BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 7 



bred which have stood higher at the shoulder, but 

 15.2 or 15.3 hands are quite enough for this class of 

 horse. 



One of the chief points of the Hackney is his head, 

 which should show plenty of breeding combined with 

 substance ; while, in the case of a stallion, any 

 approach to an effeminate appearance about the 

 head is most objectionable. The ears are small and 

 pointed, the neck of fair length, nicely bent, with 

 plenty of substance in it, but at the same time free 



HARNESS HACKNEY. 



from coarseness, whilst the shoulders should be clean, 

 long and sloping ; the back is of moderate length, so 

 as to give sufficient room for a heavy saddle, the 

 loins are extra strong and the quarters long and 

 powerful, the ribs being nicely sprung, as flat sides 

 are a bad fault. The chest is of a nice breadth and 

 depth, so as to provide plenty of room for the heart 

 and lungs ; the legs should be short, heavy and flat 

 in bone, with nice long pasterns and good-sized feet ; 

 the arms and thighs being well clothed with muscle, 

 and the joints large and truly formed. Regarding 

 the great question of shoulders, it must be added 

 that whilst the long sloping shoulder is, in the case 

 of the Hackney, as in all other horses, a matter of vital 



