Interesting little history of the Morgan horse breed, which was apparently a favourite during the Civil War. As I mentioned before, I know very little of horses, but I know a fair bit about Rienzi, and had always understood him to be a huge steed. Perhaps his rider was just that diminutive?

Twenty-five years later, their incredible stamina during America’s Civil War kept them going for days over rough terrain, and they fought with courage during battle. Indeed, a number of Civil War generals rode Morgans, including Union General Phillip Sheridan, whose mount Rienzi (later named Winchester) turned a Union defeat into a victory after completing an amazing 11-mile ride over rugged terrain in 1864. Winchester’s remains are preserved at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Source: Morgan horses are an American original | Horses | leadertelegram.com