ENGLISH BREEDS 113 



nothing should be neglected that conduces to soundness in the Thorough- 

 bred, this being for obvious reasons the great object of all breeders, 

 though it must be admitted that a large majority of them do not appear 

 to be acting up to their convictions when they are guilty of such an act 

 of foolishness as to treat their young stock as though they were hothouse 

 plants. 



The Hackney. — The remarkable advance in popularity that has been 

 made by the Hackney horse during the past twenty years is due not only 

 to the exertions of the members of the society that exists to support his 

 interests, but to the natural attractions possessed by the breed, and the 

 change that lias undoul)tedly come over the feelings of those who keep 

 horses for pleasure. In fact, there is a fashion in horse-flesh as in every- 

 thing else, whilst the caprice of owners is also regulated by extraneous 

 influences which materially aflect the position of many a variety of horse. 

 For instance, in times of prosperity and plenty the head of the establish- 

 ment is not so much disposed to curtail his stable expenses as he is during 

 a period of agricultural or mercantile depression. When trade is bad no 

 extravagances can be allowed, and the all-round horse is regarded as a 

 necessity, whereas before, one animal or more could be kept for harness, 

 and others for saddle purposes, without materially affecting their owner's 

 balance at the bank. 



In order, however, to arrive at a proper understanding as to what a 

 Hackney really is, it will perhaps be as well to consider the original uses 

 to which the l)reed was put, and then to draw attention to the origin of the 

 horse, — an arrangement which, though it may be regarded as somewhat 

 transforming the conventional lines, may be accepted as desirable for 

 various reasons. 



It was in the ante-railway days that the Hackney was regarded as the 

 7nost valuable of breeds, his particular mission in life being the carrying of 

 East Anglian and Yorkshire farmers from their holdings to the markets, 

 distant in many instances a good number of miles. Consequently at the 

 commencement of the nineteenth centuiy, and also for some years before 

 and a good number subsequently, the Hackney was regarded in the light 

 of the farmer's nag, which could be relied upon to convey his master 

 (occasionally his mistress as well, for sometimes the farmer's wife would 

 accompany her spouse, riding behind him on ^ pillion) to market and bring 

 him safely back, whilst the intervening days could be devoted to such light 

 jobs as are usually allotted to the odd horse on a farm. This being the 

 position of the Hackney, it can scarcely be a subject of surprise to anybody 

 that the variety was highly esteemed in the old days. Neither can it 

 be regarded as remarkable that when railways became established, many 



Vol. I. 8 



