CHAPTER IV 



THE HACKNEY OR HARNESS HORSE. 



HISTORY. — There is a general concensus of opinion that 

 the hackney has been derived by selection from an 

 Arab horse brought into this country from Allepo 

 (1706) by a Yorkshire gentleman known as Mr. Darley ; hence- 

 forth the imported animal was spoken of as the " Darley 

 Arabian/' and the wonderful influence this Oriental sire had, 

 in the production of the hackney, is obvious, by brief reference 

 to some of his earlier descendants. 



Not only does the modern " hackney " owe so much to the 

 Darley Arabian, but also the race horse, this illustrious Arab 

 sire being one of the three chiefly concerned in the production 

 of the thoroughbred. The famous " Echpse " (foaled 1764^ 

 was by " Marske/' and the latter a great-grandson of Mr. 

 Darley's imported horse. In the year 1715, a chestnut horse, 

 with a white muzzle and four white stockings, known as 

 " Flying Childers " (named after his breeder, Mr. Childers), 

 was foaled. 



The sire of this horse was the " Darley Arabian," and the 

 dam, " Betty Leedes." It is said that " Flying Childers " was 

 of compact form, long in the back and loins, and about 15 hands 

 in height. 



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