; missing cover, text and

1947 28 pages Rowell Saddle Company Brochure of Hayward CA
showing photos and text
1952 19 pages "The History Standard of Perfections and judging
Outline for the Morgan Horse" by Clarence D Parks DVM

0-90 pages
NOTES:
-Pages within the pamphlets may be out of sequence because of the scanning
process.
-Numbering on these pages may include the date and sequence within each
pamphlet.
The original materials used in this project were from the FWB Fred Wesley
Brown Collection. Some documents were photocopied before they were scanned
into the PDF document and those will be available in print format. The originals
may exist either in the FWB collection or at the Western Kenosha County
Historical Society- depending on family decisions at a later date. These
materials were contributed because the family wished that the history that they
and their families have experienced can be saved for the future generations.
Some "published" documents were dismantled in order to provide a 1:1 scan of
the original item rather than a scan of a photocopy. The decision to do this was
made because the INFORMATION was more important than the media that was
used to present the information. Naturally, singular ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
were not destroyed.
Researchers should also refer to the Valentine Digital archives which may at the
SALEM COMMUNITY LIBRARY for more images in this collection or digital
images of items that may relate to this booklet or related to the topic.
Compiled 1/2014 by L S Valentine Copyright©Valentine2014

I

ifarf

Ou-t l;quine 1-tiends
Since civilization began the horse hasbeenthe companion, servant and friend
of man. His speed served the earliest people who lived a nomadic life, grazing
their herds and flocks ;j1is strength aided in the first crude attempts at agriculture
and has furnished, with that of his half brother, the mule, most of the motive
power for farm production and transportation down to the 20th century. The
power and courage of horses and the patient labor of mules, has won many a
battle, decided many a war. Horses, still greatly used in and behind the armies
by Russians and Germans, likewise have been of incalculable value in this war;
for work of horses and mules on American farms has released millions of tons of
iron and steel for direct war use, which otherwise would have been needed for
mechanized power units and their equipment.
Farmers who have enough·good horses and/or m1Jles for most, if
not all their farm work, have reliable, adaptable power, which can be
and usually is home raised and maintained on farm. grown products.
No farmer who is favorably located to raise young stock, ever lost
money by keepingjust enough good mares to do his farm work and
breeding them to a good jack or stallion of type suitable to .sire good
work stock. Mule foals are salable at. weaning: horse foals can be
carried through, adequately but economically, on go9d pastures and
hays, no grain, broken at 2 and ~used from 3 years old on to replace
mature, well broken animals which can he .sold each spring when they
are at their. maximum value to buyers.
Farmers who .pursue such poliCies are always in a strong position,
independent of tractor, gas and oil prices. Even if they have an~ use
tractors for belt work and some field work, they have animal p9~e:r
available and can use it to hold down power costs on a large proportion
I){ jobs about the farm.
Kinds of Eqnines
All horses and mules can be ridden, driven or worked: but some are better
suited to riding, driving or dra.ft uses than others.
More than 90% · of our horses are grade animals, i.e., are by a pure-bred
sire (father) out of a dam (mother) of unknown or mixed ancestry, or vice-versa.
A few are cross-breds, the term applied where both parents are pure bred, but
of different breeds.
Pure·bred animals, including horses, are those that have certain recognizable characteristics which distinguish them from others of the species, are numerous enough tomake feasible the perpetuation of animals with said distinguishing
characters, and that have the power (prepotency) to transmit such distinguishing
characteristics with ·a high degree of certainty to their descendants, generation
after generation. Purebred animals are .th~ .leaven, the yeast, which is used to
improve common stock-to up-grade it.
Said distinguishing characters may be in form and size~ilh1stration, the
Belgian horse, page 20, or the Shetland pony, page 26; may be in speed at the
running gait-illustration, the Thoroughbred horse, page 11 ; may be in speed
at the trotting gait-illustration, the Standard Bred horse, page 14; or may be in
characters of form, quality and gaits-illustration, the American Saddle horse,
page 16; and others ..· It may be all these, plus the power to dominate any other
breed with which it is crossed~illustration, the Arab, page9.
Mules are hybrids, sited by a. male. ass (commonly Jermed. jack or jackass)
out ofth~femaie (mare) of the nor~e family. The opposite cross, by a Stallion
3

,.

out, of the female, (jennet), of the ass family, is termed a hinny.. Both
the mule and ·hinny a.;r;e ~terile, for while they cop]llate, they do not
conceive young, One· ralre exception to the rule has been reported.
' The last census (Ap[rill, 1940). reported 10,086,971 horses,and
3,844,560 mules on farm$. The latest' estimates by, the U.S.D.:A. for
JanuaFy 1, 1944, released on Febr:u~ry 18, 1944, indicate there were 9,330,000
horses and 3,559,000 IllUles on farms\ a decline of about 4% in numbers of each
during 1943. , Production tif ;:fqals lias been •considerably less th;,Jn
deaths, all ages, for sevefaLy~ars. past, andr ~ ~erious shortage of
replacements old eno"gh lo wo,rk ~s probable for the years 1945 to
1948 inclusive. ,
, ,
f
l
, ', ,
,
,•
,,
There ~ere no horses, mules ~r asses in North or South America at the
titne of their discovery by Europt:aps: hence all now here are descendants of
stock brought from Europe, Asia :oF I Africa.
ln the, United State~ the largest contributiory in ,P?int of numbers, ~t is believed; ,w,as , furnished by descencl,ants of horses taken i!Jt,o Florida by' various
Spanish explorers, and, settlers,, and iinto Mexico by Cortez and his ,SlJCCessors
from 1519 on. These aFe dis<;:ussed• on pagf! 8, under "HoFses of the Plains.''
Their m1mbers probably ran into ,!ll\llions by 1850,, for Captain ~wis, head of
the Lewis 'and Clark Mifitary Expe4ition which\explored th~ Wesi::~n1804-5-6,
inhis officialrepor~ to Coflgr,ess, reported not only,exteqsive holctings of horses
and. mules by m,ost Indian tribes, bu11: m~ule mention, of immense Q.rpves of wild
horses ,on the plains, espedally •in wijat is now Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New
.l\'le~ico, and Colprado. These horses· fo;med a foundation on which stallions
im.ported through the Atlaqtic,Coas~ states, or, <l,esc~nded therefrom, were used.
The Jndia.n pony mares, and ~he same kind of stack·, running wild, are
eStimated to have. weighed fyoin ()OQ to 800 pounds. , Prog;eny ~esulting from
the, first cross of improved sires were! larger, ,!lsually wei~hing frorn 800 to 1200
p()l,lnds. · Subsequeqt crosses with sir~s of the improved breeds iflcreased size still
more. .Within three .generations the progeny had the gene,ralai]pe~rance ofwhat~yer breed the sires came from ; yet .if raised under open range conditions, they
had much of. the hardiness and abiltty to care for. themselves that the wild, or
r'l1dian pony, female parent stock' hadl
. The graded~up.animals, weigh.i~g from 900 to 1400 pounds, {d'epe11ding on
what breed the sires came from; how many crosses had been use~ and . how.
abundanf feed .. was.) were driyen ,e~st in huge drov~s, beforel~8(); .and were
shipped .East by thousands .of carload;s between 1880 and l~iO. Tqey ~ere distri.buted all over the Unitc;d Statesfor work and breeding: !They gF~w in stature
and weight under b.~tter environmeq.t where feed was .a•bundant, aqd by 1910
many a 1600 pound war~ horse in ~owa, Illinoisor.Ohio, had an Jndian pony
or wild mare for grand dam or. great grand. dam:
· ·.
·
:Stallions of the light· horSe IJre~ds, Thorqughbred, :l\1organ ·and .. Standard
Bred, were the most numerous o~·P'\;lrebred sires used 0n such Western plains'
stock hetw;een · 1850 and 1900.. They crossc;d .s~tisfactarilY, on th~ Indian pony
aqd wild horst; stock. This wits i)atvral; for they also were desc±~nQ:antsofthe
Arab and Barb stock from whic±h theilndian pony and wild horses haq descended
viaMexicq.
· •
. ·
· 'hhe draft bred sires-Shire; Clyde~dale and· Belgian.,.-~ppearedtobe a violent
cross. The first generation often hai:l the faults, and few. of the virtues of. the
opposing par'!!nt,s. The second and} thil}d crosses of· draft sires increased/ size
materially, and brought fairly dose'•resemblance to the stock from 1Vhich the
draft sires came.
1
•
The cross of. Percheron sires on Indian pony or wild stock, seemed less
4

violent as it vvas the testimony of a majority of ranchmen with whom
the writers conversed between 1890 and 1920, that fewer faults appeared in the first generation than where other draft breeds were
used. This lends credibility to the belief, as yet unsustained by come
petent evidence, that the Percheron alone, of all the heavy draft
breeds, had an infusion of Arab blood.

Present-Day Types
Existing today are draft, riding and driving types and many gradations
between.
Draft types are well illustrated on pages 19 to 24. Grade draft horses
approach the general type shown and may weigh anywhere from 1200 to 1900
pounds. Three successive .crosses to good sires of any qf the draft breeds on
small stock mares usually will produce animals so. like the sires that it is difficult
or impossible to determine from external appearance whether they are purebreds
or •grades of· that breed.
Farm chunks are of draft type and breeding, usually carrying 3 or more
top crosses of draft blood, but smaller than the 1600 pound minimum expected
of drafters. They generally are from 15 to 16 hands and from 1200 to 1500
pounds in weight. Farm chunks are the predominant class of work horses on
farms, especially in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and all states east thereof.
While they can be ridden, neither draft horses or farm chunks are well
suited to riding. They are heavyoffoot, awkward, canter heavily, coming down
so hard they jar the rider and are apt to trip and fall if ridden fast over rough
ground.
Mules are work animals. They include small, medium and large size
cotton mules, pack mules, farm mules, sugar mules, and draft mules. They are
described and illustrated in .the booklet Horse and Mule Power in American
Agriculture (No. 235, price 10 cents) available from the Horse and Mnle
Association of America, Inc., hence details are not repeated here.
Riding horses are those well suited to use under saddle. They are classified as follows: (a) polo mounts; (b) hunters; (c) cavalry mounts; (d) stock
horses; (e) park hacks; three-gaited; (f) park hacks, five-gaited; (g) plantation
walking horses.
·
The first four are used principally in sports, war, or work under saddle.
The last three are used primarily for pleasure riding; but animals from any of
these types may be used for duties usually discharged by those in the other group,
and all of them may be and often are used in harness for driving or draft purposes.

Consideration of Their Types
In general, the height of riding horses ranges from 14.2 to 17 hands, but
most are between 15 and 16 hands, and between 1000 and 1150 pounds in weight.
Heavy-weight hunters sometimes are 17 hands or over in height and weigh 1300
pounds or over. These are exceptionaL
THE HUNTER is essentially a deep bodied, full made, Thoroughbred
type, of that breeding, either grade or clean bred: Most hunters are from
16 to 16.2 hands and weigh from 1100 to 1250 pounds.
THE POLO MOUNT is the same in type as the hunter, but somewhat
smaller. Most polomountsare between lS and 15.3 hands in height (though
some are as low as 14.2) and usually weigh from 950 to 1075 pounds. They
m~st be better mannered than most hunters, for their value depends largely on
qmck response to \Vill of the rider. They likewise are predominantly Thoroughbred in breeding.
CAVALRY MOUNTS are the same in type as polo mounts and hunters,
5

are from 15 hands (strong) to 16 hands 1 inch in height and usually
weigh from 1000 to 1150, are to be sound, must have a good straight
walk, trot and gallop, and be free from signs of "paddling" or "high
action." They may be a shade larger than this for officers' chargers.
This is one reason •why encouragement Should be given to polo and
hunting; for in time of war, horses used in those sports, and all of the younger
ones that are being bred and developed for polo and hunting, qm be purchased as
needed. They are exactly the type needed for cavalry. The army color requirements are definite: bay, brown, black and chestnut or sorrel. No "off colored"
horses, such as greys, pintos, light roans, duns, palominos, piebalds or skewbalds
are .<JCce{lt~.;~:;-t1iiSifu5,;;;;;;::;::;~\
iS'[9,~l);.,JjQ.R~Et are those bred, raised and trained for work under
saddfe \vitn cattle on la/ge ranches in the west; They are greatest in numbers
of any of the riding types, as there are nearly 500,000 of them in use for riding
in the 17 western states, besides many sold east, that are in use there. They
generally are descended from Spanish horses taken into Mexico in 1519 and
subsequent years, discussed elsewhere.
Within the last 75 years ranchmen have bred mares of this Western Plains
Stock to sires of practically every light breed. Thoroughbred sires have predominated, though Quarter Horse sires have been much used in the Southwest,
and a considerable number of Arab sires have been used in the last 30 years.
Arab stallions are gaining popularity, as their "get" is consistently larger than
they are if given adequate nutrition, and they sire useful, docile stock out of
either riding or draft type mares.
The "stock horse" desired by most ranchmen stands from 15 to 15.2 hanps
in height, usually between 15 and 15.1 and weighs from 1000 to 1100 pounds.
He must be a short coupled, deep bodied, powerfully muscled horse with well
set legs, reasonable slope of pasterns, hard, flinty hoofs, straight action, and high
enough withers to hold a saddle in place even iny()ping. He must be hardy,
able to live on native prairie grasses without any hay
grain to supplement them,
consequently must have a capacious middle to hold the quantities of range grass
required to keep him in condition. Above all he must be agile, sure footed, with
a great burst of speed for a short distance, required in cutting cattle out from
herds, must have great endurance, a good disposition and be amenable to the
will of the rider. He makes a good cavalry mount when large enough, providing his withers are good. Many "stock horses" are rejected because under 15
hands, or too low and round iri the withers, hence not acceptable for army use.
Mares, to produce "sfuck horses," frequently are ridden from the time they
are 3 till 6 years o,;f.,age. The ones which prove to have most "cattle sense" (by
which is meant adaptability to work cattle in large herds) and that stay sound.
are then put in the breeding stud and do nothing thereafter but raise foals to
replenish the supply of "stock horses."
PARK HACKS, whether three-gaited or five-gaited, are symmetrical, stylish.
beautiful horses with a great deal of dash, spirit and animation. They must be
especially elastic of step with high action, buoyant in motion and perfectly mannered, so they respond to the slightest touch with hands or legs. Beauty and
style, with a spirited appearance and high action, yet with tractable disposition,
are pre-eminent requisites in park hacks. Prices.are in proportion to the degree
to which these qualities are possessed by the animals. They are today mainly
show (or would-be show) animals.
Three-gaited park hacks have a good walk, trot and canter. Five-gaited
horses have the same, and in addition, possess what is called the "slow gait"
which may be either the "running walk," "stepping pace," "fox trot," or "slow
rack." In addition they have a fast gait known as the "rack," frequently termed

or

6

"single-foot." It is as fast as a trot, dashing in appearance when well done, and
the rider sits virtually immovable on his horse as there is no upward thrust at
the "rack" such as is experienced in the trot.
The American Saddle-Horse (see page 16) furnishes all of the five-gaited,
and contributes largely to the fancy three-gaited horses shown in American show
rings and ridden on park bridle paths. The late Harry McNair, outstanding
dealer in riding horses, remarked that every good three-gaited park hack carried
at least 50% of American Saddle-Horse blood. He explained that it was
necessary to have this much to get the upheaded, peacocky style and high action
desired in three-gaited park hacks.
PLANTATION WALKING HORSES have an easy running walk,
which is as easy on the rider as sitting in a rocking chair. They also have the
flat walk and canter. They are liked by plantation owners, who are in the saddle
long hours. They use them ~while supervising plantation labor. Others who
desire extreme ease in a riding horse also favor them. They come principally
from the Tennessee Walking Horse (see page 17)'--a breed developed by selection from trotting, pacing and saddle strains.
In recent years a great many stock horses, too old for hard range riding,
have been sold for riding on farms in Eastern states, or for use in everycday
pleasure riding by people in or near cities. Such "ex-cowponies," i.e., "stock
horses," make up the majority of riding horses used in or nearChicago and many
other cities, suburbs, ·and country estate areas.
Arabs, Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses and grades carrying 75% or
more of their blood have very low action at walk, trot and canter, barely dearing
the ground, and are often designated as "daisy cutters." This action requires
minimum expenditure of energy, hence contributes to their ability to endure
long, hard rides. American Saddle-Horses and grades carrying 75% or more
of their blood usually have high knee and hock action, showy, but wasteful of
energy. There are many gradations between the extremes cited.

Driving Horses
Driving horses include all that are used for driving at a smart trot about
farms, estates or on roads to town. Few are used on roads now, as automobiles
with their greater speed have taken over that field.
The Standard Bred (see page 14) represents the highest degree reached in
driving horses. They are now used principally for racing in harness, chiefly at
county and state fairs, though some
special tracks are developing at
India.n Pony~sketched by
which racing in harness, under pariFrederick Remington
mutuel auspices, is the sole attraction.
The Hackney (see page 15) is ,
another type of driving horse, now
used mainly in horse shows. They
include both horses and ponies.
Anything under 14.2 hands is a
pony.

Horses of the Plains
When, in the year 1519, Hernando Cortez invaded Mexico, coming with a fleet and army from
Cuba for that purpose, he brought
with him the first true horses that
7

ever were seen in the New World. \Vhile the fossil remains discovered in
our own time have proved that the genus Equus had its origin, millions of
years ago, in North America, it had been extinct here since remote prehistoric
ages, as also on the South American continent. ln consequence, when the
mounted warriors of Cortez charged the Aztecs, the latter supposed that man
and horse were one, some form of s)lperhuman deity. Without their horses the
Spaniards never could have conquered Mexico. Neither could they have conquered Peru; nor accomplished the exploration and colonization of the newlydiscovered· bi-partite hemisphere.
Of the horses first brought in by Cortez we have a complete list, separately
itemized: and from it there is no doubt that these animals were of Spanish
antecedents and, eventually, of Saracenic (Arabian and Barb) blood. The
same thing was true ofthe.band later on landed in Florida, by Ponce de Leon, as
well as those of subsequent explorers, especially. DeSoto, Coronado and others
who first penetrated the hack districts of Spanish America and what became
Texas, Arizona, Colorado, California, etc.
It was from horses of the Spanish conquerors that either were captured by
Indians or strayed away into .the wilderness that the vast herds of wild ones .
which, as time passed, roamed the Great Plains of North America and the
Pampas of. South America, were descended. Their early history is something
that can be reconstructed only by inference; but the prodigious manner in which
they multiplied within three centuries-1519 to 1819-and a comparatively few
generations (less than 100), was astounding.
The generic term of Mustangs, applied indiscriminately to wild horses of
the Great Plains, is of Spanish derivation, and means wild or untamed; the same
applying to the term Broncho, which came to be affixed to the wildest and
roughest type of mustang. There are, or were, many other terms which were
applied to. different types of mustang. Gradually as settlement of the country
progressed, other blood elements errtered their composition, while climate and
environment strongly affected them. It was the Indians of the Plains that first
segregated picked individuals and bands of them, and in that way produced the
type. known as the Indian Pony~the finest of them all. The pioneering and
development of the trans-Mississippi states resulted in the capture of great
numbers of mustangs and their transfer to the East, where bands of them were
taken for sale by speculators and dealers. Today the wild Plains horse of the
past has been succeeded by the range horse of the. present, a type produced by
the crossing-in of many and diverse strains of Thoroughbred, Standard Bred,
Morgan, Saddle-Hor:se, Draft and other blood byranchers and stock breeders.
The original mustang was a small horse averaging notmuch above 14 hands,
weighing from. 600 to 800 pounds, tough, wiry, hardy, refractory, scrawny. and
unkempt. Mixed in with this uniformity of type were found occasional individuals of superior size, beauty and elegance, and often of great speed, which
became ·the subjects of romance and. tradition .and were, without doubt, worthy
of their remote Arabian lineage. Colors were promiscuous, ranging all the way
from solid bays, browns, etc., to "calico" skewbald, grotesque, spotted coats and
strange tones and hues. Under domestication, once thoroughly broken, the mustang proved a useful light type, especially under saddle. There still remain in the
West some of these horses and large numbers of their descendants.

Arab
The Arabian horse classifies .as the oldest species of the genus Equus consciously domesticated and bred up by man. Arabian blood may also be designated
as the most valuable thus far known, for to it almost all other of the best breeds
now extant owe perhaps their most valuable basic qualities: most specifically
8

courage, endurance, fineness and toughness of fibre,
constitutional vigor, intelligence, good temper and
beauty of form.
The origin of the Arab
is unknown. The name
Arabian is also something
of a misnomer, seeing that
the breed so-called took its
rise in Arabia about the
year 600 A.D., but was at
that time without doubt
thousands .of years old, as
its fixity of type establishes.
We find horses of practically identical type carved
not only upon the PartheArab stallion-Hakkal
non at Athens about 450
B.C., but upon the most
ancient monuments of Assyria and Egypt, dating back over 3,000 years ago. The
fixity of the type was even then absolute-which argues that it must have been
many centuries, ·or even ·ages, older still .. The generally accepted assumption is
that it originated in Asia Minor in prehistoric times, and was a descendant of
some Central Asiatic ancestry which became localized there. That the Arab has
no mixtu're of native European or African blood, despite strenuous claims to the
contrary, may be accepted as true, for all evidence that is trustworthy points in
that direction.
The Arabian is a small horse. Authentic individuals standing much if any
above 15 hands are rare. The head is extremely fine and· clean-cut, with dished
face and tapered muzzle. The neck, in the better specimens, is long and graceful
with a splendid arch. Shoulders are oblique, the barrel rather short and round
with the ribs well sprung. Coupling is clos~, croup rather Hat, with tail set
high. The hind quarter is light, rather than heavy. r,rhe limbs are remarkable
for their clean, flinty texture, sharply defined tendons, and as a breed the feet
are unequaled in their shape, soundness and. resistance to wear and tear. While
the spirit of the Arab is high, his docility and sweetness of temper modify it
most admirably. He does not possess extreme speed in the Il1odern·sense, though
modern extreme speed in the racing breeds has been produced chiefly upon an
Arabian foundation. He is pre-eminently. a riding horse, his gait at the twt
being less well adapted to use in harness. His extreme courage, endurance and
iron constitution have made his blood indispensable wherever those attributes· are
a desideratum. The carrying power (prepotency) inherent in it, sets it apart
from all other known strains. It is the "sacred drop" that has improved and
refined all those with which it has been mixed.
The stock of Arabs remaining today in Arabia itself is small and constantly
dwindling. The preservation of the breed, in its purity, owing to the devastation of Europe by wars during the past few decades, would appear to rest mainlv
with America, where it has been sedulously cultivated during that period through
the acquisition .fr~;Jm both Europe and Arabia itself of many specimens of the
best families and finest individuals. The prevalent coat colors .are bay, grey and
chestnut with occasional browns; seldom black. The skin is always black no
matter what the color. Few orthodox Arabs will weigh as much as 1,000 podnds
from 600 to 950 being the rule.
'
!l

The Arabian Stud Book of America, now in its fifth volume, is published
by the Arabian Horse Club of America, 111 W. Monroe St., Chicago, Ill. The
manner in which the breed is flourishing is indicated by the way in which registration has proceeded through the period of 1930-1942, inclusive, when the total
reached 1,544, of which 688 were stallions and 856 mares, this being an average
of 117 per annum.

Barb
This breed, of great historical significance, has never been cultivated in
U.S.A. as a separate and distinct one, but members of it have played a prominent
part in the upbuilding of all our different sorts of light horses. The same is trur
in the European countries from which most of our foundation stock was in the
beginning imported.
The Barb is a direct off-shoot or sub-breed of the Arab. As its name implies,
it was developed in North Africa (popularly "Barbary") as the Saracens made
their way along its coast in their wars of conquest, and in its origin dates far
back. Individually the Barb is a replica of the Arab with some marked variations. He averages somewhat larger in size, is somewhat less refined in type.
and in the details of his structure is less highly finished. But the tendency to
under-rate him, as compared with the Arab, is illogical, as the debt that the
modem Thoroughbred owes him is, in especial, a great one. Many more Barbs,
both male and female, were imported into England in the foundation period.
than Arabs; and many of the so-called Arabs of the English Stud Book were
without doubt Barbs. The greater ease of importation, direct from Morocco,
Algeria, etc., as well as through Spain, contributed to this, as well as the fact
that they were much more numerous, while mares were often obtainable, whereas
Arabian mares were almost impossible to import.
During the Colonial period numerous Barbs were imported into this country.
both stallions and mares, whereas genuine Arabians were not. The numerous
so-called "Spanish mares" that came in then were with little doubt Barbs. Later
on similar conditions prevailed. In this way the blood of the Barb became a
contributing factor in the ancestry of the Thoroughbred, Standard Bred. SaddleHorse and other
leading varieties of our light horses.
.,,,

Thoroughbred
Originating in England, this breed has become the equine synonym for
speed and racing quality. lts rise lacks precise documentation, but originated
with tht inherent propensity of the British aristocracy in Stuart times to race
their favorite horses, which had been bred up from Arab, Saracenic and native
blood .. Charles II, who reigned 1660-1685, is called the "Father of the British
Turf" and it is to three Oriental horses imported into England about 1690-1730
that the modern Thoroughbred breed owes its foundation; every animal now
alive that belongs to it traces its direct male line descent to some one or the other
of them, with innumerable collateral crosses to all three. These immortal
founders were known respectively as the Byerley Turk, the Darley Arabian and
the Godolphin Arabian. From them in turn sprung three male lines, known
respectively as those of Matchem, Eclipse and Herod, that were the continuators, and secondary "founding fathers." Matchem, foaled 1748, was by Cade,
son of Godolphin. Herod, foaled 1758, was by Tartar, he by Partner, he by
Jigg and he by the Byerley Turk. Eclipse, foaled 1764, was by Marske, he by
Squirt, he by Childers and he by the Darley Arabian. Mixed with their blood
to produce the modern Thoroughbred was that of many other Oriental animals
together with other strains, now impossible to identify but embracing the best
light horse families and individuals then extant in England.
10

The term "thoroughbred" as descriptive of
the new breed was not
introduced until subsequent to its transit to the
New World, where its
propagation began almost
simultaneously with the
same process in England.
B u 11 e R o c k, the first
''bred" stallion known to
have been imported, and
a son of the Darley Arabian, arrived in Virginia
in the year 1730. The
stream which thus took
its rise has continued ever
since to bring to the
Thoroughbred-! mp. Bull Dog
U.S.A. thousands of stallions and mares ( incl uding many from France as well as other countries beside England).
The modern Thoroughbred, by selective breeding for speed on the race
course through several centuries, while in many ways retaining the fixed characteristics of his Oriental.ancestry, is today a greatly different animal. In size he
averages around 16 hands, individuals of 17 hands are met with, and one of 15
hands (the Arabian standard) is reckoned a little one. In stud condition stallions
will weigh at times around 1400 pounds, but in racing trim about 1000 pounds
is the average or a. bit below it. Along with his great increase in height and
weight, the Thoroughbred has altered structurally in various ways, but has
retained much of the elegance, high form and aristocratic ensemble of his Oriental
ancestors, while losing something of their soundness, tractability and docility. His
speed has increased almost incredibly and ·the fastest Arab of .today would be
no match for a Thoroughbred of low class, or even a good half-bred. The
present American record for one mile is the 1:34 2-5 of Equipoise, carrying 128
pounds, this being as a four-year"old in 1932. English records are not official,
therefore do not require cit.ation. The American Thoroughbred is the oldest
off-shoot from the British parent stock, those of other countries being of much
later derivation. In all sections of the world-for he is now thoroughly internationalized-the blood of the Thoroughbred has excelled in the improvement
of other breeds of light horses, this being especially true of the Standard Bred
and various riding types.
The English General Stud Book originated in 1791. The first tentative
American Stud Book appeared in 1834. The now-official American Stud Book
dates (Vol. I) at 1868 and 17 volumes have thus far appeared. It is published
by The Jockey Club, 250 Park Ave., New York, and registry in it is imperative
if Thoroughbred status is secured. No running horse can race at a recognized
meeting unless registered. From 1930 to 194,1 a total of 64,873 animals were
registered, 31,865 stallions and 33,008 mares, a yearly average of 5,406.

American Quarter Horse
The earliest form of horse racing carried on in America was that of primitive Virginia, where, owing to the lack of cleared sites, large enough for formal
race tracks. it was given over the so-called "race paths" that were literally hewn
11

~

out of the wilderness
and were usually a
quarter~mile in length.
Quarter racing in this
way became and long
remained the favored
sport in Maryland, Virginia and .the. Carolinas,
spreading also through
the other colonies. Then
as true course racing
and the "bred" and subsequent "thoroughbred"
race. horse were introduced, the rude contests
of the earliest pioneers
wereabandoned, retreating to the frontier as it
was pushed ever farther
American Quarter Horse stallion-Peppy
and farther southward
and westward. Today,
however, it still flourishes, especially in Tex:as and the trans-Mississippi states.
Quarter racing produced a type of horse specifically intended for and
adapted to it, originally founded by the cross of Thoroughbred stallions upon
native mares, probably chiefly of Spanish descent from stock brought in from
Florida·· through the Carolinas, but sometimes wholly thoroughbred in blood;
The patriarch of the quarter genealogies is (or was) imported Janus, an English
Thoroughbred that flourished in Virginia and North Carolina from 17 56 to
1780. Though himself a tested four-mile racer in England, his "get" were almost
uniformly notable for their whirlwind speed over short distances and in quarterracing were unequaled. Janus stood. about 14.2 hands and the distinctive point
in his conformation was his immensely heavy and powerful hind quarter, with
its swelling, bulging muscles. He is credited with propagating a breed of his
type which still. exists ·in this country (now officially known as the American
Quarter Horse)-horses low to the ground, immensely powerful, with heavy
frames and prodigious muscling in hind quarters and over loin, back and forequarters, lacking in finish or blood-like quality but with great speed at from 200
yards to a quarter mile: beyond which they cannot go at such speed. The cheeks
and jowls are heavily muscled, giving the animal somewhat of a bulldog resemblance in the jaws: ears are small .. Height in stallions usually is 15 hands,
weight nearly 1200 pounds. ·They ate liked by ranchmen for work with cattle,
as they have speed enough to head any beast quickly, great agility, have weight
and power enough to hold a heavy steer when roped, and last. but not least, a
calm disposition, unruffled by sudden shifts from top speed to a walk. Great
endurance and ability to live on prairie grass are other valuable characteristics.
The purity of the breed is best shown by the fact that its distinctive characteristics continue in evidence even after several crosses to present-day Thoroughbreds though higher withers, longer necks, and more attractive heads are
desirable results.
· This breed is now being actively promoted by the American Quarter Horse
Association, Box 580, Eagle Pass, Texas; a Quarter Horse Register has been
established and registrations from 1940 to 1942 were 1,127; 275 stallions, 852
mares; annual average, 375.
12

Morgan
This breed of light
horses, for many years the
most popular in America
and· disseminated over the
entire Union, sprung literally from the loins of· a
single progenitor; the little
bay stallion Justin Morgan,
foaled about 1793, died in
1821, whose entire stud
service was made in Ver·
mont.
His onglh was
obscure, his blood likewise,
though the extant evidence
points to an ancestry largely Thoroughbred or Arabian. Though bred only
.
.
Morgan stallwn-General Gates
to ordinary mares, the uniform excellence of his
progeny and, in especial, their extraordinary trueness to type, rapidly established them as the most popular and valuable family of all-purpose animals
in America, which position they held until the advent of the Standard Bred
-to which ·newer type, in turn, they contributed many of its best characteristics. Justin Morgan was a mere pony in size, standing 14 hands. In color
a bay, with black points, his only mark was a small star. He was compact,
muscular, shapely, and stylish, very nimble and active, a fast walker, trotter and
runner, marvelously good tempered and docile while at the same time spirited
and courageous. Almost his only evidences of "cold" blood were his thick,
heavy mane and tail and long, shaggy fetlocks, which in later generations became
much modified. He begot his own image with amazing uniformity, stamping
himself likewise with such strength that his blood produced and reproduced the
original mould to his remote posterity. The present Morgan type has been
somewhat refined by selection and inbreeding, but in the better specimens remains
substantially that of its originator. Th~ average size ranges from 14 to 15
hands; weight from 800 to 1,000 pounds; standard colors-bay, brown, black
and chestnut.
The Morgan Register' was established in 1894. Breeding is now chiefly
cartied on under U. S. Government supervision, and under the Morgan Hoi~e
Club, 90 Broad St., New York. Registrations from 1930 to 1942, inclusive,
were 2,414; with 1,038 stallions and 1,376 mares; yearly average, 186.

Standard Bred
The American Standard Bred trottet, as a breed, dates officially at 1879
when the National Association of Trotting Horse breeders adopted a set of
mles based on speed at the trotting gait governing admission to the American
Trotting Register, of which three volumes. previously had been published, Vol.
I in 1871. The animals registered in these preliminary volumes consisted oj
those accepted by the compiler, John H. Wallace; but thereafter no animal
was admitted to. the main body of the book unless it qualified under the
Standard rules. This ever since has temained in force, though today the rules
vary widely from those originally formulated, following the great progress In
the establishment of a type that has taken place. The trotting Standard of
13

today is to all practical
effect, one of blood only,
whereas during the formative period it was governed
largely by performance and
records made upon the race
track:.
The "Great Father"
of the modern Standard
trotter was Rysdyk's Hambletonian, also known as
Hambletonian 10 (his
Standard number in Vol.
IV of the Register. He was
foaled in 1849 and triply
descended (direct m a I e
line and two collateral
crosses) from the English
Thoroughbred Messenger
.
.
(patriarch of the Standard
Standard Bred stallzon-Volomzte
Bred) imported in 1788
and he a male-line descendant through Blaze of the Darley Arabian. The
blood of Messenger is recognized as the principal foundation element of the
Standard Bred, allied with it being many other Thoroughbred strains, together with Morgan, Norfolk trotter, pacing, riding and the blood of other
light sorts. Thus it is a composite, in the beginning a very diverse one, but
one which today has by selective breeding under the Standard evolved into a
thoroughly established type of world-wide recognition-its distribution throughout the globe having begun shortly after the adoption of the Standard took place.
All European countries have drawn heavily upon America in building up their
trotting breeds, and thousands of animals have been exported for racing and
breeding purposes.
The modern highly specialized Standard Bred trotter strongly resembles
his Thoroughbred ancestors in many ways, in others departing markedly from
that type. He is a smaller horse, averaging around 15;2 hands and seldom
topping 16 hands, and as rarely failing to reach 15. Bay, brown and chestnut
are the prevalent colors. Stallions in stud condition will average from 1,100 to
1,200 pounds; in racing condition from 900. pounds .,.up to about 1,000. Difference in gait has caused structural differences from the Thoroughbred-as a type
the Standard trotter is longer-bodied, lower to the ground, heavier-limbed and
sturdier in build. In elegance of finish and blood-like quality the best specimens
closely approximate the Thoroughbred. In gameness and stamina, owing to his
being required to race heats, the trotter is unexcelled fn the ability to go mile
after mile at nearly his most extreme rate. The present mile record of 1 :55 X
in single harness was made by Greyhound in 1938. The pacing branch of
the Standard Bred, now practically identical in blood with the trotting, .has
as its record-holder, Billy Direct, 1 :55. Trotting blood has proved one
of the most valuable all-purpose elements, the Standard Bred being tractable,
steady-going and a~apted t? the utilitarian scheme. Like the Thoroughbred,
the Standard Bred IS long-hved, hardy and withstands extremes of climate and
temperature well. Formerly in wide use for road and driving purposes of all
kinds, the introduction of motor vehicles has of late restricted the Standard Bred
almost wholly to the race track.
·
14

Of th~ 1'rotting Register 32
volumes have been issued thus
far. It is now owned and published by the United States
Trotting A s s o c i a t i o n of
Goshen, New York. Registrations, from 1930 to 1942, inclusive, were 17,104, including
6,511 stallions and 10,593
mares; a yearly average of
I ,315.

Hackney
The name of this breed immediately distinguishes it. The
word hackney (a very old one
with a pedigree extending hack
over a thousand years) and its
abbreviation,
hack, derived.
Hackney stallion-Dicksfie!d Essex
from the Latin, have been
used in almost all civilized
countries, in some form, to denote both a general purpose horse and the vehicles
which he draws. Crystallizing in modern England it was there specifically applied
to a type of harness horse midway between the light and heavy sorts. It was also
much used for riding in early days. It might be described as a heavier strain of
the old-time "Norfolk Trotter," so called as having originated in the county of
~orfolk. The two adjoining counties of Norfolk and Suffolk are the most
easterly of England and are directly opposite the "Low Countries" (Belgium
and Holland) which were the region where the "Great" and other heavy breeds
of Europe were evolved in the so-called Dark Ages. In Norfolk, which is the
northern of the two, by a refining process, brought about by the crossing-in of
thoroughbred blood, the Norfolk Trotter and his derivative, the Hackney, were
produced. In Suffolk, to the contrary, was produced the Suffolk Punch, in which
the draft type reached extreme development.
The Hackney, as a distinct type, did not emerge until comparatively recem
times and its patriarch (i.e., most important sire in its development into a breed)
is commonly assigned as being Blaze (foaled 1733), grandson of the Darley
Arabian-the same Blaze from whom imported Messenger, the patriarch of the
American Standard Bred trotter was also directly descended. The Hackney
became specialized for use in the British hackney-coaches of the 18th century,
and, as a type, was later consecrated to the use of the upper classes in their road
driving, hitched to vehicles of many kinds. As such they were bred with that
object in view, it calling for an animal of more robust conformation than those
used for racing purposes, yet of high finish, symmetry and speed, with especially
flashy action at the trot. The size aimed at was medium to small, with
roundness of outline and jaunty carriage, in height from something under 15
hands to not more than 15.2, and in weight from 900 to 1,100 pounds. Bay,
brown and chestnut are the preferred colors. They were, before the advent of
the carriage, used under saddle and also were employed for some light agricultural work.
Previous to the advent of motor vehicles the Hackney was much in demand
and actively promoted in England, with a Stud Book of his own and stron~
publicity. Many choice individuals were imported into America, chiefly for
show and "fancy" driving and for breeding purposes, but found strong com15

petitiOn from the Standard
Breds and their derivatives.
Latterly in n umbers
Hackneys have almost disappeared from the Americ
can scene and their ·breeding here has become extremely restricted, while in
England they may be regarded as more or less of
a vanishing breed.

American. Saddle-Horse
This breed is both an
old and a .new one. It did
not officially assume its
present status until abmrt
50 years ago, when. the
Am er i.e an Saddle-Horse
Register was founded and
American Saddle-Horse stallion-A rnerican Ace
the first attempt made to
confer upon it something more than an indefinite rank and character in the equine
hierarchy. But previous to this it had long been in existence.
The American Saddle-Horse took his rise with the first settlement of the
countryby its pioneers and founders,some four hundred years ago. To traverse
a vast· continent its pioneers, unless they went on foot, had but two ways of
conveyance. One was by water, meaning its rivers and lakes. The other was
on horseback. As the waterways were immovable in their beds, while the
mobility of the horse was unlimited, the us~ of the latter for overland transportation became universal; men, women, children-all became ~questrians, as
much athome in the saddle as out of it. Which condition continued for generations in that part of the country. first cleared and settled, and for centuries in
those more remote portions which were latest pioneered.
To fill the need for an all-purpose riding horse a foundation was laid by
the importation from the. old world of animals of its approved riding types.
These animals came chiefly from England and Spain in the beginning. Later
on others came from Barbary, from France {into Canada) and other lands
beyond the seas .. The type demanded was one light, speedy, good-looking, adaptable to harness use if desired (as good roads gradually made their way), tractable, intelligent, of good constitution and courage, long-lived and versatile.
The animal thus produced, as. we know him today in the form of the
modern American Saddle-Horse, is a verit.able native creation. He is separate
and distinct from all the Old World riding types and as he stands is one of the
most beautiful and popular now to be found. In blood ·he represents an
amalgam of the various different strains which the process of trial and error
has demonstrated to be preferable. His mai11 blO<)d-streail) .is Thorolighbred and
the four-mile race horse Denmark (foaled 1839) has been officially designated
as the principal founder of the pre.sent type~though as a matter .of. fact he
was a late-comer upon the .scene; the Kentucky Sa~dle Horse, par:ent ()f the
present American breed, was an established product . before penn;lark Houilshed.
Mixed with the thoroughbred element are v~ti()US others, including pacing, trot.ting, Morgan, Standard Bred, etc., etc Selective breeding having from these
diverse components achieved a unified atnd· in effect, fixed r~sui~,
16

The typical American Saddle-H:orse is from 15 to 16 hands tall, but preferably under, rather than. over, t)le l(ltter, He is distinguished by his light and
elegant conformation, high· finish, £ell,utiful head, long, fine neck, oblique shoulders, round, .rather light. barre~, Hat croup, and light, smoothly turned quarter;
legs of thoroughbred f 0.rmand texture; entire ensemble bearing the stamp of
hi~h bree4i11g, with a carriage of the utmost spirit and gallantry, while at the
same ti!I)e he Is }oci1e, intenlgent and in temperament such that he i11spires
affecti~n in his ,~mister ot mist~ess 1 . He goes half-a-dozen different gaits with
the utmo~,t fadlity-'-the u'slJ.aLwalk, trot and canter or gallop; in addition he
has.OQ(!Of.the slow gaits Qrunnrng walk, fox trot, stepping pace or slow rack)
.arid the fast rack, often known. as single-foot, and is as attractive in harness
as out of it. He is the peacock of the horse world, and now is being bred
almost solely for horse show purposes. The prevalent colors are the various
shades of bay, especially the rich dark on.es, brown, black, grey and chestnut.
Conspicuous white markings are avoided by most breeders.
The American Saddle-Horse Breeders Association of Louisville, Ky., publishes the Saddle-Horse Register, now in its 23d volume. Registrations, 1932
to 1941, inclusive, 20,162, with 7,712 stallions and 12,450 mares; annual average, 2,016.

Walking Horse
This breed, officially known as the Tennessee, but better known popularly
as the Plantation Walking Horse, is of recent origin. Its foundation is traced
to the Standard Bred trotting stallion, Allan, a horse of mixed Hambletonian
and Morgan antecedents, foaled in 1886, traditionally taken to Tennessee as a
colt and there known, from his color, as "Black Allan." He lived long b.ut
obscurely and begot a very large progeny, mostly from the Tennessee mares of
mixed Thoroughbred, pacing and s~ddle strains. As time passed, it became
apparent that he was a progenitor of remarkable prepotency. Not only were his
"get," from all sorts of mares,of a striking family resemblance-thissimilarity
comprehended not only. conformation and appearance, superficially, hut all
other traits as well. Moreover, his sons bred after him in that regard, almost
as uniformly. The Tennessee Walking Horse breed might easily have been
caUed the "Allan breed." It may be said to have come into existence in the
rnost simply natural way,
Tennessee Walking Horse~Top U 7 ilson
as did the Morgan· breed,
of its own volition. It has
been the . architect of its
own forttc~ne, without other
assistance than its basic
merit.
In the past ten
years it has won a wide
and apparently durable
popularity .and as a result
is now being energetically
promoted.
The Walking H 0 r s e
type (the name, being derived from the running
walk, the gait so much in
requisition by Southern
planters and farmers) is a
heavier and more powerful
one than the Saddle-Horse
17

r

type. The average member of the breed is larger, stouter, more robust and
rugged in physique. He has less finish and elegance but plentiful good looks.
His head is plainer, neck shorter, body and quarters more massive, limbs
heavier. The prevalent colors ar~ bay, black and chestnut, roan is common,
there are some greys, and conspicuous white markings are characteristic of
the breed. The temper of the Walking Horse is excellent, he is intelligent
and well-behaved, and in addition to. his very fast and powerful running walk
or fox trot, he has a good flat-footed walk and excellent canter, as well as
being a good trotter in harness. Animals of the breed long have been widely
used for agricultural work on farms, as well as for riding on southern
farms, and where so used are considered a general purpose horse, · good at
work on the farm, for driving oil the road, or for use under saddle. They
require careful training to d,evelop a true running walk; if pressed many take
to a pace, very objectionable in a riding horse. As an all-purpose animal on
Southern farms he rates well. Few good specimens weigh)ess than 1,000 pounds
and upward, or in height are below 15.2 hands. Many are 15.3. to 16 hands
and weigh up to 1200 pounds.
'
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' Association is located at Lewisburg, Tenn., and its Register, started. in 1935, is now in its 4th volume. The
sexes are not separated. The total registered to April 2, 1943, about 8 years,
is 10,800, of which about 3,300 are stallions and 7,500 mares.

Cleveland Bay
· This breed of · middle-weight horses takes its name from the district· of
Cleveland in the North Riding of Yorkshire, which still remains the chief locale
of production. It is another old breed, though some of the claims made for its antiquity probably are exaggerated. That it has a strong infusion of Thoroughbred
blood is certain and this has powerfully influenced Cleveland type and character.
. The average Cleveland Bay is about 16 hands high and will weigh from
1400 to 1500 pounds. His name signifies his color-a dark, soft, brownish bay.
with black points and solid coat; the presence of white markings, even if inconspicuous, will give rise to doubts' of purity of blood. In appearance this breed
suggests .a coachy type of
..
.
grade thoroughbred, ~nd
Cleveland Bay stallwn-lmp. Orwn
previous to the advent of
the motor vehicles, was the
favorite E n g I i s h coach
horse, likewise preferred
for many uses in both harness and under saddle,
owing to its good temper,
tractability and easiness to
handle. When crossed judiciouslv with other breeds
for the production of allpurpose animals of superior
size, especially hunters and
serviceable farm and country types, it is of much
utility, being a stout and
obedient worker, rugged
and robust. It never has
peen extensively imported
or bred in America-there
18

are but few here now-and
the only registration is in
the English Stud Book for
the breed. Full informa·
tion about the breed can be
obtained from A. Mackay
Smith, Farnley Farm,
White Post, V a., (enclose
25 cents in stamps with
letter of inquiry).

Percheron
This, the most widely
distributed of all heavy
breeds, derives its name from
the ancient district of La
Perche, which lies chiefly in
the province of Normandy,
.
.
France-because of this the
Percheron stallzon-Don Agam
name Norman-Percheron or
Percheron-Norman often
was employed in early years. Normandy is the great horse-breeding, region of
France and within its confines the majority of the best French Thoroughbreds and
trotters, as well as draft horses, are produced. That it is one of the most favorable ~pots in the world for high-class horse production has been abundantly proved.
The Percheron alone, of all the heavy draft breeds, is believed to have had
an infusion ofArab blood. The Moors from North Africa, mounted on Arab
and Barb horses, overcame Spain in 711 A.D. (which country they held for more
than five centuries) and overran western France until defeated at Tours, France,
by Charles Martel in 732 A.D. Tours is at the southern edge of the district of
LaPerche where the Percheron horse originated. Alvin H. Sanders, the leading
authority on the breed, says·: "The real origin of the Percheron is involved in
almost total obscurity; but that Arab blood was left behind at the time of this
crowning disaster to Oriental arms in western Europe no one need doubt. We
may find in this a possible explanation of the combined style and substance of the
grey and white chargers so numerous in the middle ages--a possible cross of the
· eastern blood-horse upon a weightier western type."
While in France the big horses of La Perche had long been famous, it was
not until about 1870 that the systematic effort began to transform them into the
titanic equines which they have become, leaders in their field and of international
repute. That the foundation stock was eclectic in blood-structure is certain.
All the probabilities point toward its having been developed many centuries ago
from a mixture of light and heavy elements, in which usage fin"ally made the latter
dominant. Among the light ones, that there was an Arabian or Saracenic stram,
seems certain; that imperishable blood has demonstrated its presence too unmistakably to be ignored, and to it some of the most valuable, as well as visible characteristics of the Percheron may be attributed.
Originally the Percheron horses had been used chiefly for military purposes
as war chargers in the days of knighthood, and later as chariot horses to pull the
enormous coaches of the nobility. Still later their usefulness was that of ''diligence" horses-the "diligence" being the French equivalent of the English mail
and passenger highway coaches that preceded the advent of the railroads. The
coming of the railroads caused a diversion to agriculture, henceforth the chosen
19

field of the breed, which was in considerable degreeimproved and perfected to
meet this demand.
The typical Percheron is predominantly grey in color (a probable Arab
inheritance), though blacks are numerous and browns are frequent. Sorrels or
chestnuts, and bays with black points, have been known in the breed for more
than a hundred years past but constitute less than 2%, respectively, of it.
Brilliant 1271, (imported 1881) the most famous and prepotent stallion of
the breed ever imported, was a black and transmitted that color profusely. The
mature stallion stands from 16.1 to 16.3 hands and weighs from 190.0 to 2100
pounds. Those less than 16 at maturity classify as small. The head, for so large
an animal, is often surprisingly handsome, again showing the probable Arab influence. The neck is of good length, proportionately. Shoulders are remarkably
oblique, which results in a short back and long belly line. Croup is often somewhat drooping. with tail low set. The legs are short, with massive bone usually
of fine quality, and there is great depth and size of body. The entire muscular
investiture is prodigious in its bulk, and power. Notwithstanding this the Percheron is, for his size and weight, extremely active and light on his feet, with
fine knee action and a bold, square trot. He is exceptionally good-tempered,
long-lived (sometimes to 30 years) and suitable for all draft purposes.
Importation of Percherons into U.S.A. began about 1840 but not until the
earlier 1850's did it commence to attain importance. The American Percheron
Stud Book was founded in 1878 and is now in its. 25th volume. Registrations
through 1930 to 1942, inclusive, were 40,754, of which 15,290 were stallions
and 25,464 mares, making a total of 3,135 annually. The Stud Book is published
by the Percheron Horse Association of America, U nioh Stock Yards, Chicago, Ill.

Belgian
One of the most significant facts of botn human and equine ethnology is
that the larger breeds, races or types were of European origin, the smaller ones
of Oriental. When the Northmen carried their conquests and. depredations
throughout the entire Mediterranean region, it was their gigantic height and
strength which caused the greatest fear and trembling. They towered over
.
. .
.
the Southern peoples alBelgtan stallwn-Jay Farceur
most like colossi. In the
same manner, the Oriental or Southern breeds of
horses have always been
notable for their speed,
elegance and lightness of
build; while all the modern types of huge draft
animals have been bred up
from the primordial European varieties,· of which
the Orientals and kindred
sorts were the antipodes.
So far as known the
primitive North European
horse had no admixture
whatever of Oriental or
South European blood.
The great size and bulk
that he attained was a
20

Northern attribute, which later on was modified in some by the Oriental strains
brought across the Alps or by sea, first by the Roman conquerors and later on
by the Crusaders or the Saracenic invaders. The original big horse of history
is (or was) the "great horse" of the Middle Ages, whose capacity to attain
imposing height and bulk was developed under the stimulus of warfare and
the necessity the mounted warriors had for such an animal in order to carry
the immense weight of themselves, their arms and their armor-which came
eventually to include armor for the horse as well as his rider. It has been estimated that the combined· weight of this (excluding riders' weight) was seldom
under 200 pounds and often over 300.
The "great horse" which was produced to meet this exigency was the
ancestor of the heavy breeds of today. Without exception they all had him for
forefather. How the ancients produced him is unknown. But where they
produced him seems to be established. The great center for his breeding and
rearing were what were known as the Low Countries-Holland and Belgium
(Flanders) and Northern France.
The "great horse" of Flanders was the most famous of all these ancient
types and is today lineally represented by the Belgian draft horse, which stands
second numerically only to the Percheron among modern heavy. breeds. He
excels as a straight draft animal, and is in particular demand for that purpose
because of his uniformity in color and build. The typical Belgian is preferably
a dusty chestnut, with flaxen mane. and tail and a white bla21ed face, though
roa11s and other colors are found' in the breed. He stands from 16 to 17 hands,
sometimes over. His head is not so broad between the eyes or clean cut, usually,
as the Percheron's but his neck is excellent, he. has grand shoulders and breast,
his body is deep and his back short, though his croup frequently is markedly
steep and sloping. His bone is heavy but sometimes somewhat coarse, and in
some animals the feet are smaller and less open than they should be. These
objections have been overcome considerably in the past 30 years by the constructive work of American breeders. The Belgian is extremely quiet and docile in
temperament, patient, willing and honest, but generally slow-motioned and with
little high stepping leg action. In size and weight he averages about the same
as the Percheron. For show purposes, in four and six"horse hitches, he has been
considerably used. Belgian horses have distinguished themselves in many
pulling contests.
The Belgian horse was introduced into the U.S.A. more recently than
the Percheron, Clydesdale and Shire, but has made up for this by rapid
growth in use and popularity. His promotion is by the Belgian Draft Horse
Corporation of America, Iotated at Wabash, Ind. The Register of the breed
is now in its 30th volume. Registrations through 1930-1943, inclusive, reached
27,664, of which 11,189 were stallions and 16,475 mares; annual average2,128.

Clydesd:de
Originating in that region of the County of Lanark, Scotland, which is
\vatered by the river Clyde, an area popularly known as Clydesdale, this breed
of horses thus derived its name. Numerically it ranks next below the Percheron
and the Belgian among the heavy types.
Its origin is dated about the year 1715, when a black Flemish (or Dutch)
stallion was.brought into Clydesdale from England. While··precise details about
him are many of them wanting, he was one of those exceptionally prepotent
individuals which from time to time appear and found new families or strains
21

which are destined to endure.
He bred· after himself with
uniformity, and this was. not
only demonstrated through his
sons but his daughters as well;
the latter reproducing ·his
characteristics in a remarkable
degree.
The Clydesdale usually
does not· attain quite such large
size as the Percheron, Belgian
or Shire, 16 to 16.2 hands
being the average height, and
1800 pounds· the a v e r a g e
weight of stallions. The ancestral color of bl;tsk:, modified
as either a .very d~~~ QfO):Y:n or
b~\~ll:ll~x, is alm'ost'~~i'v~rsal,
With prominent white markClydesdale stallion-Coronation
ings, such as a broadly blazed
face and white feet and legs
up to the knees and hocks.· A distinguishing feature is the long hair, called
"'feather" on the cannons, fetlocks and pasterns, both front and rear, this hair
being so long and feathery as almost.to hide the bony structure. Emphasizing
this is the high action, both walking and trotting, of the Clydesdale. It is
claimed by their adherents that their gait is the freest, straightest and boldest
of all the heavy breeds. In action in the show ring their flowing and cascading
fetlocks, lifted well in the air, give them a picturesque appearance. While
occasionally a fine head with dished face is observed among them, as a rule
Roman noses prevail. The neck is of medium length, shoulders usually rather
upright, body somewhat light, muscular investiture likewise, croup inclined to
be steep, tail set low. In weight they range on the average from 1600 to 1800
pounds, with occasional heavier specimens. As in the other heavy breeds, the
mares will scale about 1 inch less in height and proportionately in weight. While
well adapted to both draft and agricultural use, the Clydesdale is much
esteemed for the latter purposes.
The Clydesdale Breeders Association of the United States, Union Stock
Yards, Chicago, Illinois, ·publishes the Stud Book which is now in its 26th
volume. Registrations, 1930-1942, inclusive, 1, 74 5, with 610 stallions and
1,135 mares; annual average 134.

Shire
This is the largest of all the heavy breeds, the stallions frequently reaching
17.2 hands in height and averaging close to 17, while in weight they range from
1800 to 2200 pounds. Their fairly mountainous size and bulk, as well as their
ancestry, has been traced directly back to the original "great" horse of the Middle
Ages, of which they are held to be the nearest living reproductions. As elsewhere
noted the "great" horse was evolved to meet the need for an animal of immense
size and strength in order to carry the weight of the knight and armor imposed
. upon him. The Percheron and the Belgian are' his most famous Continental
descendants of the present day; while in England he is represented by the Shire,
which exceeds the other two in his proportions. It is supposed that the Shire
22

took his rise about the ·
time of the Norman Con.:
quest in 1066, when the
"great" horses of France
and the Low Countries
were first taken acr.oss
the English Channel · in
large ... numbers, w h i c h
became a steady stream
for years thereafter. He
was in former centuries
!mown. as the Old Eng·
lish Black Horse; that
color being distinctive of
.the breed. Today the
Shire is more often bay
or · brown, but rn an y
blacks are present. Prominent white markings are
Shire stallion-Innis/ail King
typical. At one period
greys and whites were
cultivated, especially for show and parade purposes. When the use of armor
was discontinued, the "great" horse was converted into a draft horse and
renamed the Shire from his centers of production, chiefly Lincolnshire and
Cambridgeshire.
·
The Shire has a massive frame supported by short legs. His ·head is small
for his size, neck is of fair length and very heavily crested, body short and
very deep, quarters heavy, croup less steep than those of the other heavy breeds,
legs of immen~e bone, cannons, fetlocks and· pasterns shaggy, with long, heavy
hair (feather) often coarse in texture. Temperament is mild and docility unusual.
For sheer draft purposes Shires have a high rating. Owing t6 their extreme size
and heavy feather they have never passed into wide use in the United States.
The American Shire Horse Association, 319 E. Fourth St., Des Moines, Iowa.
is the official organization in this country and publishes the stud book now in its
6th volume. Registrations through 1930-1942 inclusive, 1,106 with 530 stallions
and 576 mares, annual average 85.

Suffolk
Still another of the British breeds of heavy horses is the Suffolk, generally
called the Suffolk Punch ; the latter epithet deriving hom its c6nformation, often
phrased as "punched up." In antiquity it vies with the Shire and probably originated about the same time. Structurally the Suffolk is exceptional among
the heavy types in his lack of range, remarkable compactness, closeness of make
and striking appearance. His head is small and often fine' for a big horse.
Neck is short but tremendously thick and crested. His shoulder is sloping,
often very oblique, his chest and heartroom vast, his body very short, .his hind
quarter· almost perfectly rounded and prodigiously muscled, the croup devoid
of any appreciable slope, with tail set on at a good elevation. Legs very short,
arms, thighs, stifles and gaskins of Herculean mould. The leg is not "feathered."
The Suffolk's name comes from that county of England, traditionally his
place of origin, and where he is known to have existed as far back as 1586.
In height he ranges from 16 to 16.2 hands or even down to 15.2; in weight
from 1600 to 1800 pounds, but specimens not much above 16 hands have
23

..

been known to weigh 2,000
pounds or more. By selective
breeding for centuries the
color of this breed has been
almost completely standard,
ized as a dusty chestnut, verg,
ing ·upon dun, often with a
cream-colored mane and tail.
When white markings occur
they are apt to be unobtrusive. The face is seldom
blazed and upon the limbs the
white seldom· extends above
the coronets or pasterns.
The Suffolk is celebrated
for his draft qualities. He
will pull literally until he
drops, will, indeed, when
Suffolk stallion-Admiral of Laurel
trained, c~ouch o? hi~ knees
when pullmg, while h1s courage is so high that in a dead
pull he will not yield until his last resources of strength and determination are
exhausted. He is essentially a farm horse and not generally in city use.
The American Suffolk Association's home offices are at Spencer, Indiana.
The breed never has been largely imported or bred in the United States of
America. Records of registrations of earlier years are unavailable. Those for
1939-42, inclusive, were 322, with 125 stallions and 197 mares: annual
average 80.

Palomino
"When, just about 100 years ago, United States troops took possession of
California, in the course of the Mexican War, it becoming a part of this country
in 18'1-8, they found there a type of.horses which had been developed by the .Spanish-American civilization peculiar to that region. It was without question a byproduct, so to speak, of the Mexican horse-breeding industry, that had been
specialized by selective process until a distinct type resulted.
This type, known as the Palomino, which is not. even yet a pure breed, was
in blood an offshoot of the mixed Saracenic and allied strains first introduced into
the New World by the Spanish conquerors under Cortez in 1519 and in many
ways resembled them, while in others diverging along different lines. Evidently
bred particularly for color, the Palomino was of a golden color or a soft cream
or light, blond chestnut, in coat, with a very light, almost white mane and tail.
Broad white blazed faces and white feet and ankles, often extending high up the
legs, were prevalent. Generally speaking, the Saracenic influ~nce was conspicuous, but increased size and bulk had been attained by crossing in heavier blood.
Used exclusively under saddle by the Spanish and Mexican Dons and great
landed proprietors, the Palomino, while especially cultivated for parade show, and
similar purposes, was also trained for the course and was the typical Old California race-horse. His speed, while not approaching that of the Thoroughbred,
was very respectable, But with the advent of the Thoroughbred and other
types from the Eastern United States; his vogue declined and he was verging
toward extinction until within recent decades he has experienced a decided renais24

sance and is now· once more
being fostered fclr riding! r
purposes and regaining Iii~
'popularity.
. . The Palomino· in
height averages from 15.,2
to 16 hand,s and in weight
fro-m 1 , 0 0 0 t o 1 , 2 0 Q
pounds; color, golden, with
light _colored mane . and
tail. In appear~nce'he isa •
grade Arabian' 'or :ijarb of
a more robttst pattern. .In·
fact, most or the b~tter
Palominos of tgday . carry
3 or 4 top crosses.of. Arab
or Thoroughbred ·. blood,
from chestnut sires pf
those breeds. These, crossed
on Palomino mares, bege~
Palomino st:altion: parade type-Rey Rubio
foals that are. predomi· ·
..
.
.
nantly Palomino in color. Under saddk the Palomino parade type is showy,
high-styled and makes a dashing appearanqe, while his mild .disposition and
docility add to. his desirability.. Palominos· must have .dark eyes. and dark skin.
Crosses with any of the recognized light breeds a.re accep~ed, if_ "get" or progeny
is of palomino color. Some are double registered, i.e., are recorded in the Amer·
ican SaddlecHorse Registry because eligible by reason of their breeding and in
the Palomino Association· because of color.
The Palomino Horse Breeders~ Association has. no objection to any type any
breeder wishes to pursue, and crosses with any of the recognized light breeds are
accepted for registration if they conform to 'color requi·rements; but the Asso·
ciation does forbid the inftts1ion of Shetland or draft blood and bars the use of
pintos or othe~ "off colors.f' Pink or pumpkin. skinned. horses and. those •with
"glass" eyes are barred because the experience·ofbreeders indicates such horses do
not transmit true golden color.
These rulesJ and the fact that all the light hgrse breeds are closely related.
in blood thro~gh Arab and Thoroughbred strains, the. foundation of all, gives
the breeders a wide field for development of golden colored horses of riding type.
.

.

'

'

Three types are recognized by the Association :more may be. The Parade type
is .the full made, round bodied, original type famous .in California a hundred
years ago. Color, size and. beauty are paramdunt ah,d given preferenceover per~
fe<:tion in details -of conformation. The Bridle Path type! is a utility saddle horse
for trail .riding or park riding. Emphasis is placed on good color and quiet temperament, with excellent, walk, trdt, canter; in many, one oL the slow gaits is
added. Some rack.
The stock horse Palomino is one with "stock horse'; characteristics. Utility
qualities have p.fe£erence over perfect color and finish.
'
The Patofilino is being actively promoted , in Texas, where the Palomino
Horse Breeders' A~socia~:ion is located at _Mineral Wells..Registration .began in
1941 _and through to April3, 1943, had reached a total of 892 animals, 340
stallions and .552 mares; an annual average of 446.
25

Shetland
Of all breeds or types of pony, this
is the most famous. As the pet and playfellow of childhood the Shetland has for centuries . been the prime favorite, so much so
that he may be· said to have no rivals.
His. miniature size-he is the smallest
of all small horses--'has been directly attributed to his habitat, the Shetland Isles, which
lie a·bout 100 miles north of Scotland and
paliallel with Central Norway. They were
settled by the Northmen aoout 850 A.D.
and· it is believed that horses were then first
introduced there from the Continent. Subsequently they were acquired by Scotland
and the horse stock originally brought in
much modified by other: strains from that
country, Ireland and perhaps England. The harsh, bleak climate and scanty
herbage, through uninterrupted pressure of centuries' duration resulted in the
gradual dwarfing of Shetland's equidae, which finally evolved into the pony of
the present time. The original type of a hundred years ago was a miniature
draft horse. The average height is 10 hands ( 40 inches), the maximum show
standard 10.2 hands, but many specimens stand 9 hands or less. Bay, black,
brown, black and. white, togetlier with a soft grey are the usual colors and
chestnuts are unknown. The strong admixture of Barb or Arab blood in many
is shown by the heads of some modern Shetlands, which are quite Oriental in
type, as is also the bodily conformation of some families. Again, there is another
sort more like the original ponies, much more heavily built and sluggish in nature.
The typical Shetland is extremely lively, active and vivacious, high-spirited
but playful, full of grit and courage, hardy and long-lived,· for its size speedy
at both the run and the' tn~t lmd equally good for either riding or driving,
while his lovability, friendliness and intelligence have given him an unqiue
· niche'all his own in the equine kingdom.
The American Shetland Pony Club has its home offices at 4111 N. Sherman Blvd.', Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Registrations through 1930-1941
were 1,892, with 625 stallions and
1,267 mares; annual average 157.
ff/elslt Pony stallion-Coed Coch Seon

Welsh Pony
This breed is believed to be
the most numerous one of the various pony types. It is very old, having been in existence for many
centuries-probably since S a x o n
times in England, where it became
localized· in Wales and the adjacent counties. About 1825 a
Thoroughbred stallion was turned
loose among the droves of Welsh
pony mares that ran wild in the ·
remoter localities and ·his influence
is traceable in the present · breed.
26

The standard of size is about
12.2 hands but these rugg~d
and active little fellows are of
much utility in the country
districts where they abound.
There are but few Welsh
ponies in America. The Welsh
Pony and Cob Society has its
offices at Lafayette, Indiana :
registrations in America · are
near the zero point.

Jack
] 'he ass, of which the
male is popularly known as a
jack, or jackass, belongs to a
branch of the Equidae nearly
related to the zebra and has
.Jackass-Kansas Chief
been domesticated from the
most ancient times. In the
wild state it is found only in
North Africa. Today it is distributed over most portions of the civilized globe i11
the tropical and temperate zones-it will not thrive in cold countries. The subfamilies of asses are many and diverse. The wild ass is invariably of a soft grey
with lighter-colored points and a white belly. The domestic ass is also found in
pure white specimens and strains. Its relationship to the horse is demonstrated
by the fact that the two species will inter-breed, the produce of a jackass and a
mare being a mule, and of a stallion and a she-ass, a hinny. But neither of these
hybrids are fertile when interbred.
As was the case with horses for many centuries, the Spanish asses and mules
were the most highly esteemed, and most of the jacks now in use in America are
of Spanish descent, one of the most highly-valued strains coming from the Balearic
Isles, which are in the Mediterranean, about 150 miles east of Valencia, on the
main land. Large numbers of these Balearic asses have been imported into the
U.S.A.
American breeders through crosses of various imported strains and rigorous
selection have developed a Mammoth jackass, larger, heavier boned, better suited
to sire the kind of mules wanted in this country.
Mules were extensively bred in Spain before the discovery of America, and
asses undoubtedly were brought into both Florida and Mexico about then. J acb
were advertised for service in Virginia before the War of the Revolution, and
Captain Lewis of the Lewis and Clark military expedition into the West makes
frequent mention of mules found among the Indian tribes as early as 1806. This
is evidence that jackasses and mules were bred in Mexico by the Spaniards,
spreading up into our own southwest long before 1800.
The jack is in size about like a small work horse, the larger jacks ranging
up to 15.2 hands and sometimes above that, while mules begotten by them, from
big mares, attain heights of 16 to 16.2 hands and weights from 1500 to 1700
pounds.
In weight jacks range from 900 up well above 1000 pounds. Their homely
form, which has been called a caricature of that of the horse, their immense heads
with long, loose ears, straight, thin necks, ungainly outlines, and quaint ways and
habits have made them the comedians of the Equidae. While the witlessness of
the ass has made the term jackass of unive"rsal application to a human ignoramus,
I

27

within his own confines both the ]ack and his "get," the mule, have a wisdom all
their own which they oftendemonstrate in surprising ways. The stubbornness
of mules has become prover.biaL At the same time, as workers they are of high
v11lue and wide use, their strength and toughness being great, while they will
thrive where a horse would go to pieces, as they will keep fit on coarse and scanty
sustenance. Their legs are lean, their feet very narrow and contracted and their
handiness with their heels, together with their loud raucous braying are among
their most prominent attributes. The smaller species are mere ponies and are
seldom seen in North America. The female ass is officially known as a jennet;
which, however, is rather a misnomer, that name properly belonging to a strain
of light Spanish horses of former centuries, of Saracenic blood and great beauty
and swiftness. The ass, properly speaking, has no speed and his gait at both the
trot and the run is awkward.
l\J ule breeding is most extensive in eastern Nebraska and Kansas, southern
Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and in all of Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
The use of mules is most extensive in Texas, Oklahoma and states east thereof,
where colored labor on farms predominates.
The registration of asses, four legged, is supervised by the Standard Jack
and Jennet Registry, Scarritt Bldg., Kansas City, Mo. Thr01.1gh 1930-1941,
inclusive, registrations were 4,222, with 2,907 jacks and 1,315 jennets; annual
average, 351.

Future Trends
Breeders of. purebreds furnish most· stallions used to improve grade horses.
Grades constitute more than 90 per cent of all horses on farms. Purebred sires
supply the seed which brings rapid improvement. Like a little yeast which leavens
a huge baking of bread, or. a small amount of nickel alloyed in steel which greatly
increases its tensile strength, the blood of purebred horses stamps the "get," the
produce of grade mares, with char.acteristics of the sire. Where 3 successive good
sires of one breed are used, the resulting progeny will be Ys pure, i.e., will carry
87 Yz per cent of blood of the breed from which the sires came. These high grade
animals will be so like purebreds that it usually will be impossible to tell from
their appearance and performance. that they are not; but they will not transmit
their characteristics with as much certainty as purebreds,
Breeders to be successful therefore need to be good judges of horses, need to
study markets and need to keep themselves informed of changes which will affect
their future sales.

. Kind Wanted
Breeders of purebred draft horses have been trying to develop a smaller
horse with more quality. In conferences held, they have admitted that demand
for very heavy draft horses is waning, and that they must develop in their pure
breeds, active, handyweight horses, standing from 16 to 16.1 hands, weighing, in
thrifty condition, about 1800 pounds in stallions.
The majority of grade mares on farms are under 1400 pounds, and many
are under 1200 or 1000 pounds, hence Belgian, Percheron, Clyde, Shire and Suffolk stallions will continue· to b~ needed to increase the size and strength of grade
stock from such small mares. There is every reason, therefore, why breeders of
purebred draft horses should redouble their efforts to produce a first class, active
horse of the size mentioned above, with perfect set of ·legs, good feet, excellent
quality, and well balanced symmetry in conformation. As much style and finish
as can be obtained also should be sought for, as they add to selling price and ease in
making sales.
Most farmers reveal by their purchases that they want a horse from 15 to
16 hands, with good feet and excellent set of legs, a horse compactly made, deep
28

and thick in heart girth, with the deep roomy~~~relcwhioh:im~~~,ah~s they are easy

~i~h~~=~;~ta:~e~:;~oi:h:~. ~:::~e~t We~g§~~~-~ar;~~~;;a~~~o' t;~~sQo

pounds. Some want. the lighter weights, some: th'e,h;eayief:, :~fthi~.~nis range, ~~;
the type and essential characterist!ies .desired ~ie approximat~l'Jf~the same irl'':l!l'l';
regardless of weight• .
..
·
. •• •
From 1870 to. 1930 attention was focuse~ Up(;)fj_ inc~easing the size of grade
work stock for plowing, ,disCing, and heavy hauling~ . Tractors and trucks have
taken over such heary work on more than ~1,500,000 farms, and the owners
there.of want handier, lighter horses. .This :expl-ains why demand for handyweight horses is increasing. while the call for, work horses over 1600 pounds is
declining.
Heavy drafters still bring the. most money, but the difference is only a few.
dollars, and not enough to offsetthe added cost of production, Feed required is
in proportihn to weight. It costs 20 per centmore in feed to raise and maintain
an 1800 pound horse than a 1500 pound one, if they are equal in type; hence
the' steady trend to a hor~e or mule big enough to do what a farmer wants done,
but no larger.

Shires Bred to Shetlands
.
.

The size of the mare determines the size of the foal at birth and determines,
very largely, itss!ze at ~;Daturity. Horsemen of lpng experience have known this,
but it remained far Cambridge University, England, to do the scientific work
J ·
.
•
which provided evidence to prove it.
They cro5sed Shires and Shetlands both :Ways (a: Shire stallion bn Shetland
mares, a Shetland stallion on Shire mares), :by ar.tificial insemination. It was
found that there :is some substance .in the dan').s; unknown as yet, which Controls
the size to which foals develop in utero. Foals by the Shhe stallion .OJ.lt of Shetland mares were .not appreciably larger at~ birth than pure Shetland foals;
whereas foals by Shetland stallions. out of. Shhe mares were 3 times a:s latge . :i!-t
birth as. the foals out of Shetland mares, thoJgh not quite as large as
.
foals. Weights of foals at birtli usually are fr(?m 6to 10 per cent of
of dam: the crossbred foals were within this ifange and the Shetland
no trouble foaling the '~get" .of Shire stallions, .
From foaling on to weaning time the foals out of Shire mares grew much
more· rapidly, though Walton and. U:ammond; the research men doing the work,
attributed this largely to the gr.eater milk .flbw of the ~hire mother .. After a
sharp drop at weaning time,, the growth of the crossbred foals out of the Shire
mares continued. at a 'more rapid rate than the others till 18 months, after which
time the rate of growth, measured a§ a perctntage of the foal's weight at the
start of each record period, was about the same ip.each. At maturity the average
of the animals. by Shire stallions out of Shetla~d mares was 725 pounM; tho~e by
Shetland stallions out of Shire mares, 972 pounds. None of the animals had
anything but pasture and hay throughout their existence, for even after being put
to work, grain was vnavailable because of thei.war.
Hammond and Walton} in mrhmenting ·bn their work, say:
"In horses the length of th.e legs, fro,~ iknee and. hock downwards, is
fully grown at birth, and the ultimate siz~ ··to which the. reciprocal crosses
grow is a1s~ affeded in this proportion. jBy using the· small dam (Shetland) as the pa~ent in.this cross it takes tlfo crosses of male Shire blood to
obtain the saine~size in the. offspring that is obtained in one cross wllere the
large dam (Shire) is used astb:e parent. · ·
·
·
''In addition to the genetic influence on size of both sire and dam, the dam
exerts a nutritional influence on the size o£ the offspring which in this case
29

extends over mor~ than; one generation: ·ln other words, the. size of the foal is
affected both bythe).)eredity of the sire and dam and by the nutritional environment provided· by the ·latter.
;
> • ''Similar resl.lits are ~lso seen;in reciprocal cr:osses between the .large horse
:u;1d the sm;tll. Honkey; the hinny from a horse stall.ion mated to a dor1key
mare is a much smaller animal·than is the mule from a donkey stallionto<a
horse mare.''
No one recommedds suchextreme crossesas Shires and Shetlands: but if
it was or is desirable to breed •p.urebred. draf.t stalliof}s to mares of. 1,000 pounds
or less to get good wo~k animals, thereipn~ re~son to object to crossing Arab,
Thoroughbred,· Q.tJ.arter Horse, Stand;ud. Bred . . or other light breed sires on big
coarse mares, 1()00 pmurds and up, where a medium weight handy wor:k hor~e
is desired• The important point is to select a heavily muscled, low set, docile sire
of whichever .light breed is used. Results in size will .be intermediate and as
certain as if a jack were used; .but the female progeny will breed and produce,
while mules do not.
Ultimately, a general purpose breed or breeds will be developed to supply
the handy work horse .so many farmers prffer: till then crosses of light breed
stallions on big mares and draft stallions on small mares, will furnish most of
the work horses used.

Colors in Horses
Color makes no difference in the utility value of horses and mules. They
work as well under one color as another.
Color does make some difference in selling price, especially in pairs, where
animals that are well matched
color as well as in other characteristics often will
bring substantially higher prices; but .if there were many such pairs available, the
differential soon would. vanish .
. . ..· Despite this~~md probably because many people can distinguish horses by
color more easily than by their characteristics which are of utility value-many
questions on color are propounded.
The most comprehensive study of coat colors in horses known to us is that
done by Fred Gn:mmel at the Texas Experiment Station, which was published in
the Journal of Heredity in 1939. Gremmeli carried out exhaustive surveys
through correspondence with breeders and herdsmen and made chemical bleaching and colorimetrical tests. Physical differences in individual samples of hair
were determined from histological (microscopic anatomy). studies. Chemical
differences were sought by making pigrri.ent extractions and attempting synthetic reproductions, By permission we quote extracts from his published report.

in

"'Discussion of Histological Studies"
"There is but one pigment that produces color in hair of horses. This pigment is. amber color and is deposited in the fo~rn. of discrete granules .more or
less fused into irregular shapes and sizes of dusters. No 'diffuse' pigment was
found. The results indicate that so long as the relative size of the medulla as
compared to the cortex is not too. great, the presence of pigment or air in the
medulla, or the size of the medulla do not affect the color of the hair. Neither
does diameter of the whole hair seem .to play any important part so. long as pigmentation is relative. Color of a given hair seems to be determined by the
amount of pigm~::nt, the extent of clustering, and the distribution ofthese dusters
in the hair shaft. In· these respects the outer portions of the cor:tex. play ·a particularly importantpart. The cuticle is evidently too thin and translucent to
have an effectin color determination.
30

Mr. Harry Rowell
Hayward, Calif.
January 21, 1947
Dear Harry:
I have been using both of the trophy saddles I won donated
by you, for the All-Around Championship of the Cow Palace,
1946, and the All-Around Championship of the World. I believe they are the best saddles I have ever owned and also the
best stamping and workmanship throughout I have ever seen in
a saddle.
From now on, I shall definitely be a booster for "Rowell"
saddles.
Your friend,
GENE RAMBO

Shandon, Calif.

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The above saddles are built on the "Bowman Roper" style saddle tree

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

No. 120 MD -

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

MODIFIED IVORY ROPER

Specifications ...

RIG-Full Double
SKIRTS-12 x 28)/z woolskin lined
FENDERS-9)/z X 18 one-piece
STIRRUP LEATHERs-Yz double, 3-inch wide
STIRRUPS-2-inth laced leather covered
SEAT-14-inch or 15-inch, full quilted
FORK-13-inch swell
HORN-Mexican, 4-inch cap
CANTLE-3-inch high. Comfort.
CINCH-4-inch mohair front. 4-inch wide leather flank.
TREE-fully guaranteed bullhide covered.
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting.

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

No. 121 -

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

LOW ASSOCIATION COMFORT

Specifications ...
Rrc-Y4 Double Flat Plate
SKIRTS-12x28 woolskin lined
FENDERs-9Yzx18 one-piece
STIRRUP LEATHERs-Yz Double, 3-inch wide
STIRRUPS-2-inch laced leather covered, flat bottom
SEAT-14-inch or 15-inch, full quilted
FORK-13-inch swell
.
HoRN-3Yz-inch cap
CANTLE-3-inch comfort
CrNCH-:--5-inch mohair, two latigoes, 2-inch leather
flank strap
TREE-Fully guaranteed bullhide covered
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting

2

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARp

•

CALIFORNIA

No. 166- THE DUBLIN
Specifications ...

RIG-}.4 Double Flat Plate
SKIRTS--12 x 28 woolskin lined
FENDERs-9Yz x 18 one-piece
STIRRUP LEATHERs-Yz double, 3-inch wide
STIRRUPS-Laced leather covered
SEAT-14-inch or 15-inch
FORK-13-inch swell
HoRN-3-inch cap
CANTLE-3-inch high
CmcH-5-inch mohair, two latigoes, 2-inch leather
flank strap.
TREE-fully guaranteed bullhide covered.
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting.·

3

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

No. I 06 -

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

THE CASTRO

Sf>ecifications ...
Rw-Y4 Flat Plate
S KIRTS-12 x2 8 ,wool skin lined
FENDERS-8x17 one-piece
STIRRUP LEATHERs-Yz Double, 3-inch wide
STIRRUPS-Metal bound, leathered bottom
SEAT-14-inch or 15-inch
FoRK-12-inch swell
HoRN-3-inch cap
CANTLE-3-inch high
CINCH-5-inch manehair, two latigoes
TREE-Fully guaranteed bullhide covered
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting

4

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

No. 122 -

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

THE IVORY LOW ROPER

Specifications . . .

RIGGING-% Double
8KIRTS-12x28 woolskin lined
FENDERS-8JiJ 7 one-piece
STIRRUP LEATHERS-!/z Doubfe, 3-inch wide
STIRRUPS-2-inch laced leather covered flat bottom
SEAT-14-inch or 15~inch, full quilted
FoRK-13-inch swell
HORN-4-inch Mexican
CANTLE-2-inch with wide Cheyenne roll
CrNCH--5-inch mohair, two latigoes, 2-inch leather
flank strap
TREE-Fully guaranteed bullhide covered
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting
5

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

No. I 05 - ~OB CROSBY
Specifications ...

<#

RIG-~ Double Flat Plate
SKIRTS-12 x 28 woolskin lined
FENDERS-8 X 17 one-piece
STIRRUP LEATHERS-)/z double, 3-inch wide
STIRRUPs-Metal bound, leathered bottom
SEAT-14-inch or 15-inch
FoRK-12-inch swell
HORN-3-inch cap
CANTLE-3-inch high
CrNCH-5-inch mohair, two latigoes, 2-inch leather
flank strap.
TREE-fully guaranteed bullhide covered.
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting.

•

6

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

No. 175 - ELLENSBERG
Specifications ...
Rw-:Y-4 Double Ease
SKIRTS-12 x 28 woolskin lined
FENDERS-9!/z X f8 one-piece
STIRRUP LEATHERS-!/z dou~le, 3-inch wide
STIRRUPs-Laced leather covered
SEAT-14-inch or 15-inch
FoRK-13-inch swell
HORN-3-inch cap
CANTLE-3-inch high
CINCH-5-inch mohair, two latigoes, 2-inch leather
flank strap.
TREE-fully guaranteed bullhide covered.
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting.
7

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

No. I 51 -

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

"RIJFF OUT" BOWMAN ROPER

Specifications . . .
RIG-~ Double Flat Plate
SKIRTS-12x2B woolskin lined
FENDERS-9!/zx18 one-pieGe
STIRRUP LEATHERs-Yz Double, 3-inch wide
STIRRUPs-Metal bound, leathered bottom
SEAT-14-inch or 15-inch, full quilted ruffout
FoRK-12-inch swell
HORN-4-inch Mexican
CANTLE-2-inch with wide Cheyenne roll
CrNCH-5-inch
manehair, two latigoes, 2-inch. leather
.
flank strap
TREE-Fully guaranteed bullhide covered
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

No. 188 - CONTEST ASSOCIATION .
Specifications ...

RIGGINGs-Y4 Double Contest
SKIRTs-Small Round woolskin lined
FENDERS-2-piece latigo leather
STIRRUP LEATHERs-Yz Double style - doubled and sewed
latigo leather with two tongue buckle adjustment
STIRRUPs-Contest
SEAT-15 inch
FoRK-14 inch swell
HoRN-2!/z inch
CANTLE-4 inch high
CINCH-5 inch front - contest flank
TREE-Fully guaranteed bullhide covered·
LEATHER-Best California oak bark tanned skirting and
latigo leather
9

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

TRIANGLE BRAND SADDLE TREES

No. 500 Low Down Roper
Fork 12" wide. Cantle 2Vz" high,
13" wide, 1" dish. Horn 2Vz" Regular
Gullett 8!;4" high, 5Vz" wide.-Bull
Hide Cover.

Improved Tipton
J

I

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Fork 14" wide. Cantle 4" high, 13"
wide, 1Vz" dish. Horn 2Vz" Regular
Gullett 8!;4" high 5Vz" wide.-Bull
Hide Cover.

-Oil(

,

Slick Fork Roper
I

Fork 9" wide. Cantle 2" high, 12"
wide, 1" dish. Horn 3Vz" Mex. Gullett 8" high, 5~" wide.-Bull Hide
Cover.

10

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

..

•

HAYWARD

•

. CALIFORNIA

TRIANGLE BRAND SADDLE TREES

•

Ivory Low Roper

Bowman Roper

Fork 13" wide. Cantle 2" high, 12"
wide, 1" dish, Horn 3Yz" Mex. Gullett
.8" high, Sl/z" wide.-Bull Hide Cover

Fork 12" wide, Cantle 2" high, 12" wide,
1" dish, Horn 3l/z" Mex. Gullett 8" high,
Sl/z" wide.-Bull Hide Cover.

Low Ellensberg

Perry Ivory Roper

Fork 13" wide. Cantle 3" high, 13"
wide, 1l/z'' dish, Horn 2l/z" Regular,
Gullett 8" high, 5Yz" wide.-Bull Hide
Cover.

Fork 13" wide. Cantle 3" high Comfort, 13" wide, 1l/z dish. Horn 3l/z"
Mex. Gullett 8]14" high, Sl/z" wide.Bull Hide Cover.

II

•

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

STERLING SILVER

No. 21 0-String Concha
1Y4 inch, 1Yz inch, 1Y4 inch and
2 inch sizes.

No. 37 -

No. 20-Concha
~ inch, Y4 inch, 1 inch, 1]14
inch, 1)/z inch, 11'4 inch, 2 inch,
2Y4 inch, 2Yz inch and 3 inch.
All sizes supplied with rivets
for mounting unless ordered
with loops for use as rosettes.

Sterling Trophy Buckles

Made for 1]14 inch, 1)/z inch and 2 inch Belts. Available with raised silver steerhead, bucking horse or
horse head design; also with raised 10k gold overlays.
See price list for details.
12

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

STERLING SILVER

No. 35 -

Sterling Trophy Buckles

Made for 1]1.4 inch, 1!/z inch and 2 inch belts. Available with raised silver steer head, bucking bronc or horse
head design; also with raised 1Qk gold overlays. See
price list for details.

No. 48 -

Sterling Buckle Sets

Ys inch for watch straps - Yz inch and
and 1 inch for wider belts.

Ys

inch for slack belts -

% inch
13

l _________ _

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

No. 21 O-S pur Straps -

Men's

No. 211-Spur Straps- Women's

Either size available, plain or basket
tooled.
No. 212-Spur Straps
)lo

Made of latigo leather

Bucking Rolls

3 inch and 3Yz inch sizes
Connecting tiestrap makes them adjustable

Bridle Brow Plate

Sterling Silver

Available with raised horsehead, bucking bronc or steerhead of
sterling silver; also with lOk gold overlays.
14

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

.

HAYWARD

SELECTED

•

CALIFORNIA

Bns

Sterling Silver Overlaid -

Hand Engraved

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The El Toro -

$42.50

Sterling Silver Overlaid on Monel.
Complete with rustless rein chains.

The San Ramon -

$47.50

Sterling Silver Overlaid on MoneL
Complete with rustless rein chains.

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The U. S. -

$45.00

Sterling Silver Overlaid on MoneL
Complete with rustless rein chains.

The Santa Barbara - $55.00
Sterling Silver Overlaid on Monel.
Complete with rustless rein chains.

15

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Ys"

No. 81
wide, with reins to match

No. 42 - No. 42X
No. 42-'%" wide, Russett Leather
No. 42X- %" wide Latigo Leather,
reins to match

Ys"

No. 20
wide, Hand Sewed Round

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No. 600-Carbine
No. 600X-Rifle
Holsters and cartridge belts
made to order

0

No. 52-Hand-Tooled
1" wide crown, Ys" wide
throat, %" reins

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No. 74-Full Lined
No. 72-Full Flower Hand-Tooled

Ys"

reins

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No. 200-Hand sewed Round.
Hand tooled Front.

No. 88-Full Lined
Matches No. 74 Headstall

No. 76-B-Basket Stamp
No. 76-Full Flower Stamp

>

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

:AccEssoRIES OF MERIT

No. 8-Hobbles
1Y4 inch wide, doubled and sewed leathet

No. SO-Divided Hobbles
)oo

J

1Y4 inch wide, skirting leather

4" separation

No. 206-Breast Collar -

above

No. 202-Breast Collar -

below

Either style available, plain, basket tooled or flower
tooled. Also available with latigo leather or woolskin
lining. See price list for complete description.
19

•
ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

£!(uality Cinchas

No. 204-5

No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

No. 264-5
No. 284-5

294-4" Mohair, Steel Rinbs
295-5" Mohair, Steel Rings
304-4" Manehair, Steel Rings
305-5" Manehair, Steel Rings
100-5'' Mohair, Bronze Buckle Rings
264-4" Manehair, Steel Rings

No. 100

No. 294-5
No. 304-5

No. 265-5" Manehair, Steel Rings
No. 284-4" Mohair, Steel Rings
No. 285-5" Mohair, Steel Rings
No. 204-4" Mohair, Bronze Buckle Rings
No. 205-5" Mohair, Bronze Buckle Rings
20

.

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

HAYWARD

.

CALIFORNIA

MANE HAIR AND MoHAIR RoPES
HAND, MADE

No. 22-22 ft.

No. 38-16 ft.

No. 16--16 H.

Ys"
Yz"

}4" dia. for heavy work
dia. for general work

Ys"

dia.
dia.

%" dia. for feadores

These ropes can be supplied in either manehair or mohair-state preference
when ordering.

Colors are assorted.

All ropes are hand made, tightly twisted

and carefully checked to insure their being of top quality. Special sizes made to
order.

~
LARIAT ROPE
The famous Plymouth brand carried in four popular sizes-cut to length
or by the bale.

Ys"

exact,

Ys"

full, 7/16" exact, 7j16" full.

21

•

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

HALTERS

~uality

No. 29-Full Size Brass TrimSewed. 1 inch crown lined
No. 28-Full Size Steel TrimRiveted 1Y4 inch crown lined
No. 39-Colt Size Brass TrimSewed 1 inch crown lined
No. 38-Colt Size Steel TrimRiveted 1 inch crown lined
No. 19-Weanling Size Brass Trim% inch crown

for Service

No. 49-Rodeo Bronc Extra Heavy2 inch crown, woolskin lined nose, all
doubled and sewed latigo leather.
Hand riveted.
No. 21-Cow Halter1Y4 inch-not illustrated

22

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY
CHAPS -

•

HAYWARD

•

CALIFORNIA

SADDLE POCKETS

No. 30-Saddle Pockets8" x 11 "-Full Flower Hand tooled.
Made of top quality leathers. Easily
attached to any saddle.

No. 30-B-Saddle PocketsFull Basket Stamped.

No. 30-P-Saddle PocketsPlain or roughout as ordered.

No. lOS-ChapsMade of Chrome leather for
service. Colors usually available, black, brown, tan, pearl,
faun, chocolate.

Siz;es-Small, Medium, Large.

For Special siz;es send waist,
thigh, inseam and outseam
measurements.

Custom built orders given
prompt attention.

23

INDEX
Catalog Page

Price

I - Saddle # 120MD
2 - Saddle #121
3 - Saddle# 166
4 - Saddle# 106
5 - Saddle #122
6 - Saddle# 105
7 - Saddle# 175
8 - Saddle # 151
9 - Saddle # 18"8

Unsettled costs of leather and
other raw materials make it impossible to catalog prices of
saddles.
Quotations will be submitted on
these saddles, and anv combinations thereof, upon. application.

I 0 - # 500 Low Down Roper
10 -Improved Tipton
I 0 - Slick Fork Roper
l I - Bowman Roper
I I - Ivory Low Roper
I I - Low Ellensberg
I I -Perry Ivory Roper

Dealers write for Price list

{See pages in back of catalog for complete list of saddle trees and their "specifications.)

12 -

12 -

"

#21 0 String Conchas -

I !:4 inch
il/7. inch
!% inch
2
inch

1.75 each
2.00
2.50 "
3.15

#20 Concha or Rosettes -Ys inch - .85 each
I% inch - 3.00 each
2 inch - 3.60 "
Y4 inch - 1.00
I
inch - 1.50 "
2ij4 inch - 4.35 "
21j2 inch - 5.40 "
11/4 inch - 1.95 "
llf2 inch - 2.30 "
3 inch- 8.25
Smaller sizes can be supplied with brass screw stud instead of rivet.
Add 15 cents for each stud.

12- #37 Trophy Buckles. Available in 3 sizes. The buckle for
an llj4 inch belt measures !3k" x 2%"; for an i1f2 inch belt,
21/4 " x 31/a"; for a 2 inch belt, 2%" x 31j2 ". The buckle sizes
are designated by the size of belt that fits each.
Size

ilj4 inch #37 with silver steerhead, bronc or horsehead

Price
I 6.35

Jlj4 inch # 37 with l Ok gold steerhead, bronc, or
horsehead
·

23.75

11/z inch # 37 with large silver steerhead, bronc or
horsehead
flh inch # 37 with I Ok gold steerhead, bronc or horsehead
2 inch #37 silver s+eerhead, bronc or horsehead
2 inch #37 IOk gold steerhead, bronc or horsehead
{Prices do not include excise tax.)

21.00
31.50
30.00
40.50

f~

l

INDEX
Catalog Pag.e
~3

-

Price

#35 Trophy Buckles ......: available in 3 sizes. Measurements
approximately the same as for #37 buckles.
(Prices and combinations the same as for #37 buckles)
(Prices do not include excise tax.)

13 -

14 -

14 -

#48 Belt Buckles Size
3fs inch
'h inch
o/s inch

3-piece sets.
Price
2.75 set
3.75 set
4.30 set

Price
5.00 set
9.45 set

Size
%inch
I" inch

#21 0 Men's Spur Straps
Flower tooled
Basket tooled
Plain

2.45 pair
1.75 pair
1.40 pair

#21 I Ladies Spur Straps
Prices as #21 0 .above.

14- #212 Spur Straps

2.00 pair

14- 3" Bucking Rolls

4.75 pair

31f2'' Bucking Rolls

5.00 pair

14- Bridle Brow Plate- size Pj4" x3o/s" with silver horsehead,
(bronc or steerhead
with !Ok gold overlay bronc, horsehead or s+eerhead

5.25
12.50

SILVER OVERLAID BITS
15- TheEl Torowith loose jaw, half breed mouth piece
with loose jaw, spade mouth piece
with solid jaw port or half breed mouth piece

42.50
45.00
42.50

15 -

The San Ramon
with loose jaw, half breed mouth pece
with loose jaw, spade mouth piece

47.50
50.00

15- The U.S.
with
with
with
with
15 -

loose jaw, half breed mouth piece
loose jaw, spade mouth piece
solid jaw, spade mouth piece
solid jaw, half br,eed or port

45.00
47.50
47.50
45.00

The Santa Barbara
with loose j.aw, half breed mouth piece
with loose jaw, spade mouth piece

52.50
55.00

HEADSTALLS
16- #20 Hand sewed round
Split reins to match-sewed ,ends·
Buckle ends
(Available in black, antique or russet.

~~

12.00 each
6.50 pair
7.00 pair

INDEX
Catalog Page
16 -

16 -

Price

#42 Russett Leather
complete with o/s reins
#42X Latigo Leather
.complete with % reins
11

8.95

11

9.50

#81 Half Rounded Leather
with o/s reins to match

7.25

#74 Full-Lined Bridle
complete with % reins

14.00

# 72 Full Flower Tooled Bridle
complete with o/s reins

10.00

11

17 -

11

17 -

11

17- #52F. Full Flower Tooled Bridle
complete with % reins
#52B Full Baslre.t Tooled Bridle
complete with % reins
#52P Plain Leather Bridle
complete with %" reins
17 -

11

16.75

11

15.00
14.00
8.00
8.50

#600 Carbine Scabbard-small size
#600X Rifle Scabbard-large size
MARTINGALES

18 -

#76P Plain Leather
#76B Basket Tooled
#76F Full Flower Tooled

6.25
8.75
11.50

18 -

#88 Full Un,e'd

15.00

18 -

#200 Hand Sewed Round with hand tooled front

20.50

19- #8 Hobbles

2.25

19- #80 Divided Hobbles

3.25

BREAST COLLARS
19 -

#206F Full Flower Tooled
10.80
#206B Full Basket Tooled
9.00
#206P Plain
8.25
#206RO Rough Side Out
8.25
#202F Full Flower Tooled
9.30
#202B Full Basket .Tooled
7.25
#202P Plain
6.75
#202RO Rough Side Out
6.75
Any of the above breast collars with l,eather lining add $3.75.
With woolskin lining add $3.50.

u~

INDEX
Catalog Page

Price
CINCHAS

20 -

#I 00-5"
#204-4"
#205-5"
#264-4"
#265-5"
#284-4"
#285-5"
#294-4"
#295-5"
#304-4"'
#305-5"

Mohair
Mohair
Mohair
Manehair
Manehair
Mohair
Mohair
Mohair
Mohiar
Manehair
Manehair

8.75
5.65
6.00
3.75
3.90
3.00
3.30
2.50
2.75
2.85
3.15
HAIR ROPES

21 -

21 -

#22-22 foot, %" diameter
#22-22foot, %" diameter
'# 16-16 foot, %"diameter
# 16-16 foot, lf2'' diameter
#38-16 foot, o/s" diameter

I 1.50
7.50
5.00
4.75
4.25

Lariat Rope-Plymouth Brand

3fs" ,e,xact .051f2 per foot
o/s" full .06 per foot
7I 16" exact .061f2 per foot
7 I 16" full .07 per foot
HALTERS
22 -

#29-Brass Trim
#28-Steel Trim
#39-Brass Trim
#38-Ste,el Trim
# 19-Brass Trim
#49-Rodeo
#21-Cow

7.50
5.40
6.50
4.80
4.50
15.00
2.60

Full Size
Fuil Size
Colt Size
Colt Size
We,anling Size

SADDLE POCKETS
23 -

# 30-Full Flower Tooled
# 30B-Full Basket Tooled
#30P-Piain

32.00 pair
25.25 pair
22.25 pair

23 -

# 105 Chaps~
Small size 36" outseam
Medium size 38" outseam
Large size 40" outseam

32.50
34.50
36.50

1~

.

ROWELL SADDLE COMPANY

HAYWARD

..

CALIFORNIA

Triangle Brand Saddle Trees
NAME OF TREE

Fork
Height

Fork
Width

Gullett
Width

Cantle
Height

Cantle
Width

Cantle
Dish

4
31f2
2lf2
2

13
12'12
12'12
12
!2lf2
13

IV2

2 12
3112
2112

3" KC

9

14

81/4
8
81j4

12

14
14

In Between

Sl/4

13

5112
5 12
5112
51f2
5112
512
5%
5112
512
51h
5lf2
S1/2
51/2
5lf2
51
/2
512
51h

Ivory

81f4

13

5 112

Jim Dandy

14

Si/2

L. R. or R. L.

8112
81j2

12

Low Association

8

13

Low Bronc

8112

14

Low Down

8'/4

12

Low Ellensburg

8

13

Low Ivory

8

13

Low Moose
Moose Roper

81/2
8

Old Mex

8%

p. P. Special

Sif1

All Around
Apache
Bob Crosby
Bowman
Bull Dog
Carver
Contest Association
Curtis Roper
Douglas
Duck Bill
Ellensburg
Fits Em
Fremont
H. & W - Roper
Improved Success
Improved Tipton

812
8112
812
8

14

9

812

13
13

8
812
8lf4
81
12
B1f2

14
13
14
12
14
14

8112

14
12
12

3
3

4

4

4
4
3
3

13
13

I

lih

13
13
13

1112
11/2

I

1112
l

4

12%
13
13

3

13

I

1'/2
1112

13

1112

4

13

ill2

512

3

13

5 112

3

13

llj2

5 112
5 112
51/2

31/2

13

llh

21j2

13

3

13

2

12

14

4

13

13

Sl/2

3

13

512
5112

3

13

3

13

14

llf2
1112

12lf2
12'12

512
5112

8 12

I
I

1112

I if4

Perfection Roper

8

12

Sif2

21f2

13

Rocky Mountain Roper

8

12

3

13

I

3

13

Ph

San Angelo

S'/2
B1h

14

5112
51/2

13

8

14

Sih
51h

31f2

Sid Special

4

13

Slick Fork Roper

8

9

2

12

I

Success

Slj,

14

5%
51h

3

13

Jl/,

So/.!

14

5 1h

4

13

l'h

5%

2

12

I

Round Up

Tipton
Trick -

trick horn

8

14

8 112

Van Horn Special

8

14

5 112

3

12'h

Visalia

81/2

!3

4

12'h

White River

8lf2

!3

5 112
S1f2

Wonder

81/4

13

51j2

3 112
3

12%

12'12

"U~

il/2

References and Acknowledgements
Morgan Horses by D. C. Linsley (published 1857)
The Morgan Horse and Register Vol. 1 1894
The Vermonter (reporting State Fair) 1907- 1914
Types and Market Classes of Livestock by H. W. Vaughn 1930
Judging Saddle Horses and Roadsters by J. A. Early 1945
Finis or Future by C. F. Treftc 1951
Standard of Perfection for the Morgan Horse by C. D. Park
(published by the Mid-West Morgan Horse Owners, Inc., 1952)
Fundamental Soundness by Dr. L. L. Glyn 1954
Judging Halter Classes by Robert Denhardt 1955
Problems of Horse Shows by Robert Denhardt 1957
(published by the Western Horseman Magazine)
Type versus Quality by Marilyn Childs 19 57
(published by the Morgan Horse Magazine)

-

large class, will be at one end of the ring. At this time,
the entire class is gone over again to be sure that no good
animal has been missed or an inferior one placed in the
wrong group.
The top animals can then receive the complete attention of the judge. The final selection is made, consideration being given to breed type, conformation, movement,
quality, countenance, presence and individual preference. A system of this kind is very useful in large classes
of twenty or thirty animals. In small classes, this routine
is not necessary nor even advisable.

lB11 Cfan.f:nCE

~. <Pan.kl.).,

<v.CYVl.1).

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

\0

the front quarter, to give the animal proper symmetry
and balance. The most characteristic points are; rounded
croup; low, well forward stifle; low hock, well under the
body.
OVER ALL PICTURE
The Morgan should have a fine expressive head; well
crested neck, coming out of the top of the shoulders,
blending smoothly through the withers into the well
sprung, deep body, with round rear quarter, which
balances the front quarters. The whole structure should
be heavily muscled and round, giving the impression of
great substance and refinement, combined with strength
and agility, grace and beauty.
D. C. Linsley, in his book, "Morgan Horses", says,
'The most casual observer of a good Morgan Horse is conscious that he sees a peculiar animaL His short, light
rapid step points to the great muscles which give him
motion. His prominent, clear, eager eyes, set wide apart,
testify to his courage and docility, while his clean, light,
head carried high on well short, pointed ears, give grace
and elegance to every motion.
A SYSTEM OF JUDGING
There are many methods of class routine used by the
judges. One system, which is easily followed, step by
step, by exhibitor and spectator alike, is given here.
Step one of this system is a process of elimination and
is accomplished by circling the entries in the ring and
marking down, in a column, the numbers of those horses
of outstanding type; in a second column, those of questionable type and in a third column, those of off type or
unsound. This is a first impression sorting, which may
require revision.
In step two, the horses are lined up and each horse is
moved individually. Each horse is examined standing,
beginning with the head - eyes, ears, mouth - height,
articulation, movement, unsoundness (ringbone, spavin,
curb, bad splints) crooked legs, bad pasterns, bad feet,
bad blemishes, bad disposition, poor condition.
When finished with each individual, it is sent to a
station in the ring, where one believes it will be finally
placed. In step three, the top eight or ten animals in a
Page 15

arrn is probably the most distinctive, single physical
characteristic of the Morgan Horse, and has great bearing on his movement.
. The forearm .should be relatively long and heavily
muscled. The muscles here are very full just·below the
elbow and taper sharply into a well defined knee, giving
the forearm a conical appearance, from the side and
front; The cannon should be very short, the pastern of
medium l~ngth and angle, the tendon set well back,
especially at the knees.
The feet should be of a size .proportionate to the animal, round and of dense structure, open at the heel, concave sole and not too low in the heel. The whole forequarter is very. muscular but smooth. The most
characteristic points are; sloping shoulder, protruding
breast bone , short and heavily muscled, upright arm,
and short cannon.
BARREL
The barrel is that part of the body between the withers
.~nEi

the hips. The ribs should be well sprung, giving the
body a bar:rel-like appearance, deep through the heart
gjrth .and at the flank. The top hne should be short,
compared to the bottom line. The loin joins the body and
the rear quarters. This structure should be short and
broad. It has been proven that many Morgans have but
#ye lumbar. vertabrae (which is the part of the spinal
·column making up this region) rather than the ·six
which is common to all other breeds, except the Arabian.
The characteristic points of the barrel are; pronounced
spring of the ribs and short top line.
REAR QUARTER

The croup should be relatively long, with the, hip bone
well forward. It should be round when viewed from both
the sides and the rear. The tail should be set .high and
carried straight, high and well arched. The ~higp. should
be heavily muscled, with the stifle low and well forward.
The gaskin should be heavily muscled as viewed from
both side .and rear, tapering into a well defined hock,
which is low and well under the body. The cannons
~}!quldbe short and straight. The rear quarter should be
equal to the withers in height or very slightly lower.
The size of the rear quarters should be in proportion to
Page 14

flat, with ears very short, broad and upright, set wide
apart and carried forward.
The eye, the most expressive feature of the animal,
should be large, dark in color, bright and set well out
on the sides of the head.
The jowl should be very large and deep, round at the
angle and tapered to a fine muzzle. The most characteristic points of the head are: short, broad, expressive ear;
large, bold eye, set out on the head; heavy, rounded
jowl.

NECK
The neck should be medium length, deep from the top
to the bottom, especially at the shoulder and of medium
thickness from side to side, flat and not rounded, on the
sides. It should be heavily crested; stallions having a
heavy rounded crest and the mares a fine, knife-like
crest. The crest should form a smooth curve from the
poll through the withers, into the back. The bottom line
of the neck should be straight. The throttle should be
comparatively deep but clean cut. The most characteristic points of the neck are; high crest, smooth curve
from the poll through the withers into the back; deep at
the shoulder.

FOREQUARTER
The shoulder should be very sloping and well laid
back at the top. The neck, the withers and the back
should blend smoothly. The withers should be of medium
height. The sides of the withers should blend smoothly
with the neck and the barrel, with no lumpiness in this
area. The points of the shoulder and the elbow should
lay close to the barrel, never loosely attached.
The breast bone should slightly protrude in front of
the shoulder points. The arch of the front legs, viewed
from the front, should be pointed at the top, with the
inside muscles running well down the leg. The legs
should not be too far apart and carried straight down
to the ground.
The arm, that part of the leg between the point of the
shoulder and the elbow, should be short and well let
down at the elbow, making this part of the forequarter
rather upright. This compensates for the extreme slope
of the shoulder. This angulation of the shoulder and
Page 13

Presence is the. degree of .perfection of countenance
and includes stately bearing, poise, dignity and style.
COLOR·
Morgan color is bay, brown, chestnut or black. There
[llay be an occasional suggestion of roan in the chestnuts.
Gray, palomino and spots. are first hand evidence of outside blood and are not characteristic of the breed. There
should be some kind of penalty for these definitely offcolor animals.
SIZE
The most desirable size is from 14.1 hands to 15.1
hands and weight from 850 lbs., depending on condition.
Scope of usefulness of animals under 14.1 is limited and
animals over 15.1 almost always lose some of the distinguishing characteristics.
MOVEMENT
·Morgan movement is just as characteristic as is his
type. He moves the way he dose because of the way he is
built. Powerful muscles acting on the short bone struc..
ture of the limbs, produces the rapid, powerful,yet graceful and elegant movement. The accent of action is on the
flexion of. the pasterns, rather than the knees and the
hocks. The Morgan should move in a bold, fearless, ani..
mated, balanced and light manner. The stride is not long
nor high but extremely powerful and elastic.
SOUNDNESS
Any structural deformity ·or physical injury which
impairs the normal function of the animal is an unsoundness. Blemishes are usually scars from some injury and
may not be unsoundnesses. Most common of the unsoundnesses are; spavins, curbs and ringbones. Less
serious unsoundnesses are: splints, bog spavins, thickened tendons, tied-in tendons and badly formed feet.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE MORGAN HORSE

HEAD
. The head should be straight or slightly dished, as
seen from the side. The forehead should be broad and
Page 12

It is the Quality and extreme refinement with sufficient

substance that makes the animal outstanding.
Many judges have placed quality animals over those
of good type and conformation, but which lacked a high
degree of refinement. This is due, in many cases, to lack
of knowledge of the importance of the distinguishing
characteristics of the breed. Since we do not always
have good type and conformation with quality and rem
finement in the same animal as our smaller shows, it is
time we reached agreement as to which is more important from a breed point of view.

CONDITION
Condition means the degree of health and the amount
of fat covering the animal and is sometimes referred to
as "bloom". It is more properly termed, "finish".
Animals in top show condition must be at the peak of
health and with the right amount of fat covering, to give
them their smoothest appearance. Fat fills the creases
between the muscles and gives the animal a smooth
finish . .Some animals can stand and need more fat than
others to give the finished look. Too much fat, however,
tends to cause lumpiness and detracts from symmetry.
Condition is reflected by the horse's expression of
well-being and contentment as opposed to the dull look
~lmost always seen in the thin, out-of-condition horse.
Proper condition is further augmented by proper trimming of the head and legs and through grooming; all of
which add to the finished product.

COUNTENANCE
Countenance is the mental expression of the horse.
Each breed of horse has a characteristic countenance
which is as different from each other as nationalities of
people .. Morgan countenance should express an abun~
dance of controllable energy, exemplified by a friendly
attitude, and bold, energetic and fearless movement.
It is actually the nervous system of the Morgan that
makes him the invincible, but controllable animal that
he is. The control of his great physical power was what
made Justin Morgan the champion pulling, trotting and
parade horse of his day. This is in contrast to the "hot
horse", which defies direction of his physical powers.
Page 11

with a specific performance in mind, we lose the value
of the animal as a utility pleasure type. In other words,
halter classes are judged with those fundamentals in
mind which have made Morgan the great horse he is, in
diversified fields of endeavor.
CONFORMATION
Conformation refers to the symmetry of the parts of
the model and their relation to each other. Breed type
is the model, conformation is the degree of physical perfection of the model.
Barley says, 'Conformation should be defined as the
parts collectively put together in the proper proportions
and dimensions with their correct relation well formed
to one another, making the whole structure of the horse
symmetrical and sound.'
SUBSTANCE
Substance refers to compactness of form. An animal
of great substance is one of great depth and width in
comparison with his height and length. This is in contrast
to the animal lacking in substance, which we may call
"weedy". He lacks width of chest, depth of body ana
usually has a long back and body.
The bone system of the skeleton is the base of the
structure of the horse. The muscular system forms the
general outline. The fat system fill the spaces between
the muscles and the bones, giving finish to the entire
structure. All of these help to constitute what is known
as "substance".
QUALITY AND REFINEMENT
Quality and refinement are in a sense synonymous.
Quality refers to the texture of the substance that makes
up the animal. It is outwardly expressed, by the degree of
refinement of the animal. Quality of bone refers to its
density. Quality of skin refers to its pliability and thinness. Quality of hair refers to its length and diameter.
Quality of the entire animal is most easily judged by
the fineness of features and sharpness of outline of the
head and cleanness of limb, along with the pliability of
skin and fineness of hair. Quality and refinement are
as important in a breed class as type and conformation.
Page 10

-_.Among the general terms used in judging livestock,
we will consider the following:
TYPE
Type may refer to a class or a breed. Vaughn, in his
book, "Types and Market Classes of Livestock", defines
type as follows: 'A type is an ideal or standard of perfection combining all the characteristics which contribute
tothe ·animal's value and efficiency for the purpose
sp~cified.' Examples of these are: draft type, saddle type,
race type, ·etc. Early in his book "Judging Saddle
:S:orses and Roadsters", defines breed-type (Saddle
Horse) as follows; 'A beautifully conformed body radiating animation, alertness, intelligence, poise, distinctiveness, spirit and majesty in appearance, represents the
symbol of perfection.'
I like to think of breed-type as the model - the physical
outline and impression it conveys. It is the combination
of characteristics peculiar to the breed. They distinguish
the breedJrom all others. The Morgan Horse is what·he
is because. of his type. The characteristics have fitted
him for the great variety of uses to which he has been
put These characteristics have made it possible for him
to. be .the, great harness, the great saddle horse; in fact,
the great utility horse that he has been.
Type in. other breeds is the result of breeding Jor a
specific purpose .. The physical form that. now presents
HseH in· these breeds has been recognized as the type tor
the_: breed. We "might cite such breeds as Thoroughbreq,
American Saddlebred, Standardbred, etc.
It therefore developes that the approach _to judging
Morgan Horses is a little different from that of other
breeds, in tnattype.is our-stock in trade. We must preserve this type which has been proven so useful as a
utility horse, and now a superior utility pleasure type.
In judging breeds bred for a specific performance, the
the performance is given primary consideration, with
type cmd conformation considered less important.
· Th-e Morgan Horse,as a type, is not judged as a horse
bre~for ·a specifc purpose, but rather as a horse bred to
everything any other horse can do.
-1 . I~ -t~is ,wide. variety of performance, we do not expect
the perfection of the specialist in his field but a creditable
per;formaJ}ce in all. When we judge the Morgan type

do

:Page 8

Judging Morgan Breed Classes ..
.{\grea.tmany factors enter into the judging of Morgan
Horses or 'any other breed of horses. 1vlany o£ the principals ofjudging are the same, no matter what breed is being judged. In judging any specific breed, a knowledge of
the distinguishing characteristics of the breed of primary importance. An attempt will be made to point out
thpse distinguishing features as they appear in the
Morga;n Hor~e. .. There should first be a general consideration of maf}y related subjects .
. Horse knowledge is a term that might be used to include horsemanship, horse husbandry, equitation, etc;
This knowledge cannot be obtained qu1ckly. It is gained,
a little at a time, over a considerable period from reading,
conversaton and experience. When enough of this sort
of information is obtained to make possible one's own
deductions and conclusions; then a personal, workable
knoWledge has been gained. An attempt should be
inade to incre'ase this ·information and to draw more
advanced conclusions 1n order to be able to continue to
learn. This is why one person is never the undisputed
authority on all branches of the overall equine industry.
1'he nature of our Imiiv1ctua1 intormatwn concerning
Morgan Horses determine the klnd of horse we prefer
and this relative importance of his particular characteristics. The same is true of the JUdge. Very few people
form the conclusions from the sa.me sources of information and experience. Consequently, we all differ a
little in our thinking of this an explanation of why
judges often disagree in placing a class.
When we all understand some
the principals of
judging the distinguishing characteristics of the breed
and their relative importance, we will be much closer
to a common understanding of our problem.
The wide variation in placing the same horses at
various shows is by no means dishonest judging. Again,
it is the result of a difference of opinion of the distinguishing charcteristics of the breed and their relative
importance. This is brought about by the great difference in information or lack of it, from which knowledge
of the breed has been formed. Education is our only
means of correcting this lack of uniformity of thought.
Page 8

power and speed. In reality the Morgan trot is not fast,
but the rapidity and power of his action gives the impression of speed. The canter, like the walk and trot, should
be accomplished by powerful, rapid and elastic movement. The gaits should be done in a spirited and fearless
style of action.
SUMMARY OF THE MORGAN PHYSICAL OUTLINE

Briefly, the distinguishing characteristics of the Morgan horse are: short broad skull with heavy jowl and
short ears; well crested neck, deep at the shoulders, with
crest, withers and back well blended together; ribs well
sprung, deep short body; well muscled fore and hind
quarters; short cannons and a characteristic rapid way
of going.
COUNTENANCE

True Morgan should express more than is seen in his
physical outline. His countenance should express an abundance of controllable energy, exemplified by his
friendly attitude; bold, fearless and energetic movement.

Page 7

well let down hock. The hock should be large and clean
cut. The cannon should be short as compared to the rest
of the leg. The fetlock, pastern and foot similar to the
front except the rear pastern should be a little more upright. The distinguishing characteristics of the rear
quarters are, long thigh with the stifle forward and low,
long gaskin and short cannon.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
The Morgan is a small compact horse. The height
should range between 14.1 and 15.1 hands, and weight
should be 900 to 1,100 pounds, in working (not show)
condition. The ideal is 14.3 hands and 1,000 pounds. The
best type is associated with the smaller individual. A
Morgan over 15.1 usually lacks many of the distinguishing breed characteristics.
COLOR

True Morgan type is always associated with a solid
color, either bay, brown, chestnut or black. Justin Morgan was bay with black points and no white markings.
This may well be considered the true Morgan color. However, through the years, brown and chestnut have been
about as prevalent as bay, and many have white foot,
leg, and face markings. Chestnuts tend toward the darker shades, and the manes and tails are usually the same
color as the body, in the best specimens. The body hair
is short and fine. The mane and tail long and full. A little long hair about the fetlocks is characteristic.
TEMPERAMENT
Temperament is the peculiar physical character and
mental cast of the individual. Morgan temperament
should be tractable and spirited, lending itself readily to
intelligent training and spirited enough to display this
training to a useful advantage.
GAITS AND ACTION
The natural gaits of the Morgan horse are the walk,
trot and canter. The distinct and characteristic type of
the Morgan is responsible for his characteristic way of
going. The walk should be fast, accomplished by a short
and rapid step. The trot should be low and smooth, with
an elastic and energetic stride, giving the impression of
Page 6

down and closely joined to the body, the breastbone proJecting slightly in front of and below the shoulder points.
The arm should be long from the shoulder point to the
point of the elbow, heavily muscled and blended well into the body. The point of the elbow should be a little lower and further forward than in the speed type, because
of the extreme slope of the shoulder .This angle of the
shoulder and arm, places the foreleg a little further forward than in other types, and with the long forearm and
short cannon, is responsible for the characteristic gait of
the Morgan. The forearm should be long, wide both from
the front and side at elbow and tapered smoothly to a
large flat knee. The cannon should be wide from the side,
thin from the front and relatively short as compared
with the length of the shoulder, arm and forearm. The
fetlock joints should be large and wide as viewed from
the side. The pasterns should be of medium length and
at an angle comparable to that of the shoulder. The feet
should be small, round, wide and low at the heel and of
dense texture. A verticle line from the highest point of
the withers to the ground, places more of the forequarter
of the Morgan in front of this line than is true of any other type.

BODY
The body of the Morgan should be short, deep and
wide. The ribs should be well sprung as they leave the
back bone, forming a round barrel. The back should be
short and joined smoothly to the rear quarters by a short
and broad, heavily muscled loin. The body should be
deep at the flank and well ribbed up to the point of the
hip. The muscles of the neck, shoulder and back should
blend smoothly together, forming an excellent saddle
back, placing the saddle in an advantageous position in
relation to the center of gravity of the animal.
REAR QUARTERS
The croup should be long, wide and slightly sloping
in appearance, but heavily muscled and well rounded;
the tail set high and carried well up and straight. The
thigh should be long, broad and heavily muscled as
viewed from both side and rear. The stifle should be low
and well forward, blended into the body by a well let
down flank. The gaskin should be long and wide at the
top viewed from both the side and back, and tapered to
Page

5

Standard of Perfection
For
The lVlorgan l-lorse
The Morgan Horse is a distinct type and differs from
all other horse types in many respects. The various parts
of this type may be described as follows:
HEAD
The Morgan head is one of the most distinctive parts
of the type. It should be wide at the poll, wide at the
eyes, long from ear to eye, short from eye to nostril and
deep from the eye to the jowL The ears should be short,
shorter than other breeds and set wide apart and erect.
The eyes should be large, dark and prominent~ set well
out on the sides of the head. The forehead should be flat,
profile straight or slightly dished below the eyes. The
no~trils should be large and the lips fine and small.
Viewed from the front there should be a tapered appearance from the eyes to the nostrils; from the side, the skull
should appear short and tapered, from the jowl to the
lips, with a fineness throughout
NECK

The neck should be of medium length, never long;
medium thickness from side to side, well crested on top,
straight on the bottom line and deep from the top to the
bottom at the shoulders. The throatlatch may be a little
deeper from the poll to the jowl than other breeds, but it
should be clean cut. The crest should rise close to the ears
and form a smooth curve, ending where the withers join
the back. The neck should have the appearance of setting
on top of, rather than in front of the shoulders, as in the
speed type horse.
SHOULDERS AND FORELEGS
The shoulders should be long and set well back on the
top, blending with the crest to form a medium height
withers. The withers should not be high and narrow, but
of ·medium height and smooth at the sides. The crest
and withers should blend together, with no depression
on the topline in front of the withers, especially in the
stallion. The point of the shoulders should be well let
Page 4

horses were being raised, and these mares came to the
available Morgan stallions. The Southwest used their
horses for handling cattle. These were of the type that
contributed to the Quarter Horse breed, and many of
them contributed to the Morgan breed as well.
Morgans from all these sections went on into the far
West. In the early years of the breed, the traffic in breeding stock was, for the most part, from East to West. Recently, with rapid transportation available, the traffic in
breeding stock has followed no particular pattern, and
the recent generations may have a back ground of blood
from.several sections of the country. The early breeders
based their system of selection on the individual need for
which they bred their Morgans. Some selected for greater size, some under saddle, some for speed in harness
and some for stock horse work. Recently, the selection
has been based on use under saddle, almost entirely, with
a great differ·ence of opinion on type. There was a great
variaton in the prepotency of the other than Morgan
blood involved. Some was very quickly and completely
dominated by the Morgan element, and some left a very
definite mark. Regardless of the blood back ground or the
basis of selection, all have one thing in common; the
blood of Justin Morgan, and all are prepotent to some degree, for Justin Morgan's type. It is evident without
question, that the prepotency of Justin Morgan and his
descendents for his distinctive type, is the only factor
responsible for the continuation of the type.
The stud book has been closed, with no further infusion of outside blood, a return of type is bound to come.
The speed with which it returns, depends upon the degree of uniformity of purpose of the breeders.
It is reasonable to believe that the horse possessing
the highest percentage of Justin Morgan's blood, with
no recent infusions of potent outside blood, are the most
capable of reproducing Morgan type. The intensification
of the blood of Justin Morgan, with the selection of breed
stock based on a standard of type perfection, will quickly
eliminate the influence of outside blood, and result in a
uniformity of breed type. No other young breed of horses
presents the possibility of breed type uniformity, as
does the Morgan. All Morgan horses have a common
blood the most prepotent of all time, that of Justin Morgan.
Page 3

mental adaptability are not equaled by any other breed,
in the field of the utility pleasure horse, though many are
superior for a particular purpose.
In the past, many deviations from type have been at..
tempted, to make it more suitable for a particular purpose. When this is done, the Morgan individuality is lost,
even though the suitability for the limited purpose is iffi..
proved. There are already excellent breeds capable of filling every special requirement, but the :Morgan is still
best qualified as a utility pleasure horse. He is capable
of doing everything any other horse can do, as well as
his amateur owner can himself qualify in these diversified fields.
The amateur pleasure horse owner gets the greatest
enjoyment from a horse that can be used in a variety of
ways. The enjoyment he receives from the use of his
horse is the only excuse for ownership. This horse should
be capable of good performance, both in harness and un·
der saddle. The amateur horseman usually wishes to invade all fields of equine sport. This means driving, trail
riding, amateur show riding and under either English or
Western tack. The Morgan type is the type that looks
best and does best in these highly diversified fields of equine endeavor.
The number of good type Morgans available to the
pleasure horse owners is far short of the demand. This
market is being filled by individuals of the specialized
breeds, or just by horses, most of which fall far short of
the expectations of their new owners. Because of the rapid encroachment of the specialized breeds on the utility pleasure horse field, a definite Standard of Perfection
is necessary, to strengthen the Morgan breed and guide
it in its future production.
In New England, the concentration of Morgan blood
came about early in the history of the breed, as both stallions and mares directly descended from Justin Morgan,
contributed toward the breed formation. From here, stallions were taken to all parts of the country. A few mares
went with them, but the numbers of Morgan horses grew
from the use of stallions on the mares available. The available popular mares varied greatly in type, depending
upon the section of the country they were in. For example, in Kentucky, mares used in light harness or under
English saddle, were more often bred to the Morgan stallions. In the Mid-West, driving horses and small work
Page 2

History
Justin Morgan was, in at least one respect, the greatest
horse recorded in history. He was the only horse of which
we have record that has possessed the prepotency to establish a family, type or breed which has been able to
exist basically unchanged over a period of one hundred
and fifty years. Many breeds have been established during and before this time, but they have been produced by
a group of individuals, none of which marked the family
after his own image, as did Justin Morgan.
These other breeds, for example, the Thoroughbred,
Standardbred and American Saddle Horse have been
bred for a definite purpose and a standard of performance has guided their formation. The breeding stock of
the race breeds were selected for their individual speed,
and their offspring. The breeding stock of the American
Saddle Breed was selected and valued in a similar manner, with show-ring performance as the goal. The type
accepted has been the type of the individuals most satisfactorily meeting the performance requirements. This
resulting type was far from that of the animals credited
as founders of the breeds.
Considering the Morgan as a breed, the circumstances
of its development were completely different. Justin
Morgan came into being as a new type. He and his des..
cendents were the only animals that have ever produced
that type. The breed has been one of type and type alone.
In this case the type was the standard. The prepotency
has been so great, the type or standard is still with us.
The present strength of this type indicates that the future
of the breed holds great promise, if a standard of perfec·
tion in type is established and used as a guide by all
breeders.
No breed of horse can exist for long, unless it serves
a useful purpose. The Morgan type has been a useful type
and has been used for a variety of purposes during it's
existence. In the early years of the breed, it was the most
highly prized utility harness horse. The economy of the
nation has changed, and the utility of the horse has
changed with it. The future of the breed depends upon
his utility as a pleasure horse. No other type is so well
adapted to the need of the pleasure horse owner as the
Morgan. His beauty, strength, endurance, durability and
Page 1

Copyright
July 1952
Revised September 1954
RevisedApril1959
Revised December 1961

Printed in U.S.A.

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