The Vermont Horse – More Than Just Morgans
- Sue Greenall
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
The Green Mountain State boasts a rich equestrian history that began with schoolteacher Justin Morgan’s famous horse and has grown since to encompass a wide array of stories and achievements
STORY BY SUE GREENALL
Vermont wrote itself into the history books when the Green Mountain Boys mounted up their Morgan horses and rode into the Civil War. Some say those horses made such an impact that it won the war. It did impress enough for the U.S. Calvary to establish a Morgan breeding program which was intact until 1943. Vermont continues a Morgan breeding program at the University of Vermont (UVM) Morgan Horse Farm in Weybridge where visitors can see descendants of those great war horses and get an in-depth tour of the breeding program. Established in 1907, the farm is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts the life-size bronze statue, Figure, Justin Morgan’s horse. Daily tours will bring visitors face to face with the best of the Morgan breed.
The Vermont Morgan Horse Association was organized in 1966 to celebrate the Morgan as the Vermont State Animal. Vermont Morgan Heritage Day celebrates the versatility of the breed with a horse show, trotting races, and the unique Justin Morgan Versatility contest which requires the horse to ride, drive, race, and pull a stone boat in the same fashion the Morgan performed in the 1700’s. The event is held at the Addison County Fairgrounds in Vergennes and has a full three days of competition.
The Morgan is the only breed to have been founded by one horse, “Figure,” who eventually was referred to by his owner’s name, “Justin Morgan.” This horse had a profound impact on Vermont’s horse population, which included both working farm horses plowing fields and horses providing transportation. The Morgan was not only strong, but fast, and many impromptu harness races were held on country dirt roads. Every August, that tradition is preserved on the same stretch of road where Justin Morgan lived on the Randolph-Brookfield town line 200 years ago. Today, descendants of Justin Morgan display the same speed and stamina that made him famous.
An Industry Evolves
The Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) was founded in 1926 with the purpose of creating a trail system from the Massachusetts line through to Canada, which resulted in more than 1,000 miles of mapped trails. The organization, thanks to many supporters, purchased land in South Woodstock in 1932 and from that it bloomed into a multi-discipline facility. One landmark event they hold is the first 100-mile competitive trail ride held over three days, which is celebrating its 90th year in 2026. In 1957, the first three-day Horse Trial in the United States was held at GHMA, which gave birth to the U.S. Combined Training Association, which governs events throughout the country. The three-day format of this sport requires the horse to compete in dressage, timed cross-country jumping, and stadium jumping, which tests the versatility and skill of both horse and rider. Today it is an Olympic sport.
Horsemen throughout the country learned of GMHA through equine publications and word of mouth. The attraction brought some high-profile competitors such as Sinclair Lewis, James Cagney, and Charlie Bronson. Equestrians Denny Emerson and Lana Dupont Wright started their careers at GMHA, which led to Olympic medals in Combined Training. The Marsh/Billings/Rockefeller National Park in Woodstock has a designated horse trail system on Mount Tom donated by Laurance S. Rockefeller. The Rockefeller family has long been involved with horses and have lived and vacationed in Vermont.
It followed that more events were added to the GMHA calendar allowing everyone to participate in horse shows, pleasure trail rides, and dressage competitions. The social aspect of these events spurred some very creative ideas for entertainment such as the mid-summer night trail ride complete with “hold ups” on trail and lavish trail side food and a formal dinner to start off the 100-mile trail ride. The GMHA Youth Center was created to provide education and hands-on experience for young people involved in horses through clinics and weeklong horse camps.
The success of GMHA can be attributed to the dedication of many horse lovers throughout the decades. Volunteering, donating, and supporting the organization is a long list of horsemen both local and out of state. The draw of having a place dedicated to those that love riding horses was so strong that during the war, people rode their horses over three days to reach GMHA for an event. Today, GMHA has hosted Olympic and World champions in Three Day Eventing, Dressage, and Endurance riding. While the draw is the events, once on the grounds one cannot ignore the Green Mountains, dirt roads, country stores, and the constant babbling of the Kedron Brook, which runs through the grounds.
Happy Trails
GMHA contributed another plus to the horse world in that the trail system that runs through seven abutting towns has created a utopia for those that live in the area. While it is not as extensive as the original trail system, it has survived 90 years of land development and ownership changes. In cooperation with other trail users such as snowmobilers, hikers, and mountain bikers, the system has over 150 miles of connecting trails. “The most common question we get at Vermont Horse Council (VHC),” explains Jeanette Cole, “is where can people come to ride their horses on trails.” It is not uncommon to read real estate ads that cite “located on the trail system.”
“The horse has significantly contributed to real estate value,” shares Mickey Perry, GMHA event coordinator. “While our events attract out-of-state horse owners, it is the trails that attract property buyers.” Being able to ride out the door onto miles of trails which take riders to outstanding vistas and through wooded brooks is a value hard to find. While GMHA hosts most of the trails in Windsor County, there are many more horseback riding opportunities throughout Vermont. Thanks to Vermont legislation, landowners are protected from liability when allowing horses to cross their land.
The most visitor friendly site is Groton State Forest in Marshfield. Horse camping is at New Discovery State Park, which is within Groton State Forest. Eight campsites are available for reservations, each having a corral for two horses (thanks to the VHC), a picnic table, and fire pit. Over thirty-five miles of trails can be accessed from camp offering an old trail bed for a long canter or a climb up Peacham Bog loop. Victory State Forest, Essex County, offers day trail riding using snowmobile and hiking trails.
The VHC - Strength Through Unity
The Vermont Horse Council serves to unify horse activities in Vermont. One hundred percent a volunteer organization, it depends on member dues and grants to provide a voice for horse owners in the state. “We are very active with the legislature,” explains Jeanette, “and are currently supporting horse farms to receive the same program opportunities that farmers get. This would be a great benefit for boarding facilities that operate on a thin margin of profit to date.” The VHC, formed in 1975, has been a valuable resource for many state horse groups and has succeeded in unifying efforts which benefit all horse groups.
Denny Emerson, a world class equestrian and Olympic Gold Medalist in Combined Training, supports the efforts of the VHC as well as preserving the role of the horse in Vermont. “As the Northeast gets increasingly built up with subdivisions, shopping malls, and highways, much of Vermont remains a green belt where horseback riders can still see New England as it used to be. It is a great gift to riders and drivers, and should be protected while there is still time.” Denny has spent most of his life in Vermont, but has travelled throughout the United States, and the world, with horses. His insight into how important open land is for a community, let alone a state, is shared by land trusts such as Vermont Land Trust and Upper Valley Land Trust, which not only preserve land but establish and protect trail easements throughout the state. “It is through the generosity of landowners that horses have access to trails,” explains Jeannette, “which has created a Vermont mind-set to keep the land open.” Steve Rojek has competed throughout the world with his home-bred Arabian endurance horses. Rojek owns and maintains over 1,000 acres of land with an extensive trail system. “Steve is an excellent example of a Vermonter who values the unique opportunity to keep land open for everyone’s use,” cites Perry.
Trail riding comes in many forms and while most riders are recreational riders, endurance riding, which operates under the rules of the American Endurance Riding Conference, is an international sport. The Vermont 100 Endurance Ride and Run is one of the most famous endurance rides in the world! Following the format of the now famous Western States/Tevis Cup 100-mile endurance ride in California, the Vermont 100 has remained the only 100-mile endurance event that has both horses and runners competing on the same trail at the same time. The runners consider this race worthy of the title Grand Slam as it is one of three of the most prestigious races in the United States. Held the third weekend in July, the trail runs through seven Vermont towns, crosses the Appalachian Trail, and is known for spectacular views such as “The Sound of Music”
vista at the von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort in Stowe and the Ottauquechee River crossing. For endurance riders, this event is on their bucket list to complete.
Farms, Fairs & Festivals
Vermont, famous for its country fairs, feature horses as one of the attractions. The oldest fair, Tunbridge World’s Fair, hosts a week-long horse show for both kids and adults. It also has a very competitive Draft horse pulling contest featuring Belgian, Percheron, Suffox Punch, and Clydesdale horses. There is a daily horse parade on the racetrack during which commentary is given explaining each breed of horse and their uses. Champlain Valley Fair, Essex Junction, offers a full day horse show with Western performance, Saddle Seat, Hunter, and the ever-popular miniature horse division.
Pond Hill Ranch, Castleton, is the place to go every Saturday night in July and August for a real pro-rodeo. Events such as bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing feature some of the best Quarter Horses in the country. Owned and operated by the O’Rourke family, Kaci O’Rourke made history at the 2024 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity by becoming the first woman to win the event with her horse “The Fireman.”
For six weeks in July and August the HITS Vermont Summer Festival in Manchester presents hunter and jumper competitions for every level of equestrian. The event is very spectator friendly and features open speed jumping and Grand Prix jumping featuring some of the best horses and riders in the country, and the Green Mountain Team Jumper Relay.
One might not expect to find Icelandic horses in Vermont, but located in the Mad River Valley is an opportunity to ride these uniquely gaited horses at the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm. USA Today called this one of “10 great places to go horseback riding.” Another unique horse experience is a sleigh ride with Kedron Valley Stables in South Woodstock. Chip Kendell guides his horses over a groomed trail along the Kedron Brook and is happy to share stories and his great sense of humor with his passengers.
Vermont and the horse have been intertwined since the very beginning. It is the state animal and the horse’s presence in today’s economy is a multi-million-dollar industry. Here, there are horse shows, trail rides, breeding farms, boarding facilities, spectator events, and the iconic scenery of horses grazing in emerald green pastures. The horse has been instrumental in keeping Vermont from succumbing to land development and allowing equestrians to enjoy the trails envisioned 100 years ago by people who foresaw an even greater equine future here in the Green Mountains.
