Happy Friday! Here is your First Friday Flashback, kindly provided by historian Betsy Curler:
Peters’ Vermont 403
One of the most prolific sires of Morgans “of the old race” was J.H. Peters’ stallion Vermont. By the age of 22 years, prior to the 1872 breeding season, he had sired more than 1,300 foals. They were well known throughout Vermont and New Hampshire as well as around the Boston area.
Once a dealer verified the horse he was offering for sale was by Vermont, he had a ready sale at a good price to a buyer that was “more than satisfied.” The offspring of Vermont were known for great endurance and carrying weight a long distance. Although possessing considerable spirit, they were docile enough to be driven the “most timid.” Yet, if the best of drivers put them to their mettle, they proved to be a “full hand.” They excelled as roadsters and many proved to be fast trotters.
Vermont was a dark chestnut standing about 14.2 hands and weighed 950 pounds. Like all the Peters’ horses he was worked on the farm and used as a road horse, as the occasion required. Vermont was foaled 20 June 1850. According to Battell, Vermont was bred by David Wood of Hancock, New Hampshire.
Vermont was acquired by J.H. Peters of Bradford, Vermont as a three year old. He remained with Peters the rest of his life. As a stallion, he did “good business” in Bradford. In 1872 and 1873, he spent two months of each breeding season in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
Vermont’s dam, named Jennie, was bred by David Wood, and got by Hale’s Green Mountain Morgan 42. His second dam, Phebe, a “fast mare,” was by Tom Morgan, a son of True Briton. Tom Morgan was noted for his speed and bottom.” To quote the Caledonian: “This was about as deep in the Morgan strain as you get them, and the old fellow shows it in every inch of his compact body and spirited, vigorous movements.”
Who was Vermont’s sire became debatable. Peters always gave his sire as being Gifford Morgan and that is how Linsley gave his pedigree in ‘Morgan Horses.’ However, Battell recorded him in the first volume of the Morgan registry as being sired by the David Wood Horse 402, a son of Hale’s Green Mountain Morgan 42. The David Wood Horse was bred by David Wood and sold west to Ohio at five years of age.
Peters always claimed that Vermont “possesses the celebrated Morgan blood in greater purity than any other horse [then] living.” Although not trained for the track, he had a record for the mile of 2:46. At the 1854 Vermont State Fair, he won first premium in the stallion class.
