A GALLERY OF EARLY MORGANS

Ethan Allen 2nd (1877), was one of the most important and influential horses in the Morgan breed. This son of the Peters Morgan came out of a mare owned by Stephen Dow tracing to Black Hawk and Sherman Morgan, with another line to Woodbury. This snapshot of the horse is a far better likeness of him than other attributed portraits, and it shows his size, which was less than 14:2 hands. Nonetheless this is a powerful and smoothly conformed animal, similar to his sire, showing snappy trot action even as an older horse (he was at least 18 years old when this photo was taken). One cannot help but be impressed by the short back, beautiful coupling, deep shoulder, arched neck and perfectly formed hindquarters. Big things sometimes come in small packages; preferring large horses, especially for riding, is usually a mistake. ETHAN ALLEN 2ND

C d Pi (1890) b Eth All 2d out of Doll (not Dolly the dam of Young Green Mountain). Doll was granddaughter of Ethan Allen (1849)—about whom we will be hearing much more in an upcoming installment. She also traces to all three major Figure sons, Sherman Morgan,

Headlight Morgan (1893) is by Ethan Allen 2nd, out of Lady Stratton, who traces to Woodbury Morgan and the original Billy Root (1829), a son of Sherman Morgan. Much like Croydon Prince, Headlight shows excellent legs, shoulder and neck, and if anything even more powerful haunches. The rider in this photo is the famous portraitist of the Morgan and American Saddlebred horse, George Ford Morris. CROYDON PRINCE Bulrush Morgan and Woodbury Morgan. The Morgan contribution is very evident in Croydon Prince, another beautiful stallion who merits an “A” rating despite the somewhat tubular body. His back is, however, strongly coupled and broad across the loins, with a spectacular b t dl th pretty and well-set, the haunches are of perfect shape, and the legs rate an “A+” both for substance and for structure. The head is beautiful and noble and the expression alert, kind and intelligent. HEADLIGHT MORGAN