About The Lippitt Morgan
The Lippitt is a unique horse: handsome, typey, and versatile.
It is a member of a strain of Morgans that has no 20th century
outcrosses to other breeds, resulting in the highest percentage
of the original Morgan blood available today.
The term "high percentage" refers to the concentration
of blood achieved by linebreeding to the original Justin
Morgan ("Figure"). A careful study of Lippitt
pedigrees illustrates the intensity of this breeding technique
as practiced by the early Morgan breeders, and because the
Lippitt has been linebred for generations, its unique Morgan
qualities have been reinforced.
For years the Lippitt has demonstrated the ability to thrive
on simple living conditions, working hard and requiring
a minimum of pampering. The early Vermonters valued their
"big little horse," for the Morgan accomplished
whatever was asked of him: clearing land, driving, performing
in parades, or racing down a country road. The Lippitt,
who learns quickly and loves to try new things, is truly
like his early ancestors.
The ideal Lippitt Morgan ranges in height from 14.1 to
15.1 hands. He has a short head, great width between the
eyes, and a well-crested neck of medium length, which comes
out of the top of a long, well-laid-back shoulder and blends
smoothly through the withers into a well-sprung, deep body.
The back is short and smoothly joined to the hindquarters;
the croup is long, wide, and slightly sloping, balancing
the front quarters. The legs have long forearms, thighs,
and gaskins, and short cannons, with medium length pasterns
corresponding to shoulder angle. A compact horse with substance
of bone combined with refinement, spirited yet controllable
energy influences his powerful, rapid, and elastic gaits.
The goal of today's Lippitt breeder is the perpetuation
of those characteristics that have been the hallmark of
the Morgan breed for over 200 years.
History of the Lippitt
The Lippitt is descended through a "cornerstone"
stallion, Ethan Allen 2d #406, foaled in 1877 and bred by
the Peters family of Bradford, Vermont. Every Lippitt shows
numerous crosses to this great stallion. He in fact bears
the same relationship to the Lippitt as the original Figure
does to the entire Morgan breed.
Ethan Allen 2d remains a symbol of the fundamental precepts
of Morgan breeding for the Lippitt Club, tracing back to
Figure in a direct line of descent. This direct line was
almost lost to us on several occasions, and preserving it
is as fascinating as the horse itself.
The early 1900's were the darkest days for the Morgan
horse. As the automobile arrived, the need for harness or
road hack horses disappeared. Only the U.S. Government Farm,
with its program of outcrossed Morgans, and a few dedicated
breeders kept the Morgan breed from extinction. When Mr.
A. Fullerton Phillips came to Vermont in the early 1900's
to raise Morgans, he had a difficult time finding the pure-blooded
Morgans. Only in eastern Vermont was he able to find individuals
with the pedigree and type which he felt represented the
early Morgans. His program produced a wonderful herd, including
the legendary Ashbrook, which was admired and respected
by many of his contemporaries. About 10 years into his program,
a tragic lightning strike killed 12 of his precious broodmare
band. Although many others survived, it was said that he
died of a broken heart three years later.
In 1921, Mr. Robert L. Knight of Rhode Island purchased
the Green Mountain Stock Farm in Randolph, Vermont. Six
years later, he purchased from Mr. Phillips' estate. These
horses might have been lost to us forever had it not been
for a nameless feed delivery man who persuaded Mr. Knight
to save the Phillips breeding program. These horses, as
well as Morgans bought that same year from other sources,
were to become the foundation for his "Lippitt"
breeding program.
The Lippitt Club has taken its name from Mr. Knight's
breeding prefix, because in the early 1970's the name Lippitt
was still closely identified with "old type."
It is also a fitting tribute to Mr. Knight for the major
role he played in saving the traditional Vermont Morgan
from extinction. The Lippitt Club recognizes many horses
of the old bloodlines, however, which do not necessarily
carry the Lippitt prefix. Other bloodlines, such as those
of Sealect, Ethan Eldon, and John A. Darling, show the same
origins and are considered Lippitts by The Lippitt Club.
On the other hand, Mr. Knight occasionally outcrossed to
other Morgan strains. The Lippitt Club does not consider
the produce of these matings to be full Lippitt, despite
the fact that they carry the Lippitt prefix.
Robert L. Knight's 40-year breeding program established
a recognizable herd with a high concentration of clean-blooded
Morgans. As a result, today's Lippitts tend to look, as
well as act, like the legendary Figure.
Lippitt Foundation Stock Chart
The years shortly after the final dispersal of R. L. Knight's
herd in 1962 constituted the last brush with extinction
for the purely bred Morgans of old Vermont type. Many of
Knight's breeding stock were purchased by farms which used
them to return Morgan type to their outcrossed herds. Others
went quietly to small breeders who were determined to breed
them pure.
In 1971, a small group of New England breeders and admirers
of the
"ancient-type" Morgans put on an exhibition in
Tunbridge, Vermont.
In 1973, they returned with more people, horses, and enthusiasm.
Shortly after this event they decided to organize formally,
and The
Lippitt Club came into being.
Today's Lippitt Club activities are designed to promote
its objectives through educational and recreational means.
Among these is the annual show held in Vermont, clinics, the
Lippitt of the Year Award, the Allen's Major Award, and
the saddle/harness log program. The Club has also sponsored
the popular Justin Morgan Standard Class at many all-Morgan
and Open shows. The Archives Committee does invaluable work
researching, discovering, and preserving records and pictures
of horses of interest to the Lippitt breeder. Other committees including Marketing and the Youth Committee work hard to help put the Lippitt Morgan in the spotlight and show its versatilityThe Club maintains
a database of all Lippitts from the Foundation Stock to
the present, and publishes this information periodically
in The Lippitt Report, to assist pedigree research.
Contributions to the Morgan Breed
Lippitts have been bred for the traits which were highly
valued in the early Morgans. The Foundation Stock had been
linebred for over 100 years using bloodlines containing
the highest percentage of Figure's blood, resulting in a
highly prepotent horse. One major value of linebreeding
is the possibility for a superior product in an outcross
to another strain. A "pure" line becomes the starting
point for any hybrid breeding program: when two linebred
individuals are crossed, there is a predictability in genetic
makeup of the offspring that allows selection for a superior
animal. Indeed, many out-standing Morgans of the last 50
years have been the product of a cross to the Lippitt line.
The Lippitt's uniquely pure pedigree, with its potential
to lend vitality to outcrosses, is high commendation. The
fact that he is also a beautiful, useful Morgan horse may
simply be enough for his owner.
Lippitt Ethan Ash, by Ashbrook, sired such outstanding stallions
as Lippitt George, Lippitt Ashmore, and Royalton Ashbrook
Darling. Dyberry Ethan sired the show champions Moro Hills
Adonis and his full brother, Moro Hills Gay Ethan. 
Sealect was known not only for his showiness, but also for
his beauty and a good-natured willingness to please. His equally
showy son, Cornwallis, sired the great Allen's Major, who
usually left the ring with a blue ribbon. 
Lippitt mares have also been impressive within the Morgan
world. The famous Lippitt Miss Nekomia competed in six Vermont
100-mile trail rides, placing in three. At the National Morgan
Show in 1947, she won the Mare In-Hand Class and also proved
herself a producer of champions. Among her famous offspring
were Dyberry Billy, Bob, and Buddy - sires of many outstanding
endurance athletes. 