118 VAEIETIES OF THE HOESE 



of trotting been as popular amongst Englishmen as it is on the other 

 side of the Atlantic, the Hackney, instead of now occupying the honour- 

 able position of emperor of harness horses, and the most useful of ride- 

 and- drive animals, would be regarded as a valuable instrument for 

 gambling purposes, and that this extra appreciation of his merits would 

 have efi'ected a considerable increase in both his monetary value and 

 his speed. 



Having thus discussed the origin and acquirements of the early 

 Hackney, it becomes necessary to consider the appearance of the horse, 

 whicli, it may reasonably be inferred, was a heavier, stouter animal 

 than the type now fashionable. This conjecture may legitimately be 

 hazarded for two reasons: first, because the horse has become more finely 

 bred, and has got further away from the old foundation stock, the mares of 

 which were probably pretty coarse and plain; and secondly, on account 

 of the requirements of his owners being very different from what they were 

 well-nigh a century ago. The class of horse that was required to carry a 

 burly agriculturalist, and occasionally his wife as well, to market upon his 

 back, must naturally have been more stoutly built than the quality-showing 

 animals which now grace the show-ring and charm the public by their 

 display of elegance combined with action. Upon this part of the question 

 there can be no two opinions; and it would be paying but a very slight 

 compliment to the intelligence and resources of Hackney breeders to 

 deny them the possession of the amount of acumen which would have 

 convinced them of the advisability of raising lighter animals, and the 

 faculty for accomplishing what they desired by careful selection of their 

 breeding stock. It must consecjuently be accepted as a fact that the 

 old-time Hackney was exceptionally powerful, and was possessed of a 

 considerable amount of speed at both actions, walking and trotting — 

 for many a Hackney can trot f;ister than he can gallop; the latter 

 gait is not affected by the breed — for, as Mr. Euren asserts, it is C|uite 

 true that it was not an unusual occurrence for the old Norfolk farmer 

 to ride fifty or sixty miles a day. Therefore it is certain that, in addition 

 to being strongly built, the old horse must assuredly have possessed both 

 speed and stamina. To ensure the latter he must have had plenty 

 of dej)th of chest, and likewise ample width, so as to give ample 

 accommodation for his heart and lungs; whilst his shoulders must have 

 been long and sloping, else he would have proved a very rough, if not 

 impossible, conveyance for the farmer who rode him, to say nothing 

 of the lady seated on the pillion behind her husband. Associated with 

 these sloping shoulders, if old portraits are to be believed, were short 

 flat legs and a plentiful, if not excessive, supply of bone, whilst the 



