Chapter XI. 



HACKNEYS. 



The origin of the Hackney cannot be stated in definite terms ; 

 indeed, it has been only within the last decade that it has been strictly 

 considered a breed. The late change in rules of the English Associa- 

 tion, permitting entry to the English Hackney Stud Book on a basis of 

 inspection of individual animals, and infusion of blood other than 

 Hackneys proper ; and which was immediately followed by one of the 

 Hackney Associations in America, if persisted in, should not fail to 

 draw disfavor upon the breed, and cause a real degeneration in fixedness 

 of character among Hackneys on both sides of the Atlantic. There are 

 over 10,000 horses now recorded in the English Hackney Stud Book, 

 and with this number as a basis, it is surely time to draw the lines 

 closely regarding the admission of more outside blood. 



The foundation of the Hackney must be sought in the blood of the 

 Hunter, combined with that of the English Thoroughbred, and with 

 sufficient infusion of blood of the common middle-sized horse generally 

 known in England as the "Farmer's Horse" to insure harness gaits 

 and tractability. The strains of blood which are just now most popular 

 among Hackneys are those of "Confidence" and "Fireaway" indi- 

 viduals, especially of the latter breeding, commanding ready sale at 

 good figures. The Fireaways were especially noted as the best saddle 

 strain which England has ever seen, and their blood, handed down 

 through imported Bellfounder, as will be seen in Chapter on American 

 Trotters, has proved desirable in more than one direction. 



It cannot be stated that the Hackney is yet a finished product so 

 far as breeding is concerned. He is, rather, a horse of education, style 

 and fashion ; the breeders of Hackneys formerly selecting individual 

 animals which were nearest the type demanded by the fashion of the 

 day, regardless of the blood lines which they represented. In later 

 breeding, however, a great deal of this uncertainty has been eliminated, 

 and with a proper system of registration the Hackneys would soon 

 become an established fixture in blood. 



Concerning the origin of the name, the Horse-Breeder, London, 

 England, says : 



"We cannot altogether say whether the Hackney derives its name from the London 

 Suburb of that name, or from the verb to hack, derived from the French, to chop small 

 or to cut to pieces ; most likely the latter, as hacks of all sorts come in for a good deal of 

 chopping and cutting to pieces. It is from the same word we have the Scotch word 



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