Figure (horse)

Figure was a small bay stallion owned by Justin Morgan; he became the foundation sire of the Morgan horse breed.

Early years The stallion was born in West Springfield, Massachusetts in 1789. The small, dark colt is believed to have been sired by an English Thoroughbred stallion named "True Briton." Figure's dam was of "Wild-Air" breeding (part thoroughbred, part Arabian), sired by Diamond, foaled in 1784 in West Springfield. Figure is thought to have stood about 14 hands high (1.42 m), and to have weighed about 950 lb (430 kg). Figure was a hard worker and fast racer.

Controversy N.Y. Wallace, a respected trotting expert and 1968 Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductee, claimed that Figure's sire was not the English thoroughbred True Briton. Wallace asserted that there was a different horse named Figure foaled in Hartford, Connecticut that was not this horse. Wallace concluded that Morgan was engaging in fraud by misrepresenting the horse's lineage. Morgan and his proponents denied the claims, pointing to the horse's performance as evidence of its legitimacy.

Ownership by Justin Morgan In 1792, Figure was advertised for stud before he was given as payment for a debt to Justin Morgan (1747–1798), a singing teacher and one-time Randolph, Vermont, Town Clerk. Morgan owned Figure from 1792 to 1795, advertising him for stud in Randolph and Lebanon, New Hampshire (1793), and Royalton, Vermont (1794), and Williston and Hinesburg, Vermont (1795). He leased Figure to Robert Evans in the fall of 1795 to clear land for a Mr. Fisk at a rate of $15.00 a year.

Morgan later traded the horse to Samuel Allen for land in Moretown, Vermont. Allen sold the stallion later that year to William Rice of Woodstock, Vermont.

Accomplishments In 1796, Figure raced in a sweepstakes in Brookfield, Vermont, beating New York horses to win $50. That year, he was advertised at stud by Johnathan Shepard of Montpelier, who also raced him in several match races in which he did well. Figure became known as the "Justin Morgan horse."

Other owners Figure was traded again in 1797, along with a blacksmith shop, to James Hawkins. In 1801 he was recorded as owned by Robert Evans of Randolph. Evans owned the horse until 1804, using the stallion for logging, racing, and breeding, until he fell into debt to Colonel John Goss. Goss collected the horse as part of the debt, and used him to review troops. He entered the horse in a pulling bee, which the little horse won. In 1805, Goss traded Figure for a mare owned by his brother David.

David Goss owned Figure from 1805 to 1811, where he worked on the farm for 10 months, and was used for breeding for two months each year. He was sold in 1811 to Philip Goss for the breeding season. Philip Goss sold Figure to Jacob Sanderson, who sold him to Jacob Langmeade. Langmeade used the horse to haul freight, and is thought to have abused the aging stallion.

Langmeade sold Figure to Joel Goss and Joseph Rogers at the end of 1811. Figure stood at stud for several years, before he was sold to Samuel Stone in 1817. Stone exhibited the stallion in the Randolph fair. Figure was used as a parade mount by President James Monroe later that year.

Final years In 1819, Figure was sold to his final owner, Levi Bean of Chelsea, Vermont. Toward the end of his life, Figure was put out to pasture. He died in 1821 from an injury to the flank, caused by a kick, at the age of 32. Figure is now buried in Chelsea, Vermont.

Stories, myths and legends Many myths developed surrounding Figure and Justin Morgan. The popular 1945 children's book, Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry, is a fictionalized account of Figure (called "Little Bub" in the book) and his early life. Walt Disney Studios adapted the book into a film in 1972.

Sire line tree

Figure (Justin Morgan)Richwood Morgans: FigureJustin Morgan OffspringTrotting Cousins Gascon la RocqueGascon la Rocque Offspring CarillonCarillon Offspring Old Pacing PilotOld Pacing Pilot Offspring Pilot Junior Hawkin's HorseHawkin's Horse Offspring PapineauPapineau Offspring Young PapineauYoung Papineau Offspring Farmer's Beauty De Mars HorseDe Mars Horse Offspring Francis Lareau HorseFrancis Lareau Horse Offspring St Lawrence Sherman MorganRichwood Morgans: Sherman MorganSherman Morgan Offspring Royal MorganRoyal Morgan Offspring Scott Horse Cock of the RockCock of the Rock Offspring Barden MorganBarden Morgan Offspring Young Morgan American Star (Coburn)American Star (Coburn) Offspring American Star (Seeley) Morgan DeforrestMorgan Deforrest Offspring General Gifford Black Prince Flint MorganFlint Morgan Offspring Napoleon MorganNapoleon Morgan Offspring Granite State Morgan Vermont Morgan ChampionVermont Morgan Champion Offspring Shedd HorseShedd Horse Offspring Vincent Horse Mountaineer Morgan Knox Morgan Senator Knox Senator Graham Starfire Waseekas Nocturne Waseekas In Command Noble Command Noble Flaire Green Mountain (Bachup)Green Mountain (Bachup) Offspring Black MorganBlack Morgan Offspring Black Morgan 2nd Morgan Tiger Whalebone Billy RootBilly Root Offspring Greely HorseGreely Horse Offspring Mountaineer Morgan General Vermont BoyVermont Boy Offspring Reconstruction Comet (Wood)Woods Comet Offspring Fox Morgan Morgan Comet Black HawkRichwood Morgans: Black HawkSignificant Sires Series: Black HawkBlack Hawk Offspring Black Ralph Kossuth Selim Sherman Black HawkSherman Black Hawk Offspring Vermont Hero King Herod TiconderogaTiconderoga Offspring Black Prince Vermont Black Hawk (Blood)Bloods Vermont Black Hawk PedigreeBlood Vermont Black Hawk Offspring Black Hawk (Gist) Indian Chief Blood Chief Black Hawk (Hill)Black Hawk (Hill) Offspring Ti Boy Paul Clifford Rounds HorseRounds Horse Offspring Darkey Black Hawk (Chris Doyle)Black Hawk (Chris Doyle) Offspring Grey Eagle Flying CloudFlying Cloud Offspring Star of the West Stockbridge ChiefStockbridge Chief Offspring Mambrino Black Hawk Ethan AllenRichwood Morgans: Ethan AllenEthan Allen Offspring Honest AllenRichwood Morgans: Honest Allen Daniel Lambert Ethan Allen (Holabird) Superb Ethan Allen (Woodward) Gray Eagle (b.1849) Lancet Telegraph (Bradford)In Memory of Allen F-1 Bay State Black Hawk (Smith) Trotting Childers Wild-air ChieftainChieftain Offspring Young Rix Vermont (Downing) Gray Eagle (b.1852)Grey Eagle 1852 Offspring Grey Eagle Black Hawk TelegraphBlack Hawk Telegraph Offspring Strideaway Pathfinder (Benedict) Pathfinder (Buell) Illinois Black HawkIllinois Black Hawk Offspring Morgan Eclipse Weasel CopperbottomCopperbottom Offspring Tom Hal (b.1812)Tom Hal 1812 Offspring CarrilionCarrilion Offspring Old Pilot BrutusBrutus Offspring Copperbottom (Johnson)Copperbottom (Johnson) Offspring Copperbottom (Curdy) EuropeanEuropean Offspring Morse HorseMorse Horse Offspring NormanAlexander’s Norman Offspring Blackwood Bulrush MorganBullrush Morgan Offspring Randolph MorganRandolph Morgan Offspring Jennison ColtJennison Colt Offspring Morrill Morgan EmperorMorgan Emperor Offspring North Star Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson Offspring Andrew Jackson Jr Blazing Star Fox (Corbin)THE TURF AND THE TROTTING HORSE IN AMERICA Tom Hal (b.1816)Tom Hal 1816 Offspring Bald StockingsBald Stockings Offspring Tom Hal (Kitttrel)Tom Hall Kitttrel Offspring Tom Hal (Gibson) Woodbury MorganWoodbury Morgan Offspring Gifford MorganGifford Morgan Offspring Hacket HorseHackett Horse Offspring Flying Morgan Black Jack Green Mountain Morgan (Hale)Hales Green Mountain Morgan Offspring Prince Albert Wood Horse Romeo Dan Rice Eureka (Ross Butler) Clifton Sir William (Turner) Rutland Morgan Barnard MorganBarnard Morgan Offspring Vermont Morgan Morgan Hunter Gifford Morgan Jr General Gifford Morgan CaesarMorgan Caesar Offspring Mac Putnam MorganPutnam Morgan Offspring Chittenden County MorganChittenden County Morgan Offspring Comet WildairWildair Offspring Billy King

Pedigree

See also List of historical horses

References