By Carla Charter

Many have heard of Justin Morgan's famous horse, but the horse’s great-grandson, Green Mountain, who belonged to Silas Hale of South Royalston, was equally well known, according to Bruce Orser of West Virginia.

Orser is a fan of the horse and author of “The War Horse of Job,” which tells the story of the animal’s history.

“His fame was great and his admirers were as (they were) for Babe Ruth in his time, or the Dodgers’ Ohtani today,” said Orser. “He had a variety of stylish gaits, along with the expression he exhibited. He was both greater than any other horse before or since.”

Orser first became interested in the story of Hale of South Royalston and his horse Green Mountain in 1971, when he purchased a Morgan colt to train for driving.

“I was looking (for a horse) with more flair, which would catch the eye,” he said.

Orser found the colt he was looking for in Ashwood Majestic, at Ashwood Farms, near Auburn, Maine, owned by Anne and Gerald Ashby. Majestic was a descendant of Green Mountain, and Green Mountain's sire Gifford Morgan was the grandson of Justin Morgan's horse.

Green Mountain’s story

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Hale bought Green Mountain from John Woodbury of Bethel, Vermont, in June 1842. Woodbury had raised Green Mountain and the horse was trained by Daniel Cushing of Springfield, Vermont.

“Green Mountain was somewhat difficult for John Woodbury to train, so Cushing did it to a fault. The horse would stand without a strap on him on him while the handler would go after tack. The horse would never move,” said Orser.

According to “The History of The Town of Royalston,” by Liley Caswell, Green Mountain also participated in parades, including “being ridden by the chief marshal at the great Water Celebration in Boston on the introduction of the Cochituate water into the city.”

Describing the horse, Orser said, “His style and wonderful expression was greater than any other Morgan or any other type of horse when performing. He was the greatest horse for parade, muster or a special event that ever lived.”

In 1853 Silas Hale took the horse on a national tour.

“Hale was basically promoting the Morgan horse in general and Green Mountain,” said Orser. “The breed became very popular in part because of Silas Hale’s promotion.”

The horse quickly won awards at the Michigan State Fair, winning first place, foreign horse (from out of state), won a similar fair in Ohio and one in Kentucky.

“The old Morgans dominated those events because of the way they moved, always prancing, throwing their heads around, and flagging tails,” said Orser, adding that Green Mountain’s reputation became known nationally.

“He (Green Mountain) was so well-trained that at one fair, another man driving a horse ran into Green Mountain and the horse. Never moved. The shaft of the buggy striking Green Mountain on the hip,” Orser said.

In 1848, an attempt was made to poison Green Mountain while he was in Vermont. The Green Mountain News reported on May 30, 1848, “We understand from symptoms and appearances, an attempt was made at Brattleboro, week before last, to poison the celebrated horse, Green Mountain Morgan, owned by Mr. Silas Hale, of Royalston. Fortunately it was unsuccessful, the horse having entirely recovered from its effects. This horse is one of the most valuable in New England and had the attempt to put him out of the way been successful, the loss would have been very great.”

Caswell's “History of Royalston,” continues, “So fearful was Mr. Hale that some harm might befall his favorite steed, that he lay many a night in the stall with him, so close that he could reach out his hand and touch him, while his faithful old dog, Zeke, which was a wonderfully sagacious animal, kept guard over both man and horse and would allow no one to approach near the stall.”

As for why the horse was poisoned, Orser said it was not an uncommon practice.

“There could be other breeders of horses that were in business...Green Mountain took a great deal of business from them.”

Green Mountain sired close to 2,000 foals, being bred to as many as 180 mares each year, about 70% proving in foal. Silas Hale sold the horse on June 16, 1855. Green Mountain died in the fall of 1863. His death was mentioned in papers as far away as Kentucky and Ohio as well as Vermont and Massachusetts.

“These days there are still old-type Morgans around but show people have changed the Morgan from a small, stocky short-legged horse to a slimmer, longer legged, longer-necked version, though you can still see something of the old type in them, it is rather a distant similarity,” Orser stated.

Orser sculpted several images of Green Mountain, “Because I was so taken by the wonderful descriptions of the horse and wanted to see a fleshed-out version... I sculpted the first in 1988. I wanted to see a physical image of the horse rather than just an old daguerreotype (photo).”

Orser also wrote a booklet in the 1990, entitled “The War Horse of Job."The Green Mountain News in the 1800s described Green Mountain, comparing him to the War Horse of Job.

“He still nearly meets the description of the war horse in the Book of Job, whose neck is ‘clothed with thunder' and who rejoiceth in his strength, then any horse we have ever seen,” the paper stated.

Carla Charter is a freelance writer from Phillipston. Her writing focuses on the history of the North Quabbin area. Contact her at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net.