Famed publisher William Randolph Hearst, who also established an important horse breeding operation, is credited with having first coined the name “Morab” for the distinct breed of horses that are Arabian and Morgan crosses. He bred his Arabian stallions to Morgan mares to produce horses which were sure-footed, fast and versatile. Consequently, they were well suited to the rough and varied terrain of his San Simeon ranch near the Pacific Coast of California. More than six generations later, the Morabs, some of which trace their ancestry to Hearst’s superior breeding program, will visit the Kentucky Horse Park for the seventh annual Morab Nationals.

The Purebred Morab Horse Association's (PMHA) Morab Nationals Championship and Futurity, October 28-29, is unique in that the parent breeds of the Morab are featured at this show. The judge is double-carded for the Arabian and Morgan breeds. This criteria is important so the Morab is judged by an official who is familiar with the parent breeds. The Morab show has added sport horse classes for the Morab, Arabian and Morgan, which shows off the form-to-function qualities of the three breeds.

The Morab is a compact, medium-sized, well-muscled and stylish horse. Possessed of a calm, affectionate, intelligent and dependable demeanor, the Morab has large, dark, expressive eyes and a fine, silky coat. It has a broad chest, with plenty of room for a big heart and lungs within a rather compact skeletal structure...a combination which allows for stamina as well as speed. According to the PMHA, the Morabs are “gifts of treasured blood—gems of heritage.”

The show offers specific breed classes as well as open classes for all three breeds. Featured competitions include a selection of classes for the junior exhibitor, Western, hunter, saddleseat, equitation, hunter hack, country pleasure, sidesaddle, show hack, special needs and driving classes. Also included are a variety of fun classes for the youth, groom and adult rider. PMHA offers an Open Dressage and Qualifying Show on October 27 as a separate event, and many exhibitors stay over for the weekend show to get in three days of showing.

For more information about the PMHA Morab Nationals Championship and Futurity, contact Donna Lassanske at (270) 358-8727 or e-mail her at [email protected] or visit www.puremorab.com.


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