446 THE HORSE HACKNEYS 



hunter stamp, with substance and quality, and true action, 

 and going quite clear of the joints. The same descrip- 

 tion generally applies to cobs. Artillery, Engineers, and 

 Army Service Corps should be good-quality draught horses. 

 The Inspecting Officer of the Remount Staff is the final 

 authority to decide on the purchase or rejection of any 

 animal. The number required annually in normal times of 

 peace is approximately 2500, as under : Cavalry, 1000 ; R.A., 

 R.E., and A.S.C., 1360; Mounted Infantry, 140. In normal 

 times of peace there are no specified dates for the assembly 

 and inspecting of horses. Farmers having horses for sale 

 should apply to the Assistant Director of Remounts, War 

 Office, forwarding a description of their horses. Forms to 

 fill in the description of horses for sale and any other details 

 will be furnished on application. 



As the British Government can secure from abroad the 

 class of horse wanted for 30 to 35, it is argued that they 

 are not in a position to offer terms to encourage horse- 

 breeding to any appreciable extent in this country. The 

 proper course for the farmer to follow under the circum- 

 stances is aim at breeding first-class hunters and harness 

 horses, and the misfits, if sound, become army remounts. 



THE HACKNEY OR "NORFOLK TROTTER" BREED 

 Is said by Lawrence to have sprung on one side of its 

 ancestral descent from the Norwegian horse. It is conse- 

 quently found in Norfolk and Yorkshire, where the Norse 

 invaders had their principal strongholds in this country. 

 The peculiarity of its action, as indicated by its name, is the 

 most important difference between the Hackney of the present 

 day and the Thoroughbred. The breeds have both been 

 freely crossed by imported horses from the same foreign stocks. 

 The form, however, has also differentiated with difference 

 in surroundings, and the difference in the objects for which 

 they have been bred. It is to the original native mares in 

 each case that the trotting habit of the one and the galloping 

 habit of the other are due. 



The modern Norfolk Trotter was remodelled from the 

 earlier trotter of Norfolk and the Fen country about the end 

 of last century, by the use of Shale's or Shield's horse, or 



