The small town of Weybridge, Vt., is home to a scenic gem for horse lovers and history buffs alike. Known for its picturesque beauty in the Green Mountains, the University of Vermont (UVM) Morgan Horse Farm is a popular stop for leaf-peeping tourists and city dwellers in search of some authentic rural ambience. But the farm is more than a postcard-ready historic landmark.

For the first half of the 20th century, the UVM Morgan Horse Farm was home to a government-run breeding program for U.S. cavalry horses. And while the federal government no longer breeds horses, the farm preserves the bloodlines of those exceptional Morgan horses to this day, producing strong, sound, and versatile Morgan horses that are appreciated by riders and drivers of all disciplines.

The Morgan Horse as a Versatile Companion

“Tractability is really the No. 1 characteristic we’re breeding for in our setting,” says Kim Demars, Farm Manager at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm. “They need that positive attitude. Conformation and athleticism are secondary to that. Whether a horse is going to be a dressage horse or a park harness horse, or whatever it goes on to do in its career, it needs to be conformationally correct and have athletic ability. Those are the three most important traits that we try to produce here at the farm.”

The qualities that make Morgans a great ambassador at a public-facing program like the UVM farm also make them an ideal fit for riders seeking a truly companionable equine partner.
“Morgans are incredibly versatile. They’re truly an all-around family horse,” says Demars. “The slogan for the American Morgan Horse Association is ‘The horse that chooses you,’ and that is so true with our horses here. They really find their person and become part of the family. They’re just a really cool breed.”

Cavalry History

The property that is now the UVM Morgan Horse Farm was commissioned in 1878 by Col. Joseph Battell, who is recognized as having been instrumental in saving the breed from near extinction at that time.

“Col. Battell created the first Morgan breed registry,” says Demars. “He resurrected the Morgan bloodlines and the Morgan breed. From there, the U.S. Government took over the farm as a cavalry remount station.”

At first glance, the connection between a breeding program intended to produce battlefield-ready cavalry horses and a modern program known for its personable pleasure horses and show-ring stunners may seem unlikely. But the Morgan’s war horse traits from that chapter in its history are part of what makes it a sound, reliable, and athletic partner for riders across many disciplines today.

“[The cavalry] horses needed to have copious amounts of stamina. They had to be very sturdy, very thrifty,” says Demars. “They had to have a horse that could carry soldiers for as long as they needed, and the Morgan really fit that bill.”

After the government ended its horse breeding programs, the University of Vermont took over the iconic Weybridge farm in 1951, and the University has maintained ownership ever since.

Apprenticeships & Internships

Education is an important part of the UVM Farm’s programming, and is achieved through its apprenticeship program, internships, and integration with UVM courses at the University’s main campus in Burlington.

“The apprenticeship program is our longest-running educational program with close to 300 graduates,” says Dylan Burguard, Equine and Academic Coordinator. “The goal of this program is to allow any individual interested in the equine industry an opportunity to spend a full year immersed in it.”

Apprentices are often recent high school or college graduates, although the program is open to all applicants age 18 or over, regardless of their educational status. The Morgans’ versatility, along with the expansive nature of the UVM Farm’s programs, offer a truly comprehensive experience for aspiring equine professionals that want to determine what aspect of the horse industry they’d like to specialize in.

“Apprentices live on-site and work full-time at the farm,” says Burguard. “They assist with every part of the operation, from breeding and foaling to training and sales of horses. They assist with events and demonstrations we put on for the public and for UVM students. They have the opportunity to ride, drive, and train horses and assist with veterinary procedures.”

An internship program allows current college students to earn credit while getting hands-on experience at the farm in one of three specialty programs: training and handling; equine sales and marketing; or reproduction and foaling. While these internships are primarily targeted at UVM students, interns are accepted from colleges and universities across the country.

The farm’s collaboration with the University extends to coursework, bringing Vermont’s official state animal into its state university and introducing more students to this wonderful breed.

This article about the Morgan horse appeared in the July 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe

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This is not at all exaggeration. Without the horses, mules, and donkeys that first came to North America, the early colonists would not have been able to survive the harsh climate, the West would not have been settled, farmers in the Midwest would not have been able to survive, and Native Americans would not have developed equestrian-based methods of hunting and warfare without the use of the mighty horse.

The equines of early America were hardy creatures that often had to fend for themselves. The rugged landscape and challenging climates, combined with scarce food and lack of veterinary care, shaped these horses and donkeys into tough, resilient breeds.

Hundreds of years later, the so-called “heritage” equine breeds are under threat.

Competition from the tractor and automobile, along with two World Wars, helped wipe out equine populations around the world early in the 20th century. While a number of them survived the industrial age, some fared better than others. The heritage breeds that remain are some of the rarest and hardiest equines in the world.

Fight to Preserve

In 2006, the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization estimated that an average of two domestic animal breeds are lost worldwide each week. In the U.S., The Livestock Conservancy is fighting to stem this tide. One of these efforts spawned the creation of the Endangered Equine Alliance, which held its first summit in 2018.

“The Endangered Equine Summit came about in response to a decades-long decline in horse breed registrations, not only for rare breeds, but also for more popular breeds, like Arabians and Saddlebreds,” says Charlene R. Couch, Ph.D., senior program manager for The Livestock Conservancy. “The economic challenges for all equine breeders are significant, but they are even more so for those who breed endangered horses and donkeys.”

According to Couch, ancient breeds such as the Akhal-Teke and Caspian, which have been human partners for thousands of years, are now gravely endangered.

“Even the iconic Cleveland Bay, Clydesdale, and Lipizzan horses are rare,” she says. “And fewer than 100 traditional Morgans—horses whose pedigrees are absent of outcrosses after 1930—were registered in 2016. In our lifetime, we may bear witness to equine breed extinction.”

If the history of these breeds isn’t enough to inspire their preservation, their ability to contribute to modern equine gene pools should be.

“Heritage-breed horses are not just useful and beautiful—they are an irreplaceable reservoir of equine genetic diversity,” Couch says. “These animals offer valuable traits that were developed over centuries, such as stamina, unique gaits, hardiness, sound feet, and good skeletal structure. Many were important in the formation of America’s more popular breeds, like the American Quarter Horse. In many cases, the ancestral sources of these heritage breeds no longer exist, and that breed cannot be recreated. They are a true genetic treasure, and every loss could be significant for the future of the horse industry.”

The Endangered Equine Alliance

Shortly after the 2018 Summit, more than 50 equine breed associations, plus scientists, sporting groups, and horse industry representatives united to form the Endangered Equine Alliance. The Livestock Conservancy facilitates the exchange of information among Alliance members and serves as a central outlet for educational resources that support equine breed conservation.

So far, the Alliance has accomplished some significant goals, according to Couch.

“We have created a germplasm bank for endangered horse breeds,” she says. “The collection is a sort of ‘doomsday’ vault of genetic materials for breed conservation emergencies. Through the Alliance’s network, we facilitated the banking of semen from Newfoundland Ponies, the Marsh Tacky, Akhal-Teke, and Caspian horses so far, with other breed collections on the horizon.”

The Alliance has also worked to provide breeders with discounts from companies for semen and tissue collection of endangered equine breeds; published the Manual of Methods for Preservation of Valuable Equine Genetics, designed to help owners learn more about new reproduction technologies and how to use them to save breeds and bloodlines; hosted webinars and question-and-answer sessions with equine experts on DNA testing, advanced reproduction techniques, and marketing; and developed an Endangered Equine Alliance website for sharing articles and links, and a Rare Equine Breeds Facebook group that now has more than 2,000 followers worldwide.

Help from Grants

“The grant enabled The Livestock Conservancy to bring together representatives of approximately 50 endangered horse breed groups for the first summit,” Couch says. “The delegates to the Summit represented thousands of horse owners, and included participants from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The group was tasked with identifying the leading causes of equine breed population declines, and deciding [upon] actions that could be taken to stabilize the loss of breeds.”

Through the support of the USA Equestrian Trust, experts from the greater horse community, including sporting groups, equine-assisted therapy providers, university scientists, and national associations participated in the Summit. Panelists included partners at the American Horse Council, Texas A&M University, Virginia Tech, Uppsala University, the American Endurance Ride Conference, Natural Lifemanship Equine-Assisted Therapy, Rare Breeds Survival Trust/Stallion AI Services (U.K.), the Arabian Horse Association, the National Animal Interest Alliance, and the National Driving Society.

“The vision and support of the USA Equestrian Trust was crucial in bringing together such a wide representation of members of the equine industry,” Couch says. “Together, the participants saw the potential to accomplish great things by uniting in their efforts to conserve endangered equine breeds.”

Ongoing Support

In addition to work by the Endangered Equine Alliance, The Livestock Conservancy conducts an annual census of horse and donkey breeds to monitor their population growth and declines.

“We encourage registration of horses so that their numbers can be counted,” Couch says. “We maintain a large list of breeders and breed associations to help owners and enthusiasts connect with each other, share herd genetics, or collaborate on projects.”

The Conservancy also offers a competitive microgrants program to all heritage livestock and poultry growers, including horse and donkey breeders, to help boost their capacity for breeding, raising, and selling animals. They also assist owners in saving germplasm of valuable, rare bloodlines and individuals from breeds on the Conservation Priority List through discounts, networking, and other resources.

Some current research projects include genetic studies for Suffolk Punch, American Cream Draft horses, and Poitou donkeys, with the goal of uncovering genetic information that will help guide efforts to reduce the risks of inbreeding and support effective conservation.

“The Livestock Conservancy is all about education, research, and networking of owners and breeders so that we can safeguard the future of important breeds,” Couch says. “Together with owners, breeders, and the equine community, we want to move the needle for each breed, and make a meaningful contribution to its long-term survival.”

For more, visit www.livestockconservancy.org/aboutus/endangered-equine-alliance.

This article about saving endangered horse breeds appeared in the March 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Born November 24, 1940, Beth-Halachmy grew up in a small town south of Tel Aviv, Israel, and dreamed of becoming a cowboy.

“The only thing we knew about cowboys was from movies—John Wayne, Glenn Ford and all those guys we saw on the screen,” says Beth-Halachmy. “I wanted to be like them. We didn’t know there were people in Montana and Wyoming freezing outside watching their cattle. I looked at the cowboy as freedom, doing the things you wanted to do.”

Early Days for the Future Founder of Cowboy Dressage

Beth-Halachmy first sat on a horse at 5 after his mother’s funeral, when a mounted sheriff set him astride an Arabian. Growing up, he took herds of 500 sheep into the mountains outside Jerusalem for a month at a time, whiling away the hours as a shepherd carving wood.

He then served in the military and later cleaned stalls at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna while attending veterinary school. Becoming a veterinarian was his father’s dream, but Beth-Halachmy’s childhood call of the cowboy brought him to America, where his passion for horses unleashed the talent that’s made him an influential leader—and the founder of cowboy dressage.

Unknown when he arrived in Oklahoma City in 1993, Beth-Halachmy soon gained recognition.

“It was the first or second time I showed up in the Morgan community,” he recalls. “I rode Holiday Compadre in a western pleasure class. Long story, short, I won that class.”

He topped off the win—Morgan World Champion Western Horse—with a most unusual victory pass.

“I did some tempi [every stride or every other stride lead] changes, a little piaffe, and extended the jog,” he continues. “Compadre knew all that. He was really not a western pleasure horse, but there was no place for me to show that off.”

While driving home to Grass Valley, Calif., Beth-Halachmy got word of an invitation to perform at the American Royal Concert of Champions in Kansas City, a black tie event with a live symphony. Not keen for another long road trip, Beth-Halachmy passed.

“So what did my dear wife do?” he laughs. “She called them back and said I’d love to.”

The First Performance by the Founder of Cowboy Dressage

It came together in Kansas City. At a meeting for all the performers before the Concert of Champions, the organizer asked for details on Beth-Halachmy’s act.

“I said, ‘I have no idea, there’s probably something I can do to make it happen.’”

Music? Another question mark.

“Whatever they play is good enough for me,” he remembers saying.

The symphony conductor chose “The Nutcracker.” Beth-Halachmy was just pleased to have music.

“I didn’t even know what The Nutcracker was,” he admits.

Asked the name of his act, Beth-Halachmy answered the stunned organizer.

“No name,” he recalls. “Just me and my horse. Then he looked at me and asked, ‘What do you think about Cowboy Dressage?’ I said, ‘Sounds good to me.’ That’s how cowboy dressage came to life.”

In a scene straight from Hollywood, Beth-Halachmy landed the finale spot with Holiday Compadre. It was in that moment that he became the founder of cowboy dressage by introducing the world to a new sport.

“I remember standing behind this huge black curtain blocking the entry to the coliseum,” he says. “The only thing I could hear is the music playing inside and my horse chewing on the bit; I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m waiting for the music. It’s like going dancing. You don’t know what they’re going to play. Whatever they play, you dance.”

And what a dance it was.

“The minute the curtain opened, they hit me with the spotlight,” he remembers. “My horse and I were blinded. Couldn’t see a damn thing. I’m trying to get him going, and he refuses to go in. The music was playing. Everybody started clapping, screaming and yelling.”

After two minutes, he rode Compadre into the arena.

“I had three minutes left to play to the crowd,” he continues. “When I was done, I got a standing ovation. I couldn’t believe it! My first-ever performance before the public. From there on, it’s a sweet story.”

An Artist at Heart

His story is entwined with his wife, Debbie.

“She was there from the beginning,” says Beth-Halachmy. “She is the core of the whole thing. I’m really a shy person internally. When I started teaching and became an educator, I discovered some talent hiding inside me. Deb was the one who woke it up.”

Incredibly, things could have been different.

“There was a time I really wanted to get out of horses,” he recalls. “All my friends were horse people. I got to the point where I was overflowing with horses. I said, ‘I’ve got to start doing something else.’ I knew I was good with my hands and creative, but I never knew how to cross between a craftsman and artist. I think I learned it from being with horses.”

The caliber of Beth-Halachmy’s art soon found him trading in craft shows for the likes of Neiman Marcus and Gump’s San Francisco.

“I was sculpting,” he says. “I did some bronze, some woodwork. I remember walking into Gump’s in San Francisco. I had cutting boards in the shape of animals. They loved it.”

So much, in fact, it would have required mass production to meet the order. That ended up sending him back into the horse world.

Education from the Founder of Cowboy Dressage

“In the beginning, cowboy dressage was never meant to be a competition,” says Beth-Halachmy. “Combining classical riding with the spirit of the cowboy was more a fantasy than anything real, but people got excited about it.”

More than 10,000 people are now Handshake Members, one of Debbie’s ideas.

“She woke up one morning and said, ‘I have an idea. We should offer a membership to people on a handshake, like in the old days. It was the code of the cowboy.’”

It’s also free.

“We promised to give them a place they can come and socialize with people like them, who love horses,” he says. “It’s all about being kind to the horse.”

He now manages 60-some Facebook pages.

“Most people I deal with really only want to love their horse, go trail ride, and come home in one piece,” he explains. “Horses can be a friend, but you have to pay attention, because they’re still horses. When they give everything they have to give, you’ve got to say, ‘Thank you,’ and not ask for more.”

Cowboy dressage is not about the ribbon or the money. It’s not about rider ego.

“It’s about the love of the horse,” says Beth-Halachmy. “I think it’s always going to be my way of looking at life. To do the things you love to do, because you love it.”

For more information on cowboy dressage or to become a member of Beth-Halachmy’s Educational Horsemanship Program, visit www.cowboydressageworld.com.

The post Better than Fiction: The Founder of Cowboy Dressage appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

My friend Carol Prindle of Whispering Meadows Morgan Farm and I had been talking for months about doing a winter photoshoot with her colorful herd of horses. The part we couldn’t plan is that I wanted to do it on a morning when there was frost clinging to the trees, and this only happens a few times each winter, usually with little warning.

As I was eating breakfast, morning light started to illuminate the landscape, and I looked out to see the trees heavy with frost. I messaged Carol to see if she would be game. She replied yes, and the wheels were set in motion!

I took care of my own horses, thinking I would wait until the sun came up a bit more before heading out, when she sent me a photo of one of her foals with frost clinging to his fluffy coat. I chugged my coffee, grabbed my camera gear, and hit the road.

Carol and I ended up playing with the horses in the snow and cold for over three hours because we were having so much fun!

This photo story about Morgans in the snow appeared in the November/December 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Recreational riding programs have long been an essential part of most horse breed association’s offerings, because they help attract and keep members. Program participants often praise the tracking logs as a way to keep track of time spent with their horse, and, once milestone achievements are reached, fun and useful prizes are awarded to riders.

Unfortunately, many such programs suffer from low participation levels. Breed associations would like to change that by making horse owners more aware of the diverse range of activities in which they can take part with their horse. Regardless of your chosen breed, here’s what three of the country’s top breed associations had to share about their recreational rider programs.

Why Participate in Horse Breed Recreational Riding Programs?

There are a variety of reasons a fan of a particular horse breed should participate in these recreational riding programs.

• Horse ownership is not required, and multiple horses can help earn hours toward milestone achievements.
• Participation time logs help participants keep track of their hours earned.
• While some associations make a distinction between competitive and non-competitive hours and which ones can be included, typical examples of eligible hours encompass those spent trail riding, training, participating in parades, taking part in riding lessons, etc.
• Reaching a milestone achievement level offers practical prizes different from those typically earned at horse shows.
• There is often no time limit to reach milestone goals.
• Any fees involved are usually nominal.

Examples of recreational riding programs from breed associations include:

Appaloosa Horse Club

Keri LeForce, performance department supervisor with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), feels that her organization’s Saddle Log/Driving Log program is of most benefit to those ApHC members who don’t regularly participate in organized events.

“It’s an opportunity for them to be involved with the association and receive recognition for the things they are doing,” she says. “It’s a way for them to maintain a connection with the breed association.”

Participating adult members pay an annual fee of just $25, while youth are assessed a one-time $20 fee. Appaloosa Horse Club membership is required and, while ownership of the horse is not necessary, hours logged must be earned while riding or driving a registered Appaloosa. Hours are tracked online or via a printable log.

All program participants receive a patch. Thereafter, chevron bars are earned at milestone achievement level. While milestone achievement levels differ between the riding and driving programs, common examples include 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 500, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 hours. Examples of prizes earned in addition to the chevron bars include brushes with engraved handles and achievement-level embroidered items. Any time spent riding or driving, including competing at shows, training, and trail riding, is eligible for inclusion on the log and counts towards prizes.

Arabian Horse Association

Current members of the Arabian Horse Association who enjoy riding their registered Arabian or Half-Arabian horse are eligible to participate in the association’s Frequent Rider Program. Members are assessed a one-time $25 fee and log their hours online or via a printable log. Similar to other breed associations, participants are not required to own their own horse, but instead may log their hours on any number of registered horses.

According to Abby Carpenter, awards and show results coordinator at the Arabian Horse Association, participating members earn prizes at such milestone achievement levels as 25, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, and 10,000 hours. While each achievement level earns a bridle tag, as the number of logged hours increases, so too does the value of the prizes starting at travel mugs and moving to picture frames, leather portfolios, accessory bags, coolers, and even a jacket at the highest level. Like most breed association representatives, Carpenter sees the benefit of allowing Arabian horses to promote themselves in a wide variety of recreational riding activities and would like to see even more members take part in the program. As an incentive, the AHA has an updated recreational riding program in the works where members will be able to log competitive hours from open shows, along with non-competitive hours.

American Morgan Horse Association

Known as My Morgan and Me, the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) takes a slightly broader approach to its recreational program. Following some trial and error to find the most workable solution to host the program, the AMHA’s newest program guidelines now have members submit a $25 payment only when milestone achievements are reached. Gone are the days of a one-time enrollment fee.

“We had program participants not submitting miles because they weren’t eligible for an award,” says Carrie Mortensen, executive director of the AMHA. “It was confusing. Now, when you reach a milestone, you send in $25 whether it takes you three years or three days to earn the achievement.”

Participants can download the My Morgan and Me brochure, which includes a printable log, from the association’s website. But it isn’t mandatory to use this form.

“When I was doing it, I made my own spreadsheet,” says Mortensen.

Different from other associations, the AMHA does not require that the logs be turned in when reporting a milestone achievement. The logs are more for the participant’s records and benefit.

“It’s an honorary system for us,” Mortensen explained.

Once the achievement has been reported, the participant receives awards directly from the association’s headquarters or an electronic coupon for the AMHA Marketplace where they can purchase t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets.

“You can decide on the color and if you want to have your name embroidered on it,” she adds.

When a participant reaches the highest levels of achievement, such as 10,000 hours, they receive a small write-up and are featured with their photograph in the association’s magazine.

“We do love for people [of any achievement level] to submit electronic photographs with their application,” say says. “When an applicant puts in for a milestone, we always feature it on our Facebook page if they include a picture.”

Other key differences in the AMHA’s program are that membership is not required and any time with a Morgan horse, not just time spent riding or driving, counts toward milestone achievements.

“The majority of people that participate are not competing, they are trail riding,” says Mortensen. “They are hanging out with their horse at home. The majority, if they are doing a show, it’s at the local level.”

She said that Morgan horses often have long life spans, and the more relaxed program requirements allow members to record time spent with a horse who is older and may no longer be serviceably sound but their owners still want to feel as if they are a part of a greater organization.

Have you participated in a breed organization’s recreational rider program? Tell us more in the comments below.

The post Why You Should Participate in Horse Breed Association Recreational Riding Programs appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

In this third podcast episode of The Horse Illustrated Episode of Horses in the Morning, sponsored by Title Sponsor Straight Arrow Products, hosts Glenn the Geek and Sarah Evers Conrad talk to Mary Phelps, an international combined driver, who won a Gold medal in Cones at the 2019 FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies. We also learn summer horse health care tips from international veterinarian, Dr. Mike Tomlinson. And Carrie Mortensen, executive director of the American Morgan Horse Association, shares the magic of the Morgan breed with podcast listeners.

Hosts: Sarah Conrad, Digital Content Editor of Horse Illustrated & Young Rider and Glenn the Geek, host of Horses in the Morning

Title Sponsor: Straight Arrow Cowboy Magic

There’s an App for that!  Check out the new Horse Radio Network app for iPhone and Android. Follow Horse Radio Network on Twitter or follow Horses In The Morning on Facebook.

Guests

Mary Phelps is an equine insurance agent, photographer, and journalist. Mary created HorsesDaily.com in 1997, and it’s the oldest and longest-running website in equestrian sport. A lifelong equestrian, she is an FEI 3* athlete in combined driving. Together with her husband, Wayne Humphreys, Mary manages and trains her world-class driving ponies, competing at the highest level of the sport of combined driving. In 2019, Mary and her now world-famous driving ponies “The Gangsters” Al Capony, Bugsy Malony, Tony Da Pony, and Kimba competed for the U.S. in the FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies in Hungary, where they won an individual Gold medal in the cones phase and finished 12th overall. Bugsy Maloney and Tony Da Pony became part of the 2020 releases of Breyer model horses.

Links:

• How to Choose a Driving Horse
• Mary Phelps USA Wins Cones Division for Pony Pairs at the FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies
• www.horsesdaily.com
• Gangster Breyer Model Horses
• Facebook.com/HorsesDaily
• Twitter.com/HorsesDaily
• Pinterest.com/dressagedaily

Dr. C. Mike Tomlinson, DVM, MBA, offers summer horse health care tips. He has been a veterinarian, judge, course designer, steward, or technical delegate at around 30 FEI events each year, on nearly every continent around the globe since 1984. In 2018, he was the president of the Veterinary Commission 1 for the World Equestrian Games (WEG), Dr. Mike has represented the USA as Team Veterinarian at several Games and World Championships. In addition to FEI events and veterinary practice, Dr. Mike has been a ‘C’ level executive in many startups, both in and out of the horse world, including companies such as SmartPak, Game Ready, and Snap Seals. His technical time is spent working in chemical engineering, software coding, and medical device innovation. Dr. Mike is known for his constant energy, immunity to jet lag, and penchant for cartoon ties.

Carrie Mortensen is the executive director of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA), which was founded in 1909 as the Morgan Horse Club and reorganized in 1971 to AMHA. She graduated with an Equestrian Science degree at William Woods University before obtaining her MBA at Xavier University. A longtime resident of Lexington, Mortensen feels fortunate to have gained a plethora of equestrian business skills from her past employment with organizations such the United States Equestrian Federation, The Jockey Club, and other breed associations. As a representative of AMHA, she now helps the organization in its mission to preserve, promote, and perpetuate the Morgan Horse breed.

The post Podcast Episode #3: Mary Phelps, Summer Horse Health Care, and Morgan Horse Breed for July 27, 2021; Sponsored by Straight Arrow Products appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) welcomed nearly 1,000 Morgan horses to the 2019 Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show. Held at the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., October 12-19, the best of the breed competed in a wide range of disciplines and classes running in four rings concurrently. Horses were shown in divisions including pleasure driving, English pleasure, hunter pleasure, in-hand, park, western pleasure, jumping, trail and more.

Complete results at the Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show are available online.

Excellence in equitation is valued by the AMHA and is recognized through the AMHA Medal classes, held at local and regional Morgan and all-breed shows throughout the competition year. AMHA is pleased to announce the following riders as the 2019 Gold Medal recipients in their respective seats.

• Catriona Kozijn (Alberta, Canada)
• Alayna LoCascio (Dayton, Ohio)
• Sydney LoCascio (Dayton, Ohio)
• Nick Madsen (Cave Creek, Ariz.)
• Olivia Mauldin (Choctaw, Okla.)
• Moira Taber (Shoshone, Idaho)

Read more about the AMHA Gold Medal program.

Nineteen promising young Morgan exhibitors also competed in the AMHA Youth of the Year competition. Taylor Hudson of Fairview, Pa., took home the win as Youth of the Year and Clea Cloutier of Derry, N.H., was named reserve champion. Read more about the AMHA Youth of the Year program and results.

Megan Gallagher of Grass Valley, Calif., was awarded the $1,500 AMHA Young Adult Alliance Judging School Scholarship for her interest in earning her Morgan R judging card and strengthening the breed with other amateurs and professionals. Read more about the scholarship.

Follow AMHA and US Equestrian

The American Morgan Horse Association is a recognized affiliate of U.S. Equestrian. Keep up with future news of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® on Facebook and with the Morgan horse all year long by following AMHA on Facebook and Twitter.

Read More About the Morgan Horse:

• Morgan Horse
• The Morgan Horse
• Morgans for Everyone
• Driven to Succeed: Morgan

The post Morgan Breed’s Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show Wraps Up in Oklahoma City appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Mega Miles

Morgan is 18 and a freshman in the pre-vet program at Wilmington College in Ohio. She completed her first endurance ride when she was just 4 years old and has been riding her current horse, a 19-year-old Morgan mare named The Perfect Angel, for eight seasons. Not only have Morgan and Angel completed a 100-mile ride together, but they’ve also done the Shore to Shore Pioneer Ride six times. That’s a 250-mile ride that takes place over the course of five days.

“Morgans are extremely tough and hardworking,” says Morgan. “They may not be the fastest horses on the trail, but they thrive and persevere through difficult terrain and conditions, which can give them an edge.”

Angel is a tough competitor on the trail, but she has tons of personality, too.

“Angel loves playing in water, must have her face itched before her heart rate will come down at vet checks, and is an expert at flipping feed pans!” says Morgan.

Looking to the Future

Christopher started in endurance at age 6 and is now 15 and a sophomore in high school. He’s looking forward to competing with his 10-year-old Morgan mare, Coco Charlie, in the upcoming season. Charlie was recovering from a pasture injury during the last season, but she has a bright future ahead.

“Charlie is very pretty and looks very sweet, but she is definitely the alpha mare in the herd,” says Christopher. “She loves attention and cookies and can be very loving when she wants something.”

In endurance competition, the winner isn’t simply the horse-and-rider pair that finishes in the fastest time. Veterinarians examine the horses at designated points throughout the ride and at the finish. They must be determined “fit to continue,” which means their heart rate and respiration rate have to come down quickly. It takes a lot of preparation and a fit, athletic horse to pass all the vet checks and finish the race.

“I’ve ridden Morgans all my life, and their heart and natural athleticism make them excellent teammates,” says Morgan. “Endurance is a discipline like no other. The long distances may seem daunting at first, but there is a lot of support between riders and the spirit of the sport is embodied in its slogan, ‘To finish is to win.’”

“Once you figure [Morgans] out, they learn very quickly,” adds Christopher. “Morgans were made to be tough and hardy. They go and go and go.”

A Family Affair

Morgan horses and endurance riding are a family activity for the Loomises. Their mom, Shannon, got started in endurance riding as a 4-H club member when she was 12 and has been active in the sport ever since. It takes a team to be successful in endurance, especially the really long distances, so having family around is helpful.

“I haven’t competed as much as my sister has,” says Christopher. “But I crew for them at most of their rides and am very proud of how we are all able to work together to get everyone safely through a ride, especially the Shore to Shore, which is a very intense week of riding.”

If tackling an endurance ride sounds like your dream come true, maybe a Morgan could be in your future!

“Just do it,” Christopher says when asked what advice he has for riders who want to try endurance. “If you don’t get started, you’ll never finish. Finding a mentor can really help you get started in endurance. Morgans can sometimes take a little longer to get as fit as an Arabian, but with a Morgan, it’s more likely something will go right than something will go wrong, no matter what sport you choose.”

Morgan Facts

Size: Morgans generally range from 14.1 to 15.2 hands. They tend to be compact with a strong back and legs so they can safely carry riders of most sizes.

Color: Any color and white markings are allowed, but most are solid bay, chestnut, liver chestnut, or black.

Appearance: Morgans are known for having shapely, expressive faces with small ears and prominent eyes that give them an alert and friendly expression. They typically have high-set necks and long, thick manes and tails.

Use: Morgans compete in every show and sport discipline, including saddle seat, western, hunter/jumper, dressage, and reining. They excel at carriage driving and are sure-footed and dependable on trails.

Learn more at www.morganhorse.com

The post On the Trail with Morgan Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Not many horse lovers have escaped childhood without reading Marguerite Henry’s non-fiction book about Figure, the very first Morgan horse, owned by school teacher Justin Morgan in West Springfield, Mass., in 1789. This gentle little stallion was given to the school teacher for payment of a debt. Figure could beat any horse around in every kind of race imaginable.

His lineage is unknown, but there are speculations that he had Dutch Friesian, Arabian and Thoroughbred breeding. One of the remarkable things about the stallion was his ability to pass on his features to his progeny, which fixed the type for generations. Morgans were favored by colonials as carriage horses, plow horses and Pony Express mounts.

Today, the Morgan excels in western and English disciplines as well as competitive trail riding and driving.

Characteristics and Conformation

This breed is a refined, yet strong and muscular horse with an arched, elegant neck. Its high-stepping movement makes it a natural for saddle seat and driving classes.

At Morgan breed shows, horses are shown in several different saddle seat divisions (Classic Pleasure, English Pleasure, and Park) along with hunter and western pleasure, pleasure driving, dressage, reining, and more. The breed excels in combined driving and western dressage.

This breed is a popular children’s horses, as well, due to their sensible nature and manageable size.

Traditional colors are bay, black and chestnut. Modern Morgans can be any color, including palomino and buckskin. Pintos are permitted, but are very rare in the breed.

The Morgan stands 14.1 to 15.2 hands high.

For More Information:

• American Morgan Horse Association, www.morganhorse.com

Further Reading:

• Morgans for Everyone
• The Morgan Horse
• Driven to Succeed: The Morgan

The post Morgan Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The green countryside of New England was the backdrop for this quaint but challenging existence, which toughened both horses and humans. It was in this environment that the Morgan horse was born.

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

The breed began with a stallion named Figure, who belonged to a man named Justin Morgan, a teacher, composer and businessman. Morgan came to own Figure when the horse was just a foal. He leased him to a neighbor named Robert Evans when Figure was 4 years old and mature enough to work.

It was during this time that Figure began to blossom. Evans noticed the 14-hand stallion’s extraordinary strength when he put the horse to work on his property hauling fallen logs. Not only was Figure strong for such a small horse, he was strong for just about any horse.

Eager to show off the stallion’s talents to other farmers, Evans seized the moment one day when he came upon a group of men and their horses struggling to move a very large log near a sawmill. Evans bet the men a gallon of rum that Figure could pull it. The little stallion easily moved the log the needed distance in only two pulls. From that moment on, Figure became famous throughout the Vermont countryside.

Figure was also fast. Evans set up match races between Figure and some of the speediest horses in the area. Figure beat them all, and his legend continued to grow.

It wasn’t long before farmers throughout New England began bringing their mares to Figure for breeding, hoping to get foals that would have the same speed, strength and willingness possessed by the stallion. Figure did not disappoint. He produced a crop of youngsters that not only looked very much like him, but also had the same heart and physical prowess possessed by the bay stallion.

Today, every registered Morgan horse can trace its ancestry to Figure, whose name was changed to Justin Morgan after his owner passed away. His descendants not only inherited his strength and athleticism, but most importantly, his heart.

Modern Morgans

Today, the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) registers and promotes the Morgan horse, and has been doing so since 1902, when it was known as the Morgan Horse Club. The association currently has about 90,000 Morgans in its registry.

The AMHA issues a breed standard, which describes the ideal Morgan Horse, and promotes the breed’s versatility in a number of sports. Morgans compete successfully in driving, competitive trail riding and endurance, dressage, eventing, hunters and jumpers, saddle seat, western pleasure and cattle work.

The association also has programs for registered Morgans that help recognize members of the breed that excel in the show ring.

It’s easy to recognize a Morgan Horse because of its distinctive head, expressive eyes, deep body and free movement. But the breed is just as famous for its great temperament and its qualities of intelligence, willingness and good sense.

According to those who live with these horses, the Morgan has a charisma and love for people that knows no bounds. This is no doubt why the AMHA has dubbed the Morgan, “The Horse That Chooses You.”

Morgan Horse Fast Facts

• Height: 14.1 to 15.2 hands
• Color: Bay, black and chestnut are the most common colors in the breed. Brown, palomino, buckskin, smoky black, dun, cremello, perlino, smoky cream and gray are also recognized colors.
• Overall Appearance: Expressive face with a wide forehead and large, prominent eyes; a straight or slightly dished short face. The neck comes out of an extremely well-angulated shoulder. The body is compact with a short back, close coupling, well-sprung ribs, a long, well-muscled croup and tail attached high.
• Registry: American Morgan Horse Association, www.morganhorse.com

This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Morgan Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.