112 THE HORSE 



warm blood, his mental endowments have been greatly 

 improved, and his action and spirit also, while at the 

 same time the "staying qualities" of the breed have 

 been preserved. 



There is some diversity of opinion as to the 

 proper size of the hackney. Mr. Burdett Coutts is in 

 favor of increasing the size by careful selection of 

 sires and dams. Other expert breeders do not believe 

 that the size can be increased without losing, to some 

 extent, some of the valuable characteristics of the 

 breed. I incline to the latter opinion; for the breed, 

 if increased in size, would certainly either lose some 

 of its snap and elastic force, or, in case these qualities 

 were retained, the added weight would overtax the 

 limbs. No animal with the high mettle and quick 

 motion of the hackney can approach the weight of 

 the draft-horse without being in danger of breaking 

 down. An increase of weight implies, or should imply, 

 a decrease in snap and quick movement. Of necessity, 

 the horse of heavy weight should be somewhat phleg- 

 matic in temperament, otherwise his limbs will soon 

 give out. The old saying, "A good horse will wear 

 out two sets of legs," is often true, and therefore a 

 horse's limbs should never be overloaded by too heavy 

 body weight. 



The hackney, when full gi<own, should be not far 

 from fifteen hands high. If he is rather slim of body, 

 one or two inches more may not be objectionable, but 

 if inclined to be "stocky" then his height would 

 better not exceed the standard indicated. 



Two hackneys, Little Wonder, imported early in 



