THE BREEDS OF HORSES 



153 



The Hackney in his native land is rather noted as a 

 horse with considerable speed, and most excellent records 

 have been made in driving over country roads. This is the 

 most popular breed in the stables of wealthy men who keep 

 fine carriage teams, but in recent years the automobile has 

 greatly injured the business of breeding such horses. No 

 breed of coach horse is popular in America, and this is the 

 only one at the present time that should be seriously con- 

 sidered. The Hackney has been extensively distributed over 

 Europe, North and South America, and Australia. 



Figure 37. A Hackney in harness, giving a striking exhibition of action. 

 Photograph from S. L. Howe, British Columbia. 



The Percheron horse 'is of French origin. There is a 

 small section of France called the Perche, which is nearly 100 

 miles southwest of Paris. It is a beautiful, rolling, or hilly, 

 country, where the farmers have fine water, sweet grass, and 

 fertile fields. In this region the Percheron originated. The 

 breed is very old, and no doubt it has passed through im- 

 portant changes during the past century. Fifty years ago 

 Percherons were not as big as now, and they could trot quite 

 fast along the highways. The demands of Americans during 

 the past 25 years have caused the French to develop a larger 



