MORGAN HORSES HELP SETTLE THE WEST
As emigrants trekked westward in the 19th century, the frontier advanced with them. To provide transport for their wagons and goods, the Easterners took their Morgan Horses with them.
Covered wagon drawing used with kind permission of Jeanne Mellin
As the Western frontier continued to expand, the Morgan horse influence continued to spread also. Morgans proved to be reliable and enduring mounts. Richard Sellmanís Mountain Vale Ranch in Texas was one of the largest that bred Morgans specifically as cow horses, harness horses and breeding stock. Headlight Morgan had a great deal of influence on the Morgan breed, siring over 180 foals in Illinois, Kansas, and finally at the Sellman Ranch in 1914 when he was 21 years of age.
Headlight Morgan (Ethan Allen 2nd x Lady Stratton)
These early Morgans formed the foundation of today's Western Working Morgans, show Morgans and family horses.
