That’s hilarious. They are smart!
Too late now, but, the OP should never have gotten a Morgan horse. Now, she will never, ever, ever be the only really smart person on the team, or the hardest worker, or be the best problem-solver, or finally, have the best hair. It’s all over now, OP.
I did that with my current Morgan, a palomino mare. There are/were four Morgan breeders in the state who breed/bred for color and one breeder that I know of nearby in another state. I was crossing my fingers and was SO hoping to get some kind of a match, but ‘no.’
I don’t know if owners of already registered stallions and mares had to pay when DNA was required by the AMHA when breeding—I tell myself that maybe some backyard breeder didn’t think it was worth the cost. Maybe they continued to breed but not register their stock. She is old enough to be a product of that, perhaps.
when DNA was required by the AMHA when breeding
the registry retained all the prior hair samples used to register a horse that could be DNA searched
I’m dying here! So true!
Petey is home! And he’s perfect . Seriously!
He hopped onto the trailer like a pro, even though he’d never seen a step-up. Looked and sniffed for about 10 seconds, then calmly walked on. He trailered like champ — was so quiet during the 90 min ride that I asked “do you think he died back there?” When we opened the door he just looked at me like “oh hi! You’re here, too?” No sweat, not even loose poops! Went for a calm little walk around the farm and a bit of a hand graze, then turned him out in a solo paddock. He had a good look, checked everything out, had a good pee and a drink, then tucked into his hay. I hung out with him a while sitting on a tree stump and he would take breaks from eating to mosey over, whuffle my head, then wander back. Nothing phases him — there were tractors and mowers driving by, and he’d notice them, think a bit, then go back to grazing or eating hay. The perfect mix of curious and calm. I left for a bit and when I came back and called him, he came up to the gate . No screaming or sweating or frantically running the fence line— you’d swear he’d lived here his whole life. It was a perfect first day together. (It was so sweet — once when a particularly noisy tractor was going by, he just came and stood close to me like, “if it’s okay with you, I’d just like hang here for a bit”).
I couldn’t be happier!!! THANK YOU everyone for your support, and please keep the stories coming — I think it’s safe to say I’m a “Morgan person” now!!
I’m a terrible photographer, but here are a couple of pics of Petey at home
Sorry, because I am apparently now 12 years old, I have to add a video of him letting me know that his dinner was inadequate, and coming up to say hello
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Petey looks to be settling in quite well. BTW my Morgan gelding does the same thing with a feed pan. I hang a bucket now We had construction on the barn today - 6 in the crew, air guns going, compressor running, guys on the roof, etc and Brandon was cool as a cucumber. I also will warn you that Brandon requires I spell a lot of things because he definitely has learned quite a few words. He’s not the first one I’ve had that challenge with either
Yeah, my 3-year-old still does the same with his grain pan. He gets a bucket hung over the fence now (and man, were we a bit peeved for a few days - took away his favorite toy).
Petey is adorable - I am so happy for you!
Those smart sweet eyes, what a nice colt!
“oh hi! You’re here, too?”
that is the same expression the now yearling we have that was purchased as weanling, nothing seems to phase him
Yeah, my 3-year-old still does the same with his grain pan. He gets a bucket hung over the fence now (and man, were we a bit peeved for a few days - took away his favorite toy).
wait until they wear shoes then they use those to knock on the stall doors to get Your attention when they believe they are being overlooked… HEY Here I am HUNGRY (for treats, but mostly for personal attention or SEE my hay bag is EMPTY)
What a sweet face!
Rebecca
I always feel that Morgans are are smart as dogs–and as food-driven, too. Like if someone crossed a Lab with a Quarter Horse. I think that’s why I like them so much (and ponies too). I know some people make jokes about horses that are “too smart” but I like a horse I feel I can trust to be sensible and make good decisions (except where food is concerned).
I like a horse I feel I can trust to be sensible and make good decisions
reminds me of my little Morgan mare, she was a13.3 Lippitt Morgan. We trail rode a lot in the LBJ Grasslands where most of the trailer parking was centrally setup with trails that radiated from the hub to trails that intersected trails that circled the hub. (about 75 miles of interconnected trails)
Out on one of the outer circle trails she stops, turns to look at me with an express of "Are You Lost AGAIN??? … made me laugh so I loosen the reins letting her lead the way Cross country through the woods directly to the trailer. Then she was happy to have saved me once again.
I’m really starting to believe the Morgan stereotype – Petey is SMART. And takes absolutely everything in stride. I planned on giving him a week just to settle in (I mean, the last time I brought home a new horse, she spent her first week either breaking down the fence to her solo paddock or jumping it, and running around in a blind panic so no one could catch her…), but he’s looking at me like, “I’m bored, can we do something?”. So, we’ve started on some ground work (he had a GOOD start already) and he picks everything up like a sponge. We keep everything short and simple and he has just the best brain. Love this guy!!
So, a couple of questions… in all my years of horse owning, I’ve never had to feed a 2 year old (well, possibly I had a 2 year old that was sold to me as a 4 year old, but that’s another story…). His previous owner was just feeding him about 1lb of ration balancer 1Xday along with free-choice hay/pasture. He looks great to me – slightly ribby, but that’s better than fat, right? Do you think he needs more? Thanks!
I will defer to those with more experience feeding young horses, but the Morgan I leased for years was very much an “easy keeper” and loved, loved his food. I always felt so badly seeing the bigger horses and TBs getting so much grain, and he only got a teeny handful.
Your guy does look on the slender side, but you haven’t had him long. I do know that 2 year-olds can look really weird (heads too big for tiny bodies) until they get out of that “awkward” stage
That’s exactly what I had my 2-year-old on as well per our vet. While he wasn’t ribby (ha!), he did look great.
His previous owner was just feeding him about 1lb of ration balancer 1Xday along with free-choice hay/pasture.
We have to adjust the feed’s manufacturer’s recommended feeding to the horse as had been stated Morgans for the most part are easy keepers.
We do use specific feeds that are age appropriate for the horse such Triple Crown Mare & Foal for young horses, but found we needed to feed about less than half the recommended rate of feed
We have never been able to feed hay free choice for any aged Morgan, hay is feed by actual weight in hay nets
It is harder to get weight off a Morgan than put weight on
So, a couple of questions… in all my years of horse owning, I’ve never had to feed a 2 year old (well, possibly I had a 2 year old that was sold to me as a 4 year old, but that’s another story…). His previous owner was just feeding him about 1lb of ration balancer 1Xday along with free-choice hay/pasture. He looks great to me – slightly ribby, but that’s better than fat, right? Do you think he needs more? Thanks!
@JB is the person to help answer this.