186 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



But his step is not light. He pounds the ground as 

 though he wished the earth to tremble, and the 

 Chinese feel his tread on the other side of the 

 world. He has no very fitting place here, no more 

 than the Orlof, either in his purity or as a cross 

 with our own horses. We can easily do without 

 him, and accomplish the creation of heavy har- 

 ness and coach horse without the assistance of 

 this English type. Originally in England the 

 Hackney was a knock-a-bout horse, good under 

 the saddle and in harness; but he has been bred 

 up to large size and very heavy weight. Some of 

 the American breeders of hackney ten or fifteen 

 years ago when they went to England for stock to 

 breed from paid such prices that the English 

 laughed with delight, for they never dreamed of 

 such a market at home. The fad is fastly dying 

 out, and it is likely that in a few years there will 

 not be opportunity even in the show rings for 

 their exhibition. As they are deficient in courage 

 and staying qualities, this will not be a bad 

 result of lack of popularity. 



