SADDLE HORSES OF THE NORTH

Gen. Grant’s “Egypt” (right) is of similar type as the horse above. Note the somewhat tubular body, long and shapely neck, powerful hindquarters and well-articulated and substantial limbs. Egypt is known to have been an ambler-galloper.

Provost marshal of the Army of the Potomac, Gen. Marsena R. Patrick in an 1863 photo taken at Falmouth, Virginia.

Patrick was an expert farmer and stock breeder and before volunteering for Civil War service had served as President of New York State Agricultural College. We may thus assume that the exceptionally handsome black stallion he bestrides in this image was of his own breeding. This is the Northern contribution to the American Saddlebred and the related Tennessee Walking Horse: an animal that might have had a Morgan or Morgan-Canadian dam, but a partThoroughbred sire with some Hartdraaver (Friesian) in him. The horse’s “feathers” have been snipped off. The horse’s headstall and bitting is standard Army issue, but the general rides in trousers and shoes, and he uses English-type irons without toe covers.