Rural Heritage Horse Paddock

Morgans & Quarterhorses Used for Draft


MorganMorgans






Morgans are an American breed that owes its beginning to one stallion, Figure, foaled in 1789 in Springfield, Massachusetts, possibly out of a Welsh Cob mare by a Thoroughbred stallion. By full maturity at 950 pounds, Figure could handle all tasks requiring horse power, from moving heavy logs to racing. Over the next 30 years, the little bay stallion remained sound and worked long, hard hours.

The demand to breed Figure increased and he proved one of the greatest breeding horses of all time. Countless mares were bred to him and so prepotent were his genes that no matter what type of mare he was bred to, heavy draft or refined racing-type, his offspring inherited his image and abilities. This single stallion thus founded an entire breed.

Like most breeds "improvements" changed the Morgan to a heavier, larger draft type in the early 1900s, and later into a taller, finer-boned saddle-type horse for show. Many Morgan breeders today are striving to regain the original Morgan type—powerfully built with a wide, muscular chest and hindquarters, a long, arched, well-muscled neck, a small head with large nostrils, wide eyes and small, alert ears. The legs are strong with no feathering on the pasterns and the hooves are medium-sized.

color— chestnut, bay, or black
with white markings on face and lower legs;
may also be palomino, buckskin, gray
average mature weight— 900 - 1,200 pounds
average mature weight— 14.2 - 15.2 hands
temperament— active, good natured
uses— light draft, light logging, horse pulling contests,
driving, riding
association— American Morgan Horse Association
American Preservation of Old Style Morgan Horse Association
web resources— equiworld.net - Lippitt Morgans
equiworld.net - Morgans
International Museum of the Horse
Oklahoma State University

Quarterhorses, known primarily for excellence in western riding and working cattle, have long been used for light draft. Today's Quarterhorses are of two distinct types: the racing Quarterhorse, often difficult to distinguish from a Thoroughbred, and the stock, or old-type, Quarterhorse. For light draft use, folks usually choose the old-type for its short, stocky and muscular build and because it is more docile and easy to work than the racing type.

The Quarterhorse is medium sized with a compact body, muscular chest, short back with deep heart girth, and powerful hindquarters, giving it strength for pulling, as well as a quick take-off in a race or when working cattle. It has a broad forehead and large eyes, and there is no feathering on its feet.

American Quarterhorses are popular and numerous in the United States and Canada. They are often crossed with the Belgian resulting in a versatile "farm chunk," heavier and more powerful than the Quarterhorse, but smaller, quicker and more economical to feed than the Belgian.

color— most solid colors (mostly sorrel) except white,
with white markings on face and lower legs
average mature weight— 1,000 - 1,200 pounds
average mature height— 14.3 to 16 hands
temperament— alert, willing
uses— light draft, light logging, riding, working cattle
association— American Quarter Horse Association
web resources— equiworld.net - Quarterhorse
International Museum of the Horse
Oklahoma State University

Return to: What is a Draft Horse?



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30 December 2004
19 October 2011 last revision