INTRODUCTION TO THE MORGAN BREED
The Morgan Horse is an American breed developed in the late 1700’s from a single foundation stallion in Vermont, who was known for his combination of athleticism, speed and high trotting action desirable for stylish carriage horses. The breed got a significant boost when the U.S. Army chose the Morgan as its foundation breed for developing cavalry horses at the University of Vermont in the 1800’s.
Since the early years, the Morgan has grown into an internationally recognized breed association with regional horse shows and an annual national show which are sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation as “Class A” horse shows. In addition to performing in horse shows, the Morgan Horse is used extensively for trail riding, youth mounts in 4-H and Pony Club, and diverse pursuits such as parades, rescue horses, handicapped riding programs and family mounts.
THE MORGAN HORSE IN KENTUCKY
The Morgan Horse has been a little known breed in Kentucky until the last three years, during which a number of major breeders have moved their operations to Kentucky, attracted by the world class veterinarian care, the relative affordability of land, and the comprehensive equine support structure (hay, feed, fencing and the like) that Kentucky offers. There are currently approximately 1250 Morgan Horses in Kentucky.
THE MORGAN HORSE BREEDERS INCENTIVE PROGRAM
The Kentucky Morgan Breeders Incentive is a new awards program which was enacted in 2006 as a part of the more comprehensive Kentucky Breeders Incentive program. The Kentucky Breeders Incentive earmarks tax revenue from stallion fees and returns it to the Equine Industry in the form of purses and awards. The ultimate goal of the Breeders Incentive program is to support the horse breeding industry in Kentucky.
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