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Introduction.
The roots of the Morab breed trace back to the 1800?s where breeders were crossing the Arabian with different breeds trying to find that ?great working? horse. The Morgan breed had an open book until 1948 and we find a lot of the Morgan and Arabian cross-registered in that breeds stud books. The Morab is known as a versatile saddle horse that does all the western activities of the Quarter Horse, has great endurance like the Arabian, great ability in dressage, saddle seat and hunter jumper. great working
History.
It wasn?t until the 1920?s when famed publisher William Randolph Hearst had a superior Arabian breeding program and a short-lived, but important Morgan breeding program, which included a program of breeding Morabs. Hearst is credited with having coined the word "Morab". His goal was to develop a strong but versatile breed to work his San Simeon, California ranch and his 900,000 acre Babicora Ranch at Temosachic, Chihuahura, Mexico. In 1973 the first Morab registry was opened in Clovis, California. With the founders death the registry began to fade but was revived but midwestern breeders and the International Morab Registry proudly carries on today.
Foundation.
The Morab comes from the original cross of the Arabian and the Morgan breeds. Better than just a nice cross, the Morab has proven its breed status over 7 generations of reproducing itself. We go back to the Arabian and its long known history and we add the first American breed the Morgan, and we have the best of the two worlds ? with all but absolute consistently. The breed has moved from just the original cross through 8 generations and several bloodlines have started by selective breeders. Some breed for the larger size to compete with the warm bloods; some breed for endurance and combined trail work; while others breed for the beauty of the show ring; but all are able to compete against each other on common ground.
Type.
Morabs have good saddle conformation and are compact, medium length, well muscled, smooth and stylish. Morabs have dense bone with sufficient substance, well-developed joints and tendons, and a fine, silky coat. The overall appearance of the Morab will be pleasing, showing great strength, but never coarse. The Morab also is calm, affectionate, intelligent and dependable.
The height varies between 14.3 and 15.5, depending on the breeders? goals. They weight between 950 to 1200 pounds. The Morab in action has a free flowing gait, working off its strong hindquarters and carries itself collected. The Morab can posses a natural action or a lower action depending its breeding.
Colors.
Morabs may be any color and exhibit the white markings expressed by a Morgan or Arabian: star, blaze, white stockings, etc. Registry colors are: Bay, Black, Buckskin, Chestnut, Cremello, Dunn, Gray, & Palomino. Registry color patterns are: Solid, Roan, Overo and Leopard. Acceptable colors for registry include; black, bay, roan, gray and chestnut.
