The Morgan Horse Blog

SHERMAN MORGAN ( LORD NORTH), foaled 1808 or 1809, thirteen and three quarters hands. Bright chestnut, 925 pounds, off hind stocking, small stripe, lean head – well shaped, ears small and fine, eyes inclined to be small, but full, prominent and lovely. Broad, flat, sinewy legs, broad chest, prominent breastbone, large well placed shoulders. Neck excellent. Mane and tail full, long deep hip, loins broad and muscular, a little hollow backed but not weak.

Died 1835 at either 26 or 27 years. Bred by James Sherman of Lyndon, Vermont.

The dam of Sherman Morgan was said to be “Spanish”, which meant of Barb or Arab type. She was chestnut of good size, high spirited and elegant. She had three white feet and white stripe, a long light neck, carried her head high. She was pleasant tempered and worked kindly. She transmitted to her son, her fineness of finish, high quality, perfect docility and great intelligence.

Mr. Linsley in “Different Families” says “Shermans are generally smaller then the Woodburys. More inclined to be hollow-backed, but their backs are very short, with wide full loins. Their limbs are superlatively good. They have a shorter gait than the Bulrushes and do not raise their feet as high in traveling. They have not so bold, eager and commanding a style of action as the Woodburys, but we think they have a better temper for driving and full as much spirit; and nothing can exceed their courage on the road. They have a more rapid walk than either of the other families with an exceedingly short, nervous step. They are easily broken to harness and though spirited, are very gentle and tractable.”

Mr. Linsley has given us a a list of twenty entire sons of Sherman -19 were listed with color. Eight were chestnut, five bay, three gray, two black, and one brown. Heights were given for 16, ranging from 13 1/2 hands to 15 1/2 hands. The average height is 14 3/4 hands. Average weight is 1022 pounds.

SHERMAN MORGAN was the first horse that ever left two sons that got 2:30 trotters.

He left at least 40 entire sons. They were taken to Canada, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, and the Western Territories. His descendants furnished the foundation stock for The American Saddle Horse, Standardbred, Tennessee Walking Horse and to a lesser extent, The Quarter Horse.

Sherman’s get were early noted for speed, and his sons progeny were found in trotting contests of long ago. THE ALBANY CULTIVATOR, August 2, 1845, wrote “A horse called Sherman Morgan is generally believed to have done more towards giving character and fame to the Morgan’s stock than any other horse, not excepting the first of that race and name.”

Sherman’s disposition was kind and generous, extremely tractable, yet high spirited, with great endurance. He was universally regarded as New England’s leading sire. As a group, his family were known for their docility and great courage on the road.

His greatest son was Black Hawk – who deserves his own chapter, which will be coming up next. Other sons of Sherman that bred on included:

Young Sherman( there were three of this name), Goss Horse, Wilson Horse, Morgan Tiger ( 2 horses of this name), Morgan Robin, Hammond Horse, Batchelder Horse, Newell’s Gray, Eastman Horse, White Mountain Morgan, Pope Horse, Fisher’s Morgan, Blanchard Horse, Sir Charles, Blevin Horse, Sherman Morgan (Kilburns), Sherman Morgan (Adam’s), Beloit Morgan, Willey Horse, Turk, Carpenter’s Gray, Dutch Prince, Fox, Morgan Traveller, Howard Morgan, Roebuck, Cock of the Rock, Flint Morgan, Eaton Horse, Solvertail, and the Adam’s Horse, Billy Root ( Root Horse, Comet, Red Bird), Royal Morgan (Crane Horse, Morgan Rattler), Vermont Morgan Champion (Knight’s Horse), and Whalebone.

The characteristics Mr. Linsley described hold as true not as they did then. This family has come down to us in good abundance. Sherman may be traced to the Jubilee King family or through the General Gates family, or through horses descended from Troubadour of Willowmoor. Sherman’s blood comes down as strongly to us through stallion lines as through mare lines. Many sons, grandsons, and great, great, great grandsons were known to be superior broodmare sires. The family as a whole still seems to be primarily chestnut with stars and stripes, still with superlative legs and superior dispositions – docile and kind, yet with fire and spirit and speed.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 7th, 2005 at 10:13 am and is filed under Legendary Morgans. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.