| The Morgan is compact and refined in build, with | | | | stud book was closed in 1948 in an effort to |
| strong limbs, an expressive face, large eyes, | | | | preserve the breed. The Morgan has also |
| well-defined withers, laid back shoulders and a well | | | | influenced several other breeds, including the |
| arched neck. There is officially one Breed | | | | Standardbred, Tennessee Walker, American |
| Standard [2] for Morgan type regardless of the | | | | Quarter Horse, and the American Saddlebred. |
| discipline or bloodline of the individual horse. | | | | Nearly 90% of Saddlebred horses today have |
| Morgans come in a variety of colors although | | | | Morgan blood. |
| they are most commonly bay, black, brown, and | | | | The first national Morgan Horse competition was |
| chestnut. Gray, palomino, cremello, perlino, smoky | | | | held in 1973 in Detroit, and is now held each |
| cream, silver dapple, sabino, frame overo, dun, | | | | October in Oklahoma City, OK. In addition to the |
| and buckskin are also seen. [citation needed] | | | | Morgan Grand National, there are 10 regional |
| The breed standard ranges from 14.1-15.2 | | | | championship shows and many other official |
| hands(1.45 to 1.57 meters) with some individuals | | | | (referred to as "Class A") shows. Morgans also |
| over and under. Morgans under 14.2 can be shown | | | | compete in all-breed shows, 4H shows, and |
| in open "Pony" competitions, even though they | | | | combined driving events. |
| are technically horses, regardless of height, and | | | | At class A shows, Morgans compete In Hand, |
| are usually exhibited as such. | | | | English Pleasure, Park, Western, Carriage Driving, |
| The breed's trotting ability made it a favorite for | | | | Fine Harness, Hunt Seat, Trail, Roadster, Parade, |
| harness racing in the 1840s. Morgans were also | | | | Reining, and Dressage. In a qualifying class, |
| used in the Civil War as cavalry mounts, including | | | | performance is to be 60% of consideration in |
| Sheridan's "Rienzi"[2] and Stonewall Jackson's "Little | | | | judging, and conformation to be 40%. |
| Sorrel". In the post-civil war era, Morgans were | | | | Championship classes are judged with 50% |
| also used in the Pony Express and as mounts for | | | | consideration to each. The exceptions to this are |
| the cavalry in the western United States. The | | | | the trail classes and in hand classes, which give full |
| only survivor of the Custer regiment from The | | | | consideration to performance and conformation, |
| Battle of Little Bighorn was the Morgan-Mustang | | | | respectively. |
| mixed breed horse Comanche. | | | | The classic type of Morgan is generally quite good |
| The first volume of the Morgan Horse Register | | | | at the Olympic disciplines as well (show jumping, |
| was published in 1894. Since then, more than | | | | dressage, and eventing), making the Morgan one |
| 132,000 Morgan Horses have been registered. The | | | | of the most versatile breeds of horse. |