​Aliyah Farms.... Lippitt Morgans & one Appaloosa
What’s the Difference?
Perhaps you’ve heard of Morgans referred to as Lamberts, Government or some other label. What’s the difference? Isn’t a Morgan a Morgan? Actually yes, all Morgans are Morgans, if eligible for registration under the American Morgan Horse Association bylaws. However, there are sub categories referred to as Families that represent diligent breeder’s efforts to produce a quality Morgan Horse with distinct attributes. Since the Morgan began as a breed more than 200 years ago and as the equestrian needs of the country change pockets of distinct Morgan qualities were developed. All are Morgan but each family is somewhat different, yet, all have a common ancestorship linking them to the singular stallion Justin Morgan. Hopefully this page can help clarify some of those differences.
Brunk Family
FlyHawk
Jubilee King
Morgans from the Brunk family are known for their athletic ability, soundness, as well as their elevated action. Joseph Brunk, of Springfiled, IL, founded the Brunk breeding program in 1893. Mr. Brunk selected quality Morgan mares with old Vermont breeding and covered them with the best stallions possible. Today Brunk Morgans are prominent in the pedigrees of the Western Working Morgans through stallions such as Flyhawk and Jubilee King, among several other Brunk bred Morgans.
Government Family
General Gates
Troubadour of Willomoor
The Government Family is the largest of all the Morgan Families today. The U.S. Government established a breeding program in 1905 for Morgan horses. The Government bred Morgans were bred to be taller Morgans with the strength, speed and stamina needed for a fine Calvary mount. Founded on the stallion General Gates, a Morgan-Thoroughbred cross, and the Morgan stallion Troubadour of Willomoor, who carried two crosses to Ethan Allen 2nd, as well as, the blood of Justin Morgan through each of his three prominent sons, the Government style of Morgan is widely seen in present day show Morgans. Other significant sires in the Government family are Bennington, a son of General Gates and a Saddlebred mare, and Mansfield sired by Bennington.
Lambert Family
Criterion
Cavendish
Lambert’s trace back to Justin Morgan through the horse Daniel Lambert, said to be one of the most beautiful horses in his day. Lambert’s posses a gentle disposition, a kind eye, and a robust conformation, as well as, flaxen mane and tails. Although a difficult bloodline to distinguish, due to the family being intermixed with Lippitt and Brunk horses, there are still breeders that breed specifically for a clean-blooded Lambert. The stallions Criterion and Cavendish each sired a line of Lamberts for the Quietiude Stud and Caven-Glo breeding programs. To be a clean-blooded Lambert the top line of the sire’s pedigree must trace back to Daniel Lambert and the dam may be either a Lambert, a Lippitt mare, or a half-Lambert/half-Lippitt mare with the topside of her pedigree being Lambert. Like Lippitts, all Lamberts qualify as Foundation Morgans.
Lippitt Family
Ethan Allen 2nd
Ashbrook
The Lippitt Family, named for Robert Lippitt Knight, whose passion was breeding Morgan Horses as close to pure as possible, today carry the highest percentage of original Morgan blood found within the Morgan breed. A Lippitt Morgan has a detailed pedigree requiring each horse trace back to specially selected foundational horses on EVERY LINE of their pedigree. Lippitts have a strong work ethic for a job well done, coupled with the intelligence and versatility seen in Figure, the original Morgan. Twenty-five Morgans, (eight stallions and seventeen mares) form the foundation of the Lippitt bloodline each tracing to the cornerstone stallion Ethan Allen 2nd, foaled in 1877. The foundation horses were chosen for their pure Morgan blood and strong relationship to Justin Morgan. Today, Lippitts are rare and considered critically endangered and they are the only Morgan family that can be dual registered with the AMHA and with a separate registry as defined by their DNA. See the The Lippitt Morgan Horse Registry for further information.
Special note: Almost humorously and to keep things interesting not all Morgans with the Lippitt prefix qualify as Lippitts due to their progeny having out-crosses to other lines and/or breeds. Therefore if you are looking for a pure Lippitt you MUST research the pedigree.
Working Western Family or (2WF)
The Admiral
Red Oak
There is no single breeder or horse associated with the Working Western Family. Instead the 2WF derives from the common purpose of a hard working Morgan Horse. With the earlier American Expansion the Morgan was called upon to meet the needs of a growing country. Blended primarily from Brunk and Government bred Morgans, along with local stock, the Working Western Morgan possess a tough exterior making it a sound horse with cow sense, stamina and speed. 2WF Morgans tend to be solid built horses and may occasionally be mistaken for Quarter Horses. Noted stallions in the Working Western Family are The Admiral and Red Oak.
Foundation Morgan
Archie O
Quintessence
Although not an actual Family line of Morgans the Foundation Morgan deserves special mention. Common within all horse breeds, breeding practices over time can alter the distinguishing characteristics which are explicit to that breed. The Morgan is no different, with the popularity of the long, lean, high-stepping, Morgan seen in the show ring the Morgan was altered. To achieve these changes some Morgan breeders crossed their Morgans with the Saddlebred breed (A breed also heavily influenced by Morgan blood). These out-crossing caused other breeders to fear that the pure Morgan type would cease to exist. Therefore parameters were established to define a Foundation Morgan as a Morgan with no crosses to Saddlebred after the year 1930 and both parents must be able to trace their tail-male sireline back to Justin Morgan. The year 1930 was selected to allow for the Government bred Morgan progeny sired by Bennington (See Government Family) to meet criteria for Foundation. Today all Lambert and Lippitt Morgans qualify as Foundation Morgans based on their purity going back into the late 1800's with no out crosses. Yet any Morgan from any family that meets the definition of Foundation is considered a Foundational Morgan. More information about the Foundation Morgan Horse can be found on the Foundation Morgan Horse website.
