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When Western expansion got underway, Americans that came West often had a Morgan bred horse under them or in harness. Thousands upon thousands of Morgan horses served and perished in the Civil War. It is said that the '1st Vermont' (known as the 'Green Mountain Boys') left their home state mounted on a thousand Morgans. Many more Americans came west on Morgan horses also.

Morgan bred horses brought the cavalry Westward too. Commanche, said to be the only survivor at the Battle of the Little Big Horn was Morgan bred. General Philip Sheridan's horse Rienzi was too - as were many thousands of nameless war-horses. The Old West had a fitting mascot in the Morgan Horse - an experienced veteran at helping early Americans carve out a new life in a new land. Morgan horses made a million hoof prints headed west. The Morgan horse became firmly established as man's servant on the Western frontier and was already a household word in the east. Currier & Ives prints beautifully preserve much of the visual record of the activities of the Morgan Horse in early America - as a competitor in harness and working at home. That was the golden age of the Morgan and yet there was much history to be made as many Americans packed up and moved west.

The tough & hardy Morgans were used on Stagecoach lines out west and as Pony express mounts. Then, the Morgan went from pushing back enemy lines in the Civil War for the Union, to pushing cattle from Texas to Wyoming, from Kansas toward California and on up into the Pacific Northwest. The Morgan Horse became a respected stock horse and 'bridle horse' in the masterful hands of the vaqueros also known as Californios. Morgan blood was used for breeding light draft crosses and for the purpose of upgrading native stock throughout this country due the breed's reputation for genetic prowess. U.S. Remount Morgan stallions placed in the care of government agents spread Morgan blood throughout the west, thereby scattering Morgan genetics on the four winds. The foundation of ‘western working family’ was being laid.

Ranchers developed what we now call the 'Western Working Family' within the Morgan breed. Richard Sellman in Texas, Roland Hill in California, Elmer Brown in Kansas, Ab Cross in Wyoming, the Jackson family in Montana, the LU Ranch in Wyoming, The Pitchfork in Wyoming and many, many more ranchers contributed to the formation of this family within the breed. Purebred Morgans and Morgan cross-breds of every kind were commonplace. Morgan virtues held dear were toughness in a gentle horse and soundness without pampering. Other cherished virtues were longevity and most certainly ‘cow savvy’. These factors made Morgan blood highly desirable in an era when the 'arena horse' was yet to be (the modern western performance Quarter Horse). Morgans were 'big country' cow horses - horses that could take you to the backside and come back at day's end with their ears up at a tireless trot or perhaps in a gliding singlefoot. While interviewing elderly cowboys, many have told me the the same thing over & over and over again, "The best horse I ever swung a leg over was a Morgan."

The WWF began as a collection of horses carefully selected to excel as cow horses. The U.S. Remount bloodlines figured heavily into the recipe. The Remount horses bred true, were widely available, thrived in a tough lifestyle and often times harsh environment. Other bloodlines were used as well – based on suitability and availability. The Morgan stock horse saw daily work in an era when the only kind of work was hard work - in every from of weather that four seasons could produce - day after day, year in and year out. What breeders didn’t cull, the work and lifestyle did. The stock horse life required a 'hard - as - nails' athlete with a mind for the work. The horse also had to have 'bottom' and heart - words you don't hear much anymore.

The Morgan of old was never one to shrink back from work - they were famous for their work ethic. Morgans remain the same today – they aren't just willing to work hard, they like it. The Morgan is a horse that stands up to hard use and leans into challenge with gusto and stylish bravado. There are faster running horses nowadays, bigger horses, faster trotting ones, louder colored, and so on but Morgan devotees stand by this claim with zeal: there isn't a horse alive with more Try than a Morgan. Point a Morgan anywhere and he'll give his all. A good Morgan doesn't know the meaning of "It's too hard, I'm tired, I want to quit." Many a devoted 'Morganite' will repeat the old saying, "A horse is a horse but a Morgan is something else."

Hype? Not if you know such a horse. The Morgan horse is a living legend designed to endure grueling work and look like sculpture doing it. The Morgans that were chosen as founders of the Western Working Family went on about their work and in so doing, the Morgan’s history spans the American Old West in its entirety. Tom Mix, Will Rogers, Gene Autry, Rex Allen and many other silver screen cowboy heroes rode the kind of horse admired in their era in real life. 'Real' Cowboys rode Morgans.

The WWF Morgan gave his genetics to every native light-horse breed in this country and in no small measure. Specifically, to a breed of stock horse that was evolving in the West - the Quarter Horse. Untold numbers of Morgans were quietly absorbed into the foundation of the Quarter Horse. More and more of those Morgans are now known and documented. Much of what made the early Quarter Horse a successful venture can be fairly credited to the Morgan Horse.

The WWF Morgan of today remains just as he was - a source of bone, brains, brawn and beauty. He is the classic horse of the Old West. He's the artist's image of the Vaquero's 'bridle horse' wearing an ornate spade bit. But, today he’s no longer limited to looking at the south end of a north bound cow. Today, he is just as likely to be found excelling in open competition as a sport horse among breeds bred for those disciplines. The old west image of the Morgan fits seamlessly into the image of the classical baroque era dressage horse. The traditional Morgan also remains a shining star in the driving world since this breed was ‘King Of The Road’ before he found a career in cowboying. Stylish & strong, the classic Morgan is a natural 'puller' and his kind pulled every known horse-drawn vehicle and farm implement invented by man.

What of WWF Morgans today? They are alive and well and sought after as all-around mounts by people from every walk of life. The WWF Morgan remains a horse for all reasons and seasons. Preserved in the WWF Morgan is that “look at me” presence with athletic ability that shines in many pursuits. Many WWF Morgans still earn their oats doing what they were bred for - quietly helping ranchers scratch out a living. The WWF Morgan has remained true to his working heritage and the original image of the Morgan Horse. Wherever you find WWF Morgans today they are doing what they've always always done...pleasing and serving. Very few breeds answer this question with iron ... “What would you like to do?” with the reply, “Whatever you want !!”. The WWF bred Morgan embodies the breed's traditional virtues. As a family within this breed these horses carry on the tradition of being a working work of art. Walking The Talk with style ~ that’s a WWF Morgan !!

~ By Shery Jespersen

For more information on the history of the Morgan Horse, please visit the American Morgan Horse Association.