Morgan

The first Morgans imported to Australia, in recent times, were the stallion Saddleback Sultan (Orcland Dondarling x Donene Pepper) and mares Saddleback Sundance (Applevale Donalect x Waltz Time) and Green Meads Fashion (UVM Promise x Windcrest Lady Luck). They arrived in 1974.

They were followed in 1981, by Wawayanda Watch Out (Wawayanda Wallington x Wawayanda Maequin) and his daughter Lizotte Lil Bridget (x Ortawn's Premiere). These five horses all came to New South Wales, though Watch Out and Bridget now live in northern Victoria, right on the edge of "Man from Snowy River" country, in eastern Australia.

In 1986 Sumicaro Beau Geste (Adanac Bonnie Boy x Joli Ms Jubilee) was imported from Canada to Western Australia.

For over 20 years, Australian Morgan fanciers thought that Sultan, Sundance and Fashion were the first Morgans imported to Australia, in 1974, but it appears that this is not the case. The Australian Trotting Stud Book Sires Index 1860-1960 lists Justin Morgan's sire line back to the Byerley Turk. It also listed descendants of Justin Morgan who had had stock imported into Australia/New Zealand, or had themselves been imported. Research shows that the following Morgans were imported to Australasia: Queen Emma, Little Giant (stallion), Elsie Downs (who won in NZ in the time of 2.44.2), Bessie Boodle; Cambridge Chief (a stallion who stood in England and then came to Australia in 1865 where he stood at Bundoora in Victoria, though no progeny of his are listed); stallion Primero and mare Swamp Angel, both by the stallion David Hill;Vermont Junior who held an Australian trotting record of 2.34.5; stallion Sensation the Second; Union, who sired a stallion called Bill Allen who was imported to NZ in 1882, was himself imported to Australia in 1875 but died shortly after. There appear to have been at least 12 horses imported to Australasia, and four definitely came to Australia. So it appears that Morgans were imported to both Australia and New Zealand over 100 years ago, though their blood has been diluted into the Standardbred lines and lost.

In 1994, Australia's first Lippitt Morgans were purchased - stallion Marvelous Encore (Ryegate Major x Moro Hills Royrita) and mare Wood Run Trillium (Royalton Asa Ash x Royalton Grace Lea). Trillium arrived in foal to Royalton Ashline and the colt foal, Eiben's Ashline, was born in February 1995. These horses went to the largest Morgan stud in Australia, located in northern Victoria. A little later in 1994, the Lippitt colt Willo Pond Joshua (Covenant Knight Heir x Misty Mt Nora Belle) was imported to central Victoria. Two years later, UVM Katrina (by UVM Highlight) and her filly foal Ragtime Arizona (by Eidelweiss Magic Man) made the long trip from America to Victoria. And in February 1998, Tuis Windsong, a New Zealand bred stallion, was imported to Western Australia.

Although the majority of pure and part bred Morgans are located in Victoria, there are also Australian bred Morgans in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Our total population is very small: around 60 pure breds and 100 part breds. Most pure breds are kept for breeding, though a few are competing. Many Morgan part breds compete successfully across a range of disciplines - endurance, dressage, showing. In Australia most of the Morgans, both pure and part bred, come in the 14.1 to 15hh range. They are often crossed with stock horses, many of which have a lot of thoroughbred blood in them. A number are also crossed with Arabs, producing Morabs.

Content from www.21century.com.au/ozmorgan

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