Happy Friday!! Here is your First Friday Flashback, presented by historian Betsy Curler:
Madison Square Garden 1910 After its founding in 1909, members of the Morgan Horse Club launched several ambitious projects to promote the Morgan horse. Maxwell Evarts proposed an undertaking to show Morgan horses at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden. Two classes, both in harness, with one each for mares and stallions, were proposed to the committee of the National Horse Show.
Both proposed classes were accepted to be held at the National Horse Show in New York City in November 1910. The club’s stated goal was “So far as is practicable the club is adhering closely to the traditional usages and equipment as well as to the ancient Morgan type.” In order to present the Morgan horse in its traditional element, replica farm wagons like those once used in Vermont, were ordered.
Known as Concord wagons, the replicas were to be custom made, but it is not known if they were made by the Concord, NH firm that made the original wagons or someone else. The cost was subsidized by the wealthier members of the Morgan Horse Club, complete with yellow wheels.
Several mares and stallions were chosen to participate and gathered together to receive the necessary training. The Morgans would be a novelty at the National Horse Show. Although none of the horses had ever been shown in an indoor arena, they handled the “electric lights, the large audience, the bands of music and bright colors of dress uniforms, and the brilliant decorations” with aplomb. It was noted that “just one horse” was shown with a docked tail.
The stallions were presented first with eight in the class. The judge was Reginald W. Rives of New York. First place was awarded to H.R.C. Watson’s seven-year-old brown stallion Sampson 5061 (Knox Morgan x Pearl). Sampson was a “smooth gaited, well turned individual” and his placing was a popular win. Sampson was driven by “Watson’s man Scribner” with “great skill.” Scribner looked like a “typical Vermont farmer with a touch of the schoolmaster.”
Second place went to 25-year-old Bob Morgan 4549, who was driven by Spencer Borden. Borden had begged Bob Morgan’s owner A.R. Van Tassel for the honor of driving the horse in the class. Borden was not a novice at exhibiting and “the grand stallion was never shown to greater advantage in his life.” Bob Morgan “came to the ring with almost youthful impatience” and placed second in the class.
In third place, was the Bob Morgan son Bob B. 5282. One person noted that this horse was “one of the most beautiful of his type imaginable. He is a rich brown bay with fine head, small ears, large eyes and full nostrils.” The five-year-old stallion was owned by E.A. Darling. It was expressed that it was a shame that not more was known of his dam other than she was a “black mare.”
The “good looking” Lyndon 5080 was placed fourth. He also was owned by E.A. Darling. Mrs. H.C. Kelley, “one of the most enthusiastic admirers of the Morgan horse,” showed Morgan Falcon 5121 to a two-wheel cart to fifth place.
The mares proved themselves, by putting on a better performance than the stallions, showing more evenly. Carrie, owned by E.A. Darling, was placed first and Bell Marea was second. H.R.C. Watson’s mare Ida E. was third and Spencer Borden’s mare Cherry Ripe was fourth.
A cavalry officer was overheard to say, of the Morgans: “They were and are still the best officers’ mounts that have been bred in this country.” (Photo of Bob B.)
