Lions and Tigers and Tails...Oh My!

Have you ever seen those horses with those wicked (for those of you who don't under stand Maine State terms Wicked= very, really) long tails? Ever want to know how to grow one for yourself? Well here's my guide to growing a tail.

Step 1: Wash the tail well. Any dirt, debry, or soap residue will ruin the whole process.

Step 2: Put a SMALL amount of detangler/shine serum like Vetrolin Concentrate (sold at most tack shops) make sure you work it through the whole tail.

Step 3: Dry the tail. Both Blow drying, toweling, and air drying work. Note: If air drying make sure tail cant touch the ground and get dirty. Also, make sure the tail is DRY! an moisture in the tail when it's up can cause the tail to rot off, in less than a week.

Step 3: Braid the Tail. This is where things get tricky so it's important to do this exactly as I say. First seperate the top tail from the bottom, measure two thirds of the way down the tail bone and leave that part out so the horse can swish flies. Start your braid 2-3" from the bottom of the tail bone to allow for air flow. Now fold the tail up, pull the end through the gap below the tail bone leavin 6" from the top of the braid to where it folds, continue until the tail is all up. Now wrap the tail in cloth, cheesecloth works best and if using colored cloth saok it in warm water to get the dye out. Make sure the tail braid is covered and secure with electrical tape.

Never ever under any circumstances brush a growing tail. Pick with fingers only. Brushing= thin tail.

Good luck and happy growing!

No Comparison.

Well. I have to admit since i've always been around Morgans that I'm a little breed blind. I just think that Morgans are prettier than other breeds, they have it all, beauty, brains and brawn. I'll admit that some Morgans *cough* JW That Special Flaire *cough* have become Saddlebreds with AMHA papers, but for the most part they have stuck to typical Morgan standards. So lets take this one discipline at a time.

Really? I mean come on people, and this was on a sale ad? Is there anyone out there looking for this? Lets take the headset, WAY too low. That horse is a peanut roller. Now the rider, horrible eq and is it just me or her had look like it's way too far too the left side of her horse. How can that horse even move? No impulsion off the rear and he is leaving himself behind.

I don't have a much of problem with this one as I do with the one above. Sure the head is high, but other than that it's pretty good. The horse can move of it's hind. The rider has a good seat and her hands are okay.

This Morgan exhibits ecxellent head carrige. The eye is level with the withers and the head is perpendicular with the ground. The rider had good eq and is holding the romel reins properly.

Horse: BEF Ivan

Okay. We got Western out of the way, now time for hunters (I don't know to much about jumpers so I'm going to stick to on the flat)

This Arabian has overall good form. It's head is a little low and a little behind the vertical but besides that the hors is nice looking and is a nice mover. He fits the hunter type as he is moving forward, and you can clearly tell that he isn't just a western horse eith hunter tack on.

Here we have a Trakehner. The neck is over extended, but besides that, the head/neck isn't that bad. The hind end lacks impulsion but, I assume if the riders seat was better (I understand there are bad pictures) the horse might look nicer. Once again this was a sale ad. This is kind of irrelevant but when I bought my Morgan gelding KHF Emerald and Gold at auction, the booklet showed a picture similar to this one, it turns out they WANTED to make the horse look like a horrible hunter so the Amish wouldn't buy him. Go Figure.

I'm in love with this mare (and thats a lot coming from me as I don't like hunters.). Isn't she gorgeous?? She has a nicely arched neck and her head is in just the right place. Her hind is engaged and she is the perfect Morgan hunter. I really can't say enough about this mare so I'm just going to stop now.




Horse: Briar Oaks Good Vibrations

Now that the hunters are out of the way we'll move on to my discipline of choice. Saddleseat!! If you read my earlier post you will know that saddleseat horses are not abused... well not in the Morgan world anyway, despite what some believe.



No. No no no. Wrong! Okay. Apaloosas should not be shown saddleseat, ever. A weymouth bridle and a cutback does not make a horse Saddleseat. Ever. A good Saddleseat horse should at least trot with animation. I see no animation here. I apologize if you own an Appaloosa and show Saddleseat, but please but an all purpose saddle on it if on if you simply must show english.

Can anyone guess which kind of horse this is? Morgan? nope. Saddlebred? 1/2 right. Arabian? 1/2 right. It's a National Show horse (half Arabian half Saddlebred) This horses head is just right and has good neck flexsion. Once again the hind could use a bit of impulsion but nothing major.




I like this little guy. The way he carries himself looks natural. His movement looks snappy and animated. The rider looks relaxed and they pair well with each other

Horse: Paradigm Shift


So how does your breed-of-choice stack up?

What can a Morgan do?

Morgans do it all! The variety seen in the morgan world can only be matched by the Arabian (maybe, and if anyone can think of others feel free to share). So today we'll tackle the Saddleseat division

I. Saddleseat

a. Classic Pleasure Saddle and Driving:The Classic Pleasure horse should be a calm, mild-mannered, safe, using pleasure horse. He must demonstrate flawless manners and be agreeableto the commands and directions of his rider/driver. He must work at all times on a light rein without resistance and with only light contact onthe bit. Although he should be athletic and may be energetic, he must at all times demonstrate a quiet, calm and extremely tractable attitude. The flight path of the foot should be of that of a relaxedusing pleasure horse.

b. English Pleasure Saddle and Pleasure Driving: English Pleasure & Pleasure Driving horses are just as much a showhorse as the park horse but they generally have less animation. The same excellence of type and presence are prerequisites of the Pleasure horse but he need not have the brilliance nor the high action of the Park Morgan. The Pleasure horse must exhibit impeccable manners and aquiet, deliberate, and willing performance. As the name implies, thePleasure horse should give the appearance that he enjoys the work he isdoing and that he is indeed a pleasure to ride or drive.

c. Park Saddle and Harness: The Park Morgan is expected to present a picture of great beauty,brilliance, animation, and elegance, either under saddle or in harness.The performance of the Park horse should reflect the innate vitalityand distinctly energetic character of the breed. The Park Morgan should be collected, balanced, rhythmic and precise at all times. Whileanimation and presence are prerequisites, the Park Morgan should display a "poetry of motion" that is achieved by a combination ofathletic ability and a willing attitude. At all gaits, the Park Morgan should be airy, elastic, elegant, cadenced and obedient.

Saddleseat is my personal division of choice purley because I like they way the horses go and I feel I can really show my horse to its full potential. Now for people who thinks all saddleseat horses are abused and tortured you may be right for a few breeds but the AMHA is against all abuse and the rules against it are strict. If you even have an action chain at an "A" rated morgan show you are disqualified for that show and can have your membership suspended permanatly. The pictures Should show the differences. On the Left is a Morgan, sure the riders eq. isn't great but just look at the guy on the right with the saddlebred.

A Little History Lesson.

Morgans are America's first breed (and quite frankly, I don't care if you say AQHAs are, they're not). The First Morgan, Figure, later to be named the Justin Morgan horse. The bay colt, born in 1789 was given to Justin Morgan, a Vermont music teacher, who used the colt for everything from hauling logs, to racing. The little bay horse could out-pull the biggest drafts and out walk, trot, or run the fastest of race horses. The Morgan horses all descend from that one little bay horse. Since then morgans have been successful in most competitions and can be found around the world, but are still most popular in the US. The Morgan Horse Association offers many programs to its members including an open competition program, and a pathways program where participants log hour spent with there morgans and receive awards for the hours they reach.