Morab Conformation
Eyes | Large and dark, expressive, and set wide apart. |
Ears | Small, well-shaped and carried alert. |
Head | Refined, straight to slightly dished face profile, broad cheek, small muzzle with firm lips and large nostrils. |
Neck | Long, slightly crested and well muscled that meets the head at a well-defined throat latch |
Shoulder | Well-muscled, long and sloping, moderate-high withers. |
Back/hip | Short back, broad strong loins, muscled hip of good length with a horizontal pelvic build that endows the Morab horse with a full unsloped croup and moderate tail set rounding well off the croup, carried gracefully, and straight when viewed from behind. The shape of their hindquarters and this pelvic angle is the most apparent difference between the Morab horse and other breeds of horses. |
Chest | A mature Morab horse is broad in the chest which should be quite noticeable through the heart, back ribs, and slightly wider through the hip. This extra room and compaction of body structure gives the Morab horse stamina as well as great speed. |
Legs | Long, straight, sound, with flat bones and large joints; long, broad forearm; short cannon bone; well muscled thigh and gaskin; sloping, medium length pastern and round feet of proportionate size. |
Motion | The Morab horse in action has a free-flowing gait, working off its strong hindquarters and carries itself collected. The Morab horse can possess a natural high knee and hock action or the lower quieter pleasure action depending on the breeding of the animal. Overall appearance is strong, powerful and refined with great stamina and speed. Should be personable, eager and easy to handle. |
Morab Color Coats
Morab color coats are similar to the Arabian breed. It reproduces the standard colors of the Morgan (Chestnut, Brown, Bay and Black). It also inherits the blending of lighter colors that include Buckskin, Palomino, Grey and Dun. White markings or “chrome” are frequently found on the face and on any of the four legs up to the hock but not above.
Prohibited is the glass eye some breeds exhibit and color patterns that are characteristic of the Pinto or Paint horses.
Prohibited is the glass eye some breeds exhibit and color patterns that are characteristic of the Pinto or Paint horses.
Color Definition
Chestnut | The chestnut coat ranges from shades of golden red to dark reddish brown. The mane, tail and legs are not black but are the color of the body or shades darker or lighter. |
Brown | The color coat is basically black with light mealy areas at the muzzle,eyes and inside the legs. |
Bay | Expected color coats are reddish shades from a red-tan to dark mahogany brown. All bay horses have black manes and tails and black legs below the knees and hocks. |
Black | A true black is a horse without any light areas. |
Buckskin | This color is a darker shade of dun with black dorsal strip, black mane and tail and black on the lower legs. |
Grey | The grey color includes everything from a color coat with dark and white hairs, to dapple grey, to white. |
Palomino | A very pale creamy yellow to a deep golden yellow. The color coat is frequently seen with flaxen, silver or white mane and tail. |
Dun | Defined as a yellowish coat with darker dorsal strip and sometimes stripes on the legs. Mane and tail are not black. |
Leg Markings:
Pastern | White that extends to the top of the pastern. |
Fetlock | White that extends to the top of the fetlock (ankle). |
Sock | White extending above midway on the cannon. |
Stocking | White that extends to midway on the cannon. |
Coronet | White extending to approximately 1” above the hoof. |
Heel | White marking found on the back of the hoof. |
Facial Markings:
Star | White on the forehead, located above a line running from eye to eye. |
Stripe | White extending from the line of the eyes toward the line running from nostril to nostril. |
Snip | A white or flesh mark between the nostrils or on the upper or lower lip. |
Morab Breeding Formula
The Morab breed is a blend of the historical and inherent qualities of the Arabian and Morgan breeds—it is their classic yet functional beauty, their loving dispositions, qualities of soundness, stamina, and endurance that all comes together in the Morab--the best of both worlds!
Breed of Horse | Breed that the horse may be bred to |
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or Registered Morab (with 50% Morgan, 50% Arabian blood) or Registered Morab with 75% Morgan; 25% Arabian blood) |
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or Registered Morab (with 50% Morgan; 50% Arabian blood) or Registered Morab (with 75% Arabian; 25% Morgan blood) |
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or Registered Morgan or Any Registered Morab |
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or Any Registered Morab |
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or Any Registered Morab |
Bloodlines
The study of bloodlines of each breed, the Arabian and the Morgan, is to reveal a consistency in the ability of such breeding stock to pass on many outstanding and desired traits. There are many individuals used for breeding that have inherited a bloodline lineage noted for their ability to 'impart' desired qualities to their offspring. These qualities need to be evaluated by the prospectus Morab breeder in terms of goals of breeding, equestrian discipline and expected talent of the the product. There should be an attempt to blendthe heritage of the Arabian and the Morgan with credible bloodlines for our present and future Morabs.
Conformation
The equine requires correct form to withstand the rigors of activity that is asked of them. Conformation is directly related to soundness, versatility, athletic ability, and useful longevity. Most present day breeds become popular because of outstanding abilities in a particular equestrian activity, a particular physical appearance and soundness or they probably would not have survived. Today some breeds are plaqued by unsoundness because conformation became secondary in the breeding program. If Morabs are to survive, and give their owners years of versatile, useful enjoyment, we as breeders must use a critical eye...Form=Function.
Breeding Morabs
Research the Arabian and Morgan Bloodlines you desire to promote in your Morab. Establish a goal of breeding which will direct your breeding program. Envision how the heritage of the Arabian and Morgan willblend and complement each other, avoiding large differences in body types, or inherent talent, such as breeding a western style horse with a park style horse. Look closely, and discriminately scrutinize the conformation of the Arabian and Morgan you are considering to breed for a Morab. Select your mare or stallion based on their strengths, keeping in mind the lineage of each that you are about to put together. Have an 'eye' to 'balance' the areas that need improvement between the sire and the dam and compliment their good qualities. The goal is to project what that offspring will be in terms of conformation, discipline pursuit and type ie. The Ideal Morab.
It is up to the scrupulous breeder to determine if the offspring is suitable as Morab breeding stock for future generations. The first generation, 50% Arabian to 50% Morgan is the foundation for 2nd, 3rd, etc. generation Morabs. As depicted in the breeding formula, any 1st generation Morab can be bred back to an Arabian or Morgan for improvements in type or qualities desired in the Morab. Breeding combinations with Arabians and Morgans produces desired qualities and type so long as there is no more than 75% of Arabian or Morgan blood or less than 25% Arabian or Morgan blood in the resultant Morab.
In conclusion, the Arabian, Morgan and Morab breeds all possess a classic, spirited and bold, impressive presence. It is very easy to get caught up in the flaring nostrils and flagging tails, and lose objectivity. Therefore, it is imperative to stay with credible bloodlines, correct conformation, soundness, versatile ability as well as inherent beauty. The responsible breeder who follows this course of action will afford the Morab its rightful place in the equine world.
It is up to the scrupulous breeder to determine if the offspring is suitable as Morab breeding stock for future generations. The first generation, 50% Arabian to 50% Morgan is the foundation for 2nd, 3rd, etc. generation Morabs. As depicted in the breeding formula, any 1st generation Morab can be bred back to an Arabian or Morgan for improvements in type or qualities desired in the Morab. Breeding combinations with Arabians and Morgans produces desired qualities and type so long as there is no more than 75% of Arabian or Morgan blood or less than 25% Arabian or Morgan blood in the resultant Morab.
In conclusion, the Arabian, Morgan and Morab breeds all possess a classic, spirited and bold, impressive presence. It is very easy to get caught up in the flaring nostrils and flagging tails, and lose objectivity. Therefore, it is imperative to stay with credible bloodlines, correct conformation, soundness, versatile ability as well as inherent beauty. The responsible breeder who follows this course of action will afford the Morab its rightful place in the equine world.
Breeders' Mission
To produce a quality horse breed for the equine industry that will demonstrate competitive and athletic spirit on the trails, show ring, or assume a place in any family. THE MORAB--BEAUTIFUL, GRACEFUL, ELEGANT, AFFECTIONATE, WILLING, SOUND, VERSATILE, ATHLETIC AND CALM.
A blend of the great traits of its ancestry—the Arabian and Morgan!
If you recognize and appreciate the great heritage and attributes of both the Arabian and Morgan and would be interested in promoting and breeding Morabs, please contact the Purebred Morab Horse Association, Inc.
A blend of the great traits of its ancestry—the Arabian and Morgan!
If you recognize and appreciate the great heritage and attributes of both the Arabian and Morgan and would be interested in promoting and breeding Morabs, please contact the Purebred Morab Horse Association, Inc.
All registered horses are no more than 25%-75% either Morgan or Arabian. Registered Morabs are encouraged to breed to Morab horses that compliment their conformation structure.