Moose-horse Hybrids?

The famous “moose mare” of Maine, so called because her owner believed her to have been sired by a bull moose, was perhaps the most remarkable equine freak that New England has ever known. Her prowess on the track in the forties and fifties was widely known, and horsemen of the period who timed her for exhibition half-mile heats refused to believe their senses when she covered the distance in 1:10 to 1:12 [track times were considerably slower in the 1840s than today].

The animal, a nondescript creature with large, uncouth head, lapping ears and a scant mane, whose tail was a stub hardly larger than a goat’s tail, worked during the forties on a stage and freight team that ran between Jay and Readfield Me.

She was called the “moose mare” because of her resemblance to the monarch of the woods. She was foaled the property of Benjamin Goodnow of Jay from a fine Morgan mare, which he had at pasture the year before the birth of the freak, away from all other horses. The pasture was distant from any traveled road and had to be approached through a fenced field.

The mare was not taken from the pasture from May until late in October. Frequently a large bull moose was seen running in the great woods near the pasture during the mating season, and his bellowing was often heard. In the spring the mare gave birth to the most remarkable colt which farmers of the vicinity had ever seen, but she showed great affection for her strange offspring and guarded it with jealous care.

Mr Goodnow was advised by his neighbors to destroy the foal, but refused to do so. [Note: Many hybrids are killed at birth by those who consider them “unnatural monsters.”]

“It is a Messenger,” he said, “and they are the homeliest things in creation until they are about 12 years old.”

He was sure the colt was sired by the bull moose, and was curious to see how it would turn out.

When the creature was about four years old he put it to work on a stage route which he operated, and it did constant service there for more than 20 years. She proved a cheerful worker, a fast walker and an intrepid roadster. She never refused to pull in all her life. Hardly a horse could be found that could equal her, and for years she worked against two horses day and day about.

Her prowess was a matter of record in that part of Kennebec county, where she was well known. She could out-walk, out-run and out-haul any horse ever matched against her, and Mr. Goodnow placed many wagers on her at cattle shows and musters, backing her against any other animal in a feat of speed or strength.

In those days there were no railroads in that part of Maine and all the winter traffic was done by horses. Augusta was a central point for stage routes, and many trotting races were held there. Ice races on the Kennebec were also common at Hallowell, and horsemen from all over the state would bring their speediest steeds, for buyers from Boston and New York were always in attendance.

Mr. Goodnow went to Hallowell with his moose mare one afternoon to see the racing and suggested that his animal be entered. None of the horsemen who had choice trotters would enter them against this queer-looking beast, however, and he finally became indignant.

He offered to wager any sum, from $1 to $1,000, that his mare could out trot any horse in Maine for any distance, from half a mile to 100 miles. A stranger accepted his challenge, for he had just purchased a trotter that could step a half mile in very fast time.

The race was a half mile, with $500 a side put up on the result. It was scheduled for the next afternoon, best two in three heats. Each man had a judge at start and finish, and these chose a third judge.

The moose mare won the first and second heats in a walk, the prize trotter stepped the best he knew how. After the purse had been awarded Mr. Goodnow, the moose mare did an exhibition half mile timed by many in from 1:10 to 1:12, a clip so fast that the timers could hardly credit it.

Mr. Goodnow kept the mare until she died at the age of about 30 years.