The Morgan: A Firm Foundation
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 3:11)
(Check the website https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_horse to see a picture of the Morgan)
Justin Morgan Had a Horse. Have you ever read Marguerite Henry’s book with that title about the man whose horse started the Morgan breed?
Here’s another horse breed named after a person. The Morgan is one of the earliest breeds developed in the United States. It’s believed that Figure, the name of the very first Morgan horse, was owned by school teacher Justin Morgan, who lived in West Springfield, Massachusetts in the late 1700s. Someone gave the beautiful, little stallion to Justin for payment of a debt.
When Justin decided to enter Figure in a race, the man soon discovered his new horse could beat all others in any race. Justin had no idea what breeds comprised the lineage of Figure, but some folks assumed the horse had Dutch Friesian, Arabian, and Thoroughbred in him.
The importance of the Morgan horse in the history and development of many other breeds in America cannot be overemphasized. When Justin started to breed Figure, a line of excellent carriage horses, plow horses, and Pony Express mounts developed. All through the 1800s, Morgans also served as coach horses, for harness racing, and for trail riding. They also served as cavalry horses for the North and the South during the American Civil War, as mounts for pioneers going west, and for miners in the Gold Rush in California in the mid-1800s.
If you study the lineage of other major American breeds including the American Quarter Horse, Standardbred, The Missouri Fox Trotter, and Tennessee Walking Horse, you’ll find that the Morgan played a major role. In the 19th and 20th Centuries, Morgans found their way into other countries, including England, where a Morgan stallion became one of the foundation sires of the Hackney.
The Morgan is a handsome yet strong and muscular horse with a gorgeous thick, arched neck. He stands between 14.1 and 15.2 hands and comes in most colors including palomino and even some pinto, although multi-colored ones are rare. His popularity over the last two centuries centers on the strong foundation the first Morgan built, which led to a breed with many skills. Today he’s shown in all kinds of English and western shows, including western pleasure, dressage, show jumping, and endurance riding. He can be seen in driving competitions, including combined driving, carriage driving, and trail riding.
But there’s more! Because of their gentle nature and steady gaits, Morgans are often safe mounts for kids in 4-H and Pony Clubs. They’re also safe therapeutic animals due to their calm disposition and easy strides. Morgans are certainly versatile…and popular. They’re so popular that two states, Vermont and Massachusetts, have made the Morgan their state animal.
Although Figure had a reputation as an excellent breeding stallion, there are records for only six of his male offspring, and only three of those were known as foundation sires for the breed. However, the breed is so popular, Morgan-only shows are held throughout the U.S. In 1973, the first annual Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show opened in Detroit, Michigan. In 1975 that national show moved to its present home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Over 1,000 horses compete in that show every year!
You might have noticed the word “foundation” reoccurring as we learned about the Morgan breed. A foundation is a solid base or structure on which other things are built.
Figure became the “foundation sire” for an entire breed. Thousands of other horses have their roots in that amazing horse. But do you know we as humans have a firm foundation in someone? That someone is the Lord Jesus Christ, the foundation of our faith.
When Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for our sins, He made it clear He was the foundation of our Christian faith. Without His sacrifice of blood on the cross and His resurrection, we wouldn’t have anything to base our beliefs on.
Sadly, many people around the world base their faith on false gods made of wood and stone that can’t hear, speak, or answer prayer. But we have a living God, who answers prayer and gives us peace in our hearts that we’ll have a home in heaven with Him someday.
If you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you have the best foundation you could ever have. With the Bible as your “behavior guide” and God’s promise of heaven someday, there’s no reason to ever doubt the salvation Jesus has given to you.
PRAYER: Dear God, I thank Jesus for being my Savior and being the foundation of my faith. I can always trust in Him and His Word, the Bible. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SADDLE UP! (What would God have you do now?)
Have you ever asked Jesus to become the foundation in your life? Just ask him to save you and He will!
Take your ride: (Do you know?) Figure lived until 1821 when, sadly, he was kicked by another horse and later died from his injuries. He was buried in Tunbridge, Vermont.
Dismount and cool down your horse! (Do you know?) “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands” (Psalm 102: 25).
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Read about foster kid, Skye Nicholson, and her champion show horse, Champ,
and their exciting adventures in the Keystone Stables Series!
