European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 26, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Breeding program at 5 universities saves Cav horse by Nita Lelyveld the associated press they Are symbols of Pride this Small band of horses. Their common ancestor was named figure a smallish handsome Equine Given to Settle a debt in the late 1700s, Strong enough to plow Rocky hillsides or pull a log with three men on it yet fast enough to win prizes at the race. Figure s descendants Rode and fought from Gettysburg and Shenandoah to Appomattox. One was the Only survivor at the Little big Horn. They served the . Cavalry until the horse soldiers dismounted in 1943 to take up sturdier chargers like tanks and armoured vehicles. But they survive in new England in a special Breeding program at five state universities including the University of Connecticut. The Morgan is widely considered to be the first truly american Breed named alter Justin Morgan a schoolteacher professional musician and tavern owner who moved from West Springfield mass., to Randolph Center vt., in 1788. When Morgan returned to West Springfield in 1795 to collect a debt he was Given two horses in lieu of  was figure a 2-year-old Bay Coll an unusually Strong even tempered and tireless animal figure later renamed Justin Morgan died in 1821, having served numerous masters in his 28 years. While the facts and Caliper of his own lineage were unknown his legacy is priceless morgans Are relatively Small averaging about 15 hands and usually weighing about 1,000 pounds. Brown Bay. Chestnut or Black they exhibit a sturdy elegance that in the 19th Century made them horses of Choice either in front of a plow or Carriage or mounted in Battle. Today they have made the Conn horse barn a popular gathering place especially when the Young foals can to seen teetering and tottering near their mothers in the surrounding Fields Kathy Pelletier assistant manager of the horse barn says looking at the foals. Readers action line Kathy Pelletier assistant manager of the University of Connecticut horse barn with two of the schools morgans. Makes her eel proud that Conn is preserving the cavalry tradition. Quot once they re gone that a it. You can to bring them Back Quot she says. Quot its like the whales. And these Are very special  students work with the horses from foaling time through training. They travel around the country to horse shows and have Active Drill and Polo teams. About 125 students ride the horses each year. Quot maybe the interest in Overall agriculture is waning but the interest in horses seems to be increasing All the time Here Quot says James Dinger an associate professor of animal science who runs the horse program. The Morgan is Quot kind of a showy horse a Good Parade horse with a Good disposition toward people Quot Dinger says. Originally prize As workhorses life in the rough terrain of Rural Vermont a increased their endurance and their Light weight and swiftness made them perfect for War. In the civil War morgans in the 1 St Vermont Cav fought at Appomattox Gettysburg and Shenandoah Union Gen. Phillip t. Sheridan spoke proudly of How his Morgan Rienzi fared in Battle a and the horse was eventually stuffed and put on display at the smithsonian institution. Troopers usually used their own mounts  civil War and morgans were very popular. Quot they stand the hardships of the campaigns better than any others Quot the . War department reported during the War. At the Start of this Century the Federal government set up remounting stations where Farmers could bring their horses to be bred and the government would have the first option to buy. But in 1907, col Joseph Battell who started the Morgan horse Register to Trace the lineage of the Breed donated land in Weybridge vt., to the government a to be used to ensure the survival of the Morgan at the time the . Government Morgan farm was opened on Battelle a land the Breed seemed headed for dispersal and eventual disappearance. In 1915, there were 15 million horses and mules in America. Of those Only Between 3,000 and 6,000 of them were morgans. By 1951, when the government farm closed Down and became the property of the University of Vermont the morgans survival was virtually assured. There Are now about 70,000 morgans in the United states according to the american Morgan horse association in Shelburne it while the University kept the Morgan farm open much of the Herd was dispersed in 1951 to the University of new Hampshire the University of Massachusetts the University of Pennsylvania and Conn. Of its 65 horses Conn has 40 morgans and Breeds Between five and nine each year the horse program supports itself on the Sale of horses Selling up to 40 annually. Sally Wadhams director of youth and education for the american Morgan horse association says the morgans come close to being All things to All people. Quot they re tireless and enthusiastic to the Point of going until they drop. Morgans want to do the right thing and they want to  clarifies answer on calling cards Pam storms at amp to military marketing manager for the european Region provides the following clarification to an action line answer that appeared oct. 16. I am writing in response to Robert Bales recent letter to readers action line about at amp to s policy regarding military customers Billing addresses. At amp to s response has understandably caused concern among uni military customers about our ability to service at amp to calling card customers with Apo and Fpo addresses i want to assure our military customers that at amp to Lias always and will continue to provide service to at amp to calling card customers with Apo and Fpo addresses the at amp to calling card which is provided at to fee allows customers to place Calls from More than 170 countries and areas Back to the United states the card also May be used in the United states to Call other countries. The at amp to Universal card which was the subject of Robert Bales letter is a consumer Bank credit card la allows card holders to charge purchases As Well As Lel phone Calls the two cards Are different and have different application requirements military customers May obtain an at amp to calling card no matter where they live no matter what their address As military customers Are transferred around the world we change the customer s Billing address and continue at amp to calling card service military personnel with a United states address May apply for an at amp to Universal card however at amp to Universal card does not Issue its card to applicants like Robert Bates who have a non United states address. Including Apo and Fpo addresses at the time they apply if a  based military member already has an at amp to Universal card and is transferred to Quot another country at amp to will change the customer s Billing address and continue at amp to Universal card service. At amp to regrets the confusion our original response has caused our customers. We will continue to provide at amp to calling card service to military customers wherever they Are stationed. If you would like to talk to at amp to More about the at amp to calling card and our special Billing arrangements for military customers Call us collect at 816 654-6004 to write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer wite to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Apo 09211-4211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 b the stars and stripes saturday october 26, 1991