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Figure

Figure was the one little stallion that founded the Morgan breed today. You can't call a horse a Morgan unless they're bloodlines all trace back to Figure! Firmly stated that he was foaled in West Springfield, Massachusetts on January 2, 1789, his exact parentage is unknown, but was rumored to be sired by the powerful Thoroughbred stallion True Briton and out of an Anglo-Arabian mare by Diamond, and as claimed by Justin Morgan himself, she was "of Wild-air breeding, of middling size, heavy chest, of a light bay color, with a bushy mane and tail, hair on her legs rather long, and a smooth handsome traveler." His dam was bred and raised by Justin Morgan, whom was a composer, teacher, businessman, and horseman; her sire, Diamond, was one of the stallions that Justin leased as a renowned stallioneer in Massachusetts and stood to public along with True Briton. The mare that he bred stayed behind in Springfield while Justin moved on to Randolph Vermont. Figure, along with two other colts, was given to Justin Morgan as a payment to a debt, and went home with him to Randolph. Under Justin’s ownership and being leased to farmers as a plow-horse and used for racing, as the colt matured news of Figure spread all over about his strength, stamina, and beauty; he could out pull, out walk, out trot, and outrun any horse in his area. His well-known name was always "Justin Morgan's horse", and after Justin passed away, Figure became known as "Justin Morgan" in honor of the schoolteacher.

He was also most famous for his unique ability to pass his characteristics on to his foals no matter what type of mare he was bred to. And Figure's dominant genes are so strong that they still determine a part of the Morgan appearance today. And 200 years later, they still remain strong, beautiful, intelligent, and highly versatile. The Morgan breed was one of the first native horses in America. And while the first native breed has died out, the Morgan remains, and is still the "Pride and Product of America". Once only in US, the Morgan horse has now spread to countries all over the globe.

Listed below are the four widely recognized families in the Morgan breed. (A family is a group of horses from the same breeding program that have ancestors in common.) The largest families are the Brunk, Government, Lippitt, and Western Working. There is also a smaller "Sub-Family" known as the Lambert, which is a family that has descended from one horse and/or a particular breeding program.

Lippitt Family

“Morgans tracing to several of the horses originating from the breeding program of Robert Lippitt Knight in Vermont are known today as “Lippitts.” Morgans bred by Knight bear the prefix “Lippitt” at the beginning of their name and trace to the stallion Ethan Allen 2nd.” (Pictured above)

The main Foundation sires were bred by Robert Lippitt Knight, who concentrated the breed to it's purest, in which the Morgans included Ethan Allen 2nd blood. Lippitts have no 20th century outcrosses to other breeds, resulting in a pure family line that carries the highest percentage of Justin Morgan's blood. As a result to this careful practice of breeding, Lippitt Morgans continue on the strength, hardiness, and beauty that Figure had been passing on from generation to generation.

** This particular family is actually considered the most ideal expectation of the Morgan, and because of that, it's dwindling numbers actually make it a priority for preservation, going so far as to even be recognized as "Critically Endangered" by the Equine Survival Trust.

Brunk Family

“Morgans that trace to the breeding program of Joseph Brunk in Illinois are generally known for their soundness and athletic ability. Brunk’s program revolved around breeding key mares, primarily of old Vermont breeding, to the best stallions available. Most Brunk Morgans have the mare Daisy numerous times in their pedigree. She was crossed with the stallions Ben Franklin, Senator, Jubilee De Jarnette, and Chetco, and the offspring crossed back to each other, creating a family line bred to Daisy.”

Government Family

Back in the early 1900's, Morgans were a must as Calvary horses!

Given up to the US Government by Colonel Joseph Battell after years of preserving the strongest of the Morgan blood, they began breeding the Morgans for Calvary use and for the public between the years of 1905 to 1951, where the Government Morgan family was started. "The US Government dispersed the herd in 1950, with the University of Vermont purchasing many of the breeding stock to carry on the Government program." The foundation sires of this family were Troubadour of Willowmoor (pictured above left) and General Gates (pictured above right). Mostly all of the Government Morgans trace back to these stallions. Today, the Government family is the largest of the Morgan families.

Working Western Family

Sometimes referred as 2WFs,"these horses do not have one breeder or ancestor in common, but have a common purpose: to work the western ranges of the United States. Working Western Morgans drew from the Government stallions shipped out west to improve the quality of offspring from local mares, as well as Morgans from breeding programs in Kansas, California, Nevada, and Texas." 2WF Morgans are known for their good feet and legs, deep bodies, strong hindquarters, fast and covering gaits, stamina, and an intelligent, sensible, willing temperament with lots of heart and cow savvy. Sometimes a 2WF Morgan can be mistaken for a Quarter Horse because some do take on a "stocky" appearance.

Sub-Family: The Lambert Line

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Daniel Lambert (pictured above left) was a great-great grandson of Justin Morgan and was said to be the most beautiful horse of his time. The Lambert line is known for their wonderful dispositions, beautiful movement, and a kind eye with a sturdy conformation. Not to mention beautiful Flaxen manes and tails, gorgeous heads on their shoulders, and a bit of flair to boot. The greatest place to obtain a clean and closely line bred Lambert Morgan is through the famous farm, The Quietude Stud.

Lamberts are derived from three of Justin Morgan's renowned sons: Woodbury, Sherman, and Bulrush. But most people connect Lamberts to the core stallion that helped preserve the lines: Daniel Lambert. The single sire that contributes to today's line is Jubilee King (pictured in the Brunk section), who possessed five crosses to Daniel. From Jubilee King came his son Jubilee's Courage who sired the colts Criterion and Cavendish. Criterion was the founding stallion of the Quietude herd, which their stock, along with other Lambert breeders, is closely bred to. There, Criterion stamped his good looks and great temperament onto his children and grandchildren much like Figure had done with his get. Cavendish was the founder of the Caven-Glo Lamberts, but it seems that very few of these Lamberts have truly continued the pure Lambert line. And as for choosing the mares, many of the founding mares were of "Lippitt" decent (to explain in a simpler term), but were selected for their bloodlines that were rich in the blood of Figure's three sons.

The Golden Cross

The Golden Cross Morgans don't technically come from a single Morgan horse and don't technically have a "family". They are widely called Golden Crosses because they are a blend of branches, a cross of the bloodlines to bring the better of two families in one Morgan horse. The most well known Golden Crosses are the crossing of the Government with the Lippitt lines and the Brunk or 2WF with the Lambert lines. Seldom there are crosses of Government with Brunk, while Lippitt with Brunk and the Government with the Lambert or 2WF are common.