THE HACKNEY HORSE. 35 



been less favourably regarded by breeders than their more 

 bloodlike relatives. At the same time, there can be no 

 denying the fact that when quality, and quality alone, is 

 looked for in the Hackney, a great deal of the horse's real 

 value is being lost sight of in the search. A coarse, under- 

 bred looking animal should always be avoided by a Hackney 

 breeder, unless so be that the stallion's pedigree is unimpeach- 

 able, and his services are required for a light or weedy mare ; 

 but even then there is the risk in introducing the blood of a 

 plain-looking sire into a strain, as, however good he may be, 

 a coachy-looking youngster will always require a great deal 

 of selling as a saddle horse. Consequently, in the desire of 

 avoiding the Scylla of too much quality, which so frequently 

 entails weediness, a breeder must use caution not to wreck 

 his enterprise upon the Charybdis of " timber," which as 

 often is attended by so large an amount of substance as to 

 bring coarseness in its train. It will, therefore, be observed 

 that the class of Hackney that not only represents the old- 

 fashioned type the most accurately, and which, moreover, is 

 certain to command the highest price, is a powerfully-built, 

 short-legged, big, broad horse, with an intelligent head, neat 

 neck, strong level back, powerful loins, and as perfect 

 shoulders as can be produced. Such details as feet and 

 muscle need scarcely be discussed at present, for it is obvious 

 that any animal that is deficient in the latter would be unable 

 to do his work ; whilst, however good a horse may be in 

 other respects, if his feet are malformed, or too small to carry 

 him safely, he must clearly be worthless. 



Commencing with the head, it may be said of this most 

 important Hackney point that it should be, comparatively 

 speaking, wide at the jowl and taper gently towards the 

 muzzle, the eyes being of a good size, so as to, in conjunc- 

 tion with the shape and dimensions of the head, convey into 

 the mind of the observer, an impression of strength, intel- 

 ligence, and courage, combined with quality. A very small 

 effeminate-looking headpiece is almost as objectionable in 



