THE HACKNEY. 219 



covery but bringing the foot up again quickly 

 and throwing it upward and forward again with 

 machine-like regularity. The hocks should be 

 flexed very sharply, brought up well beneath 

 the body and the hind feet advanced with a 

 springy regular motion that it is not easy to 

 describe. In conclusion the Hackney is the only 

 breed of horses in which the proverb "a good 

 big one will always beat a good little one" does 

 not hold good. 



The Hackney pony, which is achieving a great 

 vogue in this country at present, is one of the 

 most attractive members of the equine family. 

 It is safe to say that the most exaggerated 

 action is to be found in these diminutive Hack- 

 neys. In Britain these little horses, which range 

 from 12.2 to 14 hands in height, have always 

 been very popular and many of them not only 

 possess wonderfully high action but quite a bit 

 of speed as well. It is only of later years that 

 they have become favorites in America, but 

 nowadays higher prices are paid for them here 

 than in any other country. The Hackney pony, 

 properly so called, is eligible for registration in 

 the Hackney Stud Book, height restrictions not 

 being imposed. Breeding these ponies is a lu- 

 crative business, but has not been largely un- 

 dertaken with us as yet. The demand is broad, 

 however, and constantly increasing and af- 

 fluence apparently awaits the breeder who can 

 produce a supply of the goods desired. 



