18 FARM ANIMALS 



before a breed could be said to be definitely estab- 

 lished. The foundation stallion is usually con- 

 sidered to be Denmark, a Thoroughbred. This 

 animal was brought into Kentucky in the year 1839. 

 The American Saddle Horse has inherited its spirit 

 and endurance from the Thoroughbred but the 

 nervousness of the Thoroughbred has been elimi- 

 nated. In order to be registered in the American 

 Saddle Horse stud book the horse must be able to 

 show five gaits, walk, rack, trot, canter, and either 

 the running walk, fox trot, or slow pace. The 

 American Saddle Horse stands about 15.2 high 

 and is of various colors, being brown, black, or 

 chestnut, and many of them are valuable for either 

 saddle or harness purposes. Some saddle horses 

 have developed a trotting gait somewhat better 

 than 2.30. 



Hackney. The Hackney originated in England 

 from good native driving mares bred to Thorough- 

 bred stallions. The term Hackney is derived from 

 hack, originally meaning any horse which was suit- 

 able for hauling comparatively light vehicles at 

 considerable speed. The modern Hackney has 

 been developed into a heavy harness horse of great 

 style. His speed is not great since more attention 

 has recently been given to the development of the 

 walking gait with a high knee action. The form of 

 the horse has become smoother and rounder than 

 that of the Trotter with less tendency to angularity. 

 The height ranges from 14.2 to 15.3 hands. In the 

 movement of the legs the Hackney closely resembles 

 the coach horse. The legs are greatly flexed and the 

 knees raised to an extreme height and in motion the 

 foot describes a circle. The chief faults of the 

 Hackney from a farmer's standpoint is that his size 

 is too small as a sire of work horses and his speed and 



