What breed of horse did they use...

[FlaRocky]

Hello all,

Another breed that was used for all around work in Eastern Kentucky was/is the Rocky Mountain Horse. Two of my five are trained to harness for plow. I have one I am late starting to drive, but she will be trained to do it all. (Show saddleseat, western, drive, plow,work cows, trailride)
The history of the Rocky Mountain on what they were used for: Used as an all around farm horse, plow the small farm plots, logging, take the family to church on Sundays, as a saddlehorse for a quick trip (smooth ride), the temperment for all the kids to be able to ride. Then also the match races to see who had the best and fastest gaited horse. And we all like a sharp fancy looking horse.

This is Sonny a RMH stallion, teaching him to longline.

Road Trip

Maye

 

[Prairieview]

Matilda Rausch Dodge Wilson was the owner of Meadow Brook Farm, and my mistake it wasn't in Ann Arbor but Rochester, and then much later in Howell. I believe they raised some Guernseys and Herefords as well.

The Draft Horse Journal has a nice article on Miss Matilda one of the stables broodmares which can be read online
https://drafthorsejournal.com/index.php/read/spring-2011/featured-broodmare#

 

[fried green eggs]

My mom rembered all about the Wilson Farm and their beautiful horses : ) She wants me to print off the article you linked so she can read it.

 

[Prairieview]

My mom rembered all about the Wilson Farm and their beautiful horses : ) She wants me to print off the article you linked so she can read it.

There is another series on the site titled "The Days Before Yesterday" that she might like as well. They are broken into 75, 50 and 25 year segments in each issue. A lot of Meadow Brook horses are covered there.

 

[fried green eggs]

Thanks I will look it up for her

 

[BlackBart]

There is a theory, which I believe to be true, that when the Dutch arrived and settled in New Amsterdam (now NY) they brought their Friesian horses with them. These horses were then later crossed with horses that were already in N.A. (Roadster types maybe?) and thus later on the development of the Morgan and the dissolution of the pure Friesian in N.A. Morgans cross very beautifully with Friesians today with some crosses looking very close to purebred Friesians. This would also explain the Baroque characteristics of the Morgan horses as well.

I was told that Figure was a Canadian Horse. Then known as a Frenchie or some other stupid name LOL She was originally from Quebec. Often marketed as roadsters and their tails were docked.
Not much difference between the Canadian and Morgan other than the border. IMO but often a heated topic.
Morgans may be a bit lighter. I'm talking about the true old fashioned Morgan not the Saddlebred influenced type.
A lot of Canadian Horses were sent to the Civil War which nearly exterminated them. (Then to WW's and the Boar War) The Canadian is not at all related to the Friesian as Canadians were kept isolated for 200 years and were first brought to North America in 1650. It is the oldest horse breed registry in Canada, over 100 years.
I think the Friesian came to Eastern States early 1800's.They might have been influenced with the Friesian prior to 1650, who knows?
Heard a story about some Canadian Mares being sent to The Netherlands after WW2 to influence the Friesian stock which was nearly decimated because of the War and famine. Story goes, lots of paperwork/registration papers but dead horses. No DNA testing in those days. The Fellow who was approached (by the Dutch registry) and did the shipping has since refused to talk about it, I guess so. Mom's the word on that now. He is often at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.
My Canadians are often mistaken for Friesians. I can tell the difference.I did cross two of my Canadian Mares with a German Friesian stallion and I must say the offspring are stunningly beautiful with sensible minds.
I was reading a article several years ago, that Geno-typing is being done (in Texas, I believe, can't remember the name of the University...A&M maybe?) to figure out the origins of some of the North American horse breeds.
Expensive research and heavily under-funded but maybe one day we will all know, hopefully in our lifetime.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Blackbart--what was the stallion that you used on your mares' name? I may know him personally.

 

[BlackBart]

Vincent sired by Laes out of AnnabelleS
he is in my avatar

 

[Peaches Lee]

Very nice picture. No I have never met him, did he go through a testing?

 

[SarahMcD]

Love this breed!