Morgan Horse: Breed Profile

 resume of abilities and applications. Before industrialization changed the landscape of agriculture and transportation, the Morgan was valued as much for plowing the fields as it was for pulling the family buggy.

Morgans were used as trotting horses on the race track and cavalry mounts in wartime. They also were hitched to wagons or ridden by pioneers who were traveling to the American West. Today, Morgans can be found competing in almost every equestrian sport. Morgan horse shows often feature sidesaddle classes, trotting races under saddle, driving classes, dressage, jumping, and more—all showcasing the outstanding versatility of the breed.

Colors and Markings

Morgans come in all equine colors. They are usually dark, solid colors, such as bay, black, and chestnut. However, some breeders specialize in producing Morgans with palomino, pinto, gray, dun, roan, and another less common coloring. There is no official breed standard for this aspect of the Morgan's appearance.

Unique Characteristics of the Morgan Horse

The Morgan's strong, compact body and refined features, as well as its regal posture, are all distinctive breed traits. Proud and alert, these horses tend to carry their heads and tails higher than many other breeds.

But the quality that truly defines the Morgan is its temperament. This friendly horse is typically quite eager to please its handlers and even enjoys meeting strangers. Although it can be animated and spunky, it’s still very affectionate and known for its loyalty.

Diet and Nutrition

As easy keepers, Morgans generally need less food than many other full-size horse breeds. They require a standard diet of quality grass, hay, and grains. But owners should be careful not to feed their horses too much, especially sweet foods. Morgans can easily be overfed, making them prone to obesity. Thus, it’s important to limit your horse to what it needs to maintain a healthy body condition.

Common Health and Behavior Problems

Thanks to their cooperative nature, Morgans are generally easy to train and don’t have many behavioral issues. They’re also a generally healthy breed and don’t often develop problems with lameness. Occasionally, some Morgans have a genetic link to equine polysaccharide storage myopathy. This is a condition that damages muscle tissue and can cause pain, stiffness, and more.