Foundation morgan. They have a stockier body like a QH and usually are taller. 15hh+. My morgan is 16hh! I bought him as a three year old and it was the best purchase I have ever made. I bought him from a wonderful breeder though!
I’m so happy to see all the Morgan love here 
Have had Morgans for 30 years now and would never/have never owned another breed!
Oh ouch…you obviously have not been around enough Morgans! Ever been to or watched a CDE? Morgans EXCEL in driving! More Morgans to be found in that type of driving competition than any other breed.
I’ve got a foundation bred Morgan and emilia’s description would fit my gelding perfectly too. He’s a hair under 13.2 and I’m a reasonably adult sized person (a hair under 5’5’’, ~120 lbs) and he carries me just fine even out all day fox hunting over a variety of terrain and over fences. He is very agile and athletic and has plenty of stamina. Although he’s pony sized, he’s a quite powerful and forward mover.
He is not spooky, but is definitely always “alert”. Some of my riding pals have mentioned it would drive them crazy to have a horse was always that ready to spring into action but I enjoy it as he is seldom taken by surprise by a deer springing out of the brush or an abrupt change in footing as he has managed to evaluate the situation and decide how to proceed almost before I’m aware something has happened.
I definitely prefer the quicker, more alert Morgan type to the foundation QH type, but as other posters have mentioned QHs come in just about all shapes, sizes and personality types these days. If you’re looking for a well mannered, all around type larger horse with a bit of a longer stride, a nice appendix is hard to beat, I think.
ETA: I would not recommend a Morgan for an occasional rider. Mine and the others I’ve known or ridden really prefer to be on a regular schedule. My boy can be a little stinker (trying to figure out how to open gates, knocking things over, pestering the big horses, being pushy with handlers etc.) when he has time off for any reason, but when worked regularly can be handled by just about anyone.
[QUOTE=vtdobes;7565593]
Oh ouch…you obviously have not been around enough Morgans! Ever been to or watched a CDE? Morgans EXCEL in driving! More Morgans to be found in that type of driving competition than any other breed.[/QUOTE]
Ha, ha! All full size CDE horses I know personally are Morgans! I agree, they can be great driving horses. I love to watch them in action.
One of my favorite posters here switched from riding to driving due to her Morgan’s kissing spine (I think) and she seems to be enjoying herself a lot.
It has been great to see all the Morgan people coming out from woods to share their passion for this incredible breed.
Thank you all!
When the time comes to purchase a horse look at all the QHs and all the Morgans that fit your budget and travel capabilities. Then buy the individual horse that best suited you as an individual. I’ve owned Morgans, QHs, mustang, hackney cross, and my current favorite, an AraBell (ArabxBelgian). Each was chosen because that individual horse was one that I was/am comfortable handling on the ground and while riding or driving. Color didn’t matter, gender didn’t matter, age was only a minor consideration.
As you can see, the Morgan owners are very devoted - maybe smitten! 
QHs are harder to categorize because there are so many different types, especially with TB influence.
If you are looking for a horse for trail riding and “dabbling” in other pursuits, you really have to see what body style and personality type suits you. You likely wont get a cutting, cow or reining QH as they can command big bucks for their specialties.
I kind of think of QHs as being “meat and potatoes” kind of horses whereas Morgans are a “spicier” meal (cant think of a good dish comparison since they are so American!) Morgans are more apt to be personable to the point of being pests while QHs are more often a steady partner but not as overt. I do prefer the style of Morgans with the naturally raised neck and head - kind of creeps me out riding a low-headed QH now!:winkgrin:
2 Morgans here as well. I have a 15 hand (big, for a purebred Lippitt) gelding that has tried pretty much everything and loves it all. Just started him back driving and I can see that becoming a something we do more. He goes English, western, has done some reining, sorted cows when he was with a trainer his first 30 days under saddle. And he’s a super, super trail horse. Like was mention above, he can outwalk pretty much anything without even trying.
The other is a more modern bred, 16 hand gelding. So far he’s looking like he’ll be just as versatile.
That being said, I’m also currently riding a Paint for a friend and she’s a very nice mare. But I can’t see ever owning anything but a Morgan.
Wow, so many replies - what a passionate group of Morgan lovers! Honestly, I never would have considered the breed except I’ve seen some REALLY nice ones lately and they looked like such nice and willing and fun and lovely horses that it got me to thinking and reconsidering.
What do I want to do? A little of this and a little of that. I like to do a lot of fun stuff with my horses. Yes, we do arena work (dressage), we also hit the trails a lot. If the horse likes it, we jump every now and then and maybe do some XC schooling. Oh, and working cows I’ve decided is about one of the funnest things you can do on a horse. I used to show but am basically a pleasure rider who just likes to enjoy the process of training, figuring out what my horse likes, developing a relationship, and seeing how far we can go in training and physical development. My horses are primarily my pets, as they live at home and I get to see them multiple times a day. I don’t have any lofty show goals, or really any show goals at all - just fun and play!
Would anyone be willing to share the breeder’s name that they got their QH or Morgan from (if you went that route)?
Froggie - thanks for alerting me to this thread.
PoPo - I missed you! I live 5 miles from the Buck Clinic and would have loved to audit but I was COMPETING MY MORGAN over the weekend
Yep - I love Morgans, and I have a wonderful “do everything” mare who I enjoy doing Hunter Paces, Eventing (I only do unrecognized/schooling HTs), Camping and just having fun. We used to “show” too…but I got hooked on Foxhunting/HPs/HTs
I would encourage you to get a nice sensible Morgan with GOOD bone and feet. A good Morgan is the most easy to own, manage, maintain and enjoy type of horse. Yes, some are go-go-go…but they have good BRAIN. My mare is actually not the go-go-go type, but I never have to push or kick on - at all. She’s always in front of my leg, but very very quiet-minded.
She was a rockstar all weekend (we camped out and schooled XC before the XC Hunter Pace) and she serves as a babysitter all the time for friends when they have greenies. Literally at this event, my friend took her CRAZY green dumblood (her term, not mine) and I had to have them constantly T-bone or put his nose up my mare’s butt, in order for him to not have his brain go to outerspace and my friend to become a lawn dart. Even in the start box, just before a Pairs class, her horse spun out of control and got about 30 feet away in a second and she screamed “Come Pick Me Up” - I had to trot instantly to “pick up” her horse, meaning I put Fancy right in front of his nose and told her to jam him into her and “stick” like glue while I got us back to the start box My good girl!
Anyways, I could go on about her. I’ve had Morgans for awhile and I just can’t recommend them enough. I used to ride ponies and TBs…but love my Morgan!!!
Here’s a pic from the weekend out on XC, and yes, I can have a loopy rein (I don’t always have it this long) because she is so SANE & GOOOD.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk150/elaineshickman/Capture3_zps99766ec6.jpg
She’s also barefoot and big at 15.3 hands on tip toes, wears a 54" girth and has been sound her whole life. She’s 15 now and I’ve had her since age 3.
Sleeping in the cross ties last weekend:
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk150/elaineshickman/Fancy%20Family/April272014020_zpsdabd4d83.jpg
Having fun at camp (Jack Brooks Horse Camp)
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk150/elaineshickman/Jack%20Brooks/JB13ElaineFancycrop_zps3d4289f2.jpg
Being awesome in the 2012 Buck Brannaman clinic here, backing a circle:
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk150/elaineshickman/liverMorganbackingright.jpg
go Morgans!!
Fancy That, I’m glad you chimed in! I was at the BB clinic the weekend before, not at the one that’s close to you. We’ll meet at the Harry Whitney clinic, though, I got in!
I’ve been to Jack Brook camping - so pretty! And I recognize Connie’s place in your photo, too! Sounds like what you and Fancy do is just what I like to do - lots of fun things!
Pocket Pony and Fancy That I wish I could come live in your backyards, lol. I love hearing about all the clinic opportunities you guys get to pursue
“personable to the point of being pests” - yes, I agree that this sums up some aspects of the typical Morgan personality quite nicely!
As far as breeders go, I bought my Morgan from a local breeder here in IL, so that may be too far for you. But you could check out that “Cornerstone Morgan Club”:
http://www.cornerstonemorganclub.com/ as their members focus on breeding the sturdier, all-around/sport/foundation type Morgan which sounds like the type of horse that might fit your needs.
PoPo - I wish we lived closer…and yes, you too, Froggie! Come to the left coast 
I wanted to add that though RITR said she needs to work hers regularly, not the case at all with mine. I put in some very good “deposits in the bank” from the day I got Fancy as a 3 year old and yes, I was more regular with her as she got “broke” but honestly, for the last SEVERAL YEARS, she can sit in a pasture for months and be dusted off to go to an event.
I never ride. I am in high-tech marketing, and don’t have time. Even though we have our own ranch. I get to play/handle/feed every day, but ride? Nope…maybe once a week if I’m lucky. Often many weeks without riding.
So that was the biggest PLUS for me, having Morgans (or at least the type I tend to have maybe?)…LOW maintanance! Doesn’t “need to be ridden/exercised/trained” regularly That said - I did put in the good-work when she was young.
[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;7566010]
Would anyone be willing to share the breeder’s name that they got their QH or Morgan from (if you went that route)?[/QUOTE]
I ended up getting my Morgan mare Esme from a rescue- you can read her full story here
However, she’s the fourth Morgan I’ve had with similar breeding (so obviously I am partial to it LOL!) She is by the stallion DJJJ Ebony Gold who has produced a lot of really nice, sound, sporthorse type Morgans.
[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;7566010]
Would anyone be willing to share the breeder’s name that they got their QH or Morgan from (if you went that route)?[/QUOTE]
Mine was bred by Scandias Morgan Horse farm in Oregon. I think they have a few for sale right now if you want to check it out www.scandiamhf.com
My Morgan is still young (only been under saddle 1 1/2 years at this point), so good to know that he may mellow a bit with age, FancyThat. Right now he sure likes to be kept busy (mentally). Or I suppose it could just be his individual personality.
The funny thing is that his buddy, a 5 year old OTTB is already the type that can sit for weeks at a time in the pasture and be the same, despite inconsistent work. So I could just have two breed stereotype defiers on my hands, haha.
I have the same experience as Fancy That, meaning, that I do not have to ride our Morgan everyday (even very week or month, though I do ride frequently again, weather permitting). Most of my friends with Morgans are the same, so I think, it is their trait. They maintain their training very well.
Our Morgan had periods of no or little riding and he always came back with all his training intact (not the fitness level, of course).
The only thing he hates is drills. I have to keep riding varied with frequent changes (no refining anything for long periods of time!).
While I don’t have to ride all the time, I do have to handle him every day, because, otherwise, he gets really depressed, like “you-don’t-love-me-anymore” depressed.
I have to at least take him out and groom him, possibly walk him on a trail, or have some quality grazing time together.
As for breeders, Triple S Morgans in Nebraska are quite famous for ranch Morgans with a good cow sense. I know them only, because our horse’s sir was one of their famous offspring. It is still faraway from you though.
If you go to the AMHA webpage, you can learn more about the breed, lines, etc. They have classifieds also.
In my experience, if you go directly to an established breeder, they are going to be honest with you and will help you find the right Morgan. They are really vested in the entire breed, not just their own.
I came to look at one horse and went home with another, because the breeder sensed, it would be a better match. She was right!
We’ve had Morgans for 40 years and wouldn’t dream of any other breed.
I love the happy energy. If a Morgan is “off” you can be sure he’s in pain or has some tack or health problem. They aren’t moody horses. My best Morgan was a red chestnut!
I’m riding a western pleasure gelding now and he’s just so perfect for me. Calm, honest, willing; a real solid citizen.
I’m pretty sure his son is for sale in NC if that’s near you. Sweet Sweet Sweet.
I noticed that is NO WHERE NEAR YOU. But maybe somebody else is interested.
PoPo - get in touch with Jo Johnson in Fresno/Clovis CA…she has AMAZING Morgans and puts a good handle on them with the horsemanship training you like.
http://www.jafmorganstockhorses.com/
In fact, let’s take a field trip over there in October when you are down for the Harry Whitney clinic? You can find her on FB…she is a real hand.
