The Creation of the UVM Morgan Horse Farm
researched by Heather Mays

Thoroughout the nineteenth century, the Department of Agriculture (part of the U.S. Government) supplied mounts to the cavalry. This same department also created "Cavalry Remount Stations" throughout the nation to provide farmers with good breeding stock to work their farms. In 1950, Congress decided that since the nation had moved on from an agricultural age to an industrial age, there was no need for these horse farms anymore. They were just an added expense and the governent wanted nothing more to do with the horse industry.

The government farm in Weybridge, Vermont was one of these such farms that Congress thought was just an "unneccessary expense". The farm was offered to the University Of Vermont (UVM) and the horses offered initially just to land grant colleges like the Universities of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts as well as Penn State and Washington State. The remaining horses were sold by the government in a sealed bid auction in 1951 to breeders throughout the country.

The UVM Morgan Horse Farm came into existence in July of 1951. There were only about 25 horses left on the farm following the sale and most were from the 1952 foal crop. The goals of the farm were to develop a genetically consistent herd while providing hppd stock to other breeders. With most of the remaining horses coming out of the foal crop, the farm really only had four good broodmares and four stallions of the Mansfield, Ulendon, and Ben Don lines to work with. A final goal was initiated for the farm. While a long-term foal, the objective was to increase the homozygosity of the herd. Homozygosity increases the number of like gene pairs and concentrates genes for specific characteristics. Effectively, homozygosity will increase the prepotency of mares and stallions. To make their goals work, the farm had to plan carefully initially and for the future.

The challenge was there and the farm decided to act on it. Initially, they sold one of their four stallions to Pennsylvania; leaving the farm with US Menmar and Tutor, both of the Mansfield line, and Stansfield. The lines currently seen and heard at that time were Ben Don, Ulendon, and Mansfield (with Ulendon and Mansfield stemming from the government farm) and the farm already had the use of those lines. The plan was then to line breed once the herd was above average. The undesirables were eliminated over time (once they had something to work with) and outstanding breedings were selected to compliment the farm's lines. For this, superior individuals were needed. The Ulendon line was used through the stallion Orcland Vigildon and the Mansfield line through Tutor and UVM Cantor. Later, the Sealect of Wind-Crest line was used through Petalbrook Sigmalect (out of a government mare).

In 1957, the selective breedings began with the government mare Norma being bred to Upwey Ben Don to produce UVM Flash. In 1959, Symphonee was bred to Orcland Vigildon of the Ulendon line to produce UVM Highlight. In 1960, a repeat breeding of Symphonee and Orcland Vigildon produced UVM Kathy. With these three crosses, the herd was closed and crossing of the three families (named for their key sire lines: Ulendon, Mansfield, and Ben Don) within the herd began to increase the desired homozygosity. Another outcross was not done until 1970, when the outcross of UVM Kris and Petalbrook Sigmalect produced UVM Watchman. UVM Watchman produced the desired park motion and the herd was closed again with no more outcrosses for at least the next fifteen years.

The long-term goal of increasing homozygosity within the herd was achieved. The homozygosity of the UVM mare herd is stated to be the "source of the UVM 'look'" of these horses. Many breeders bough breeding stock before that final outcross of UVM Kris and Petalbrook Sigmalect brought UVM Watchman to the farm in 1971. Several farms across the country took core Government and UVM horses and created their own breeding programs, emphasizing the Government influence. Some chose to strengthen the government lines while others went for the park motion that UVM Watchman provided. Overall, the horses of the "classic UVM crosses" have gone on to upgrade and improve the Morgan breed while fulfilling the original goals of the UVM Morgan Horse Farm.

Currently, the farm still keeps outcrosses to a minimum while staying as close to the government lines as possible. With careful selection, it was expected that the resulting progeny could retain the character and disposition that is the hallmark of UVM horses. High profile stallions were chosen for these few outcrosses because their name recognition and reputations would provide instant marketability for the foals. In recent years, UVM mares have been bred to Tug Hill Commando, Tug Hill Whamunition, and Man About Town. Some of the resulting foals will be sold and the remaining will be incorporated into the herd. These foals will help UVM keep in flow with the changing times and the changing markets. While it's still a standard to provide good breeding stock to the breeder, it's gotten harder with the number of breeders diminishing. The market is now for performance horses. Most of the inquiries to the farm now are for good pleasure horses ready to go rather then breeding stock. That puts more emphasis on the training program at UVM.

Today, the core business of the UVM Morgan Horse Farm is showing, breeding, and tourism all while maintaining the historic herd and continuous production of the UVM Morgan. The positive public exposure this farm provides the Morgan breed is a major contribution and every Morgan horse owner today is indebted to the UVM Morgan Horse Farm.

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