THE HACKNEY HORSE. 



43 



to the stables, are each and all responsible for many a ruined 

 temper : whilst the vagaries of a wooden-headed owner, who, 

 although possessing the hands of a quarryman, is of the 

 opinion that, because he has paid a long price for a spirited 

 horse, he must necessarily be able to drive or ride the animal, 

 have contributed to the ruin of good colts innumerable. If 

 the owners of a valuable Hackney would only realise the fact 

 that they have no hands, when they are unfortunate enough 

 to be so afflicted, they would never lay themselves out to 

 incur the ridicule that is bestowed upon them by the specta- 

 tors of their folly, but as matters go they usually are in- 

 capable of recognising their own imperfections, and thereby 

 succeed in ruining the prospects of their horse. So perfect, 

 however, is the temper of most Hackneys that many breeders 

 who are also farmers ride their stallions regularly about 

 their fields when the men are at work, and beyond all ques- 

 tion, when the rider is a horseman, the animal is benefited by 

 the useful amount of healthy exercise thus afforded him. 



The disregard to the condition of their stock, and the cir- 

 cumstances under which the young ones are reared, that is 

 evinced by some owners is really appalling ; and creates 

 surprise amongst those who are acquainted with what the 

 animals go througth For instance, a stallion, whose action 

 should be one of his strongest recommendations, is sometimes 

 brought up to the early show, just before the covering season 

 commences, so loaded with fat that he can scarcely move ; 

 and yet the unfortunate animal is expected to take a prize, 

 and subsequently to travel the country and foal his mares ! He 

 probably fails in both attempts, and thereby loses his reputa- 

 tion for looks and as a sire, when under ordinary circum- 

 stances he would have been able to have done all that was 

 desired of him. Then in the case of yearlings, they are blown 

 out upon cake and boiled beans, and other stimulating diets 

 until they give an old-fashioned admirer of Hackneys the im 

 pression that they have been prepared for slaughter and not 

 for show ; whilst most of all the object of this ridiculous treat- 



