CHAP. i. THE HACKNEY. 879 



exceptions, but as a rule the horse which goes fast in harness and 

 keeps on going, if with weight and force enough to draw a fair sized 

 cart round a show ring, the cart containing the usual two people 

 instead of the driver only, would rarely be pleasant to ride out of a 

 walk, having generally strong, if not rather heavy shoulders. Again, 

 the pleasantest riding horse vvitli fine shoulders can rarely go fast in 

 b-arness. 



The object of the majority of breeders, and the only way in which a 

 small owner or tenant farmer can get any benefit from horses, is to 

 breed an animal which is saleable at an early age, whose breaking is 

 not attended with much risk, as is the case in breaking a young hunter 

 for sale, and such as can be bred and reared at a moderate expense. 

 To attain this, Mr. Harnond maintains that the Hackney breed is well 

 suited. Much discussion has taken place about the size of the 

 Hackney, many people holding the opinion that no Hackney is over 

 15 hands 2 inches. The Royal Agricultural Society of England also 

 limited the Hackneys in their prize list to that height until their Show 

 held at Norwich, 1885, when, at the request of the Hackney Stud 

 Book Society, a class 15 hands 2 inches and over was allowed and 

 well filled. 



The thoroughbred horse has increased in average height about three 

 inches in 150 years. In the same way the Hackney, which was no 

 doubt formerly about fourteen hands, and even less, has, by selection 

 of breeding animals, by care, and proper feeding of young stock, also 

 increased in size, and this to the great advantage of breeders, espe- 

 cially of those who breed harness horses. A good little horse with 

 action is worth money, a good big one is worth a great deal more, and 

 very large sums are always given for match pairs. The Hackney 

 stallion (Fig. 82) stands on short legs with excellent feet and 

 joints, and is sounder perhaps all round than any other known 

 breed in England. At the first show of Hackneys held in London 

 (1885) at the Agricultural Hall, over twenty stallions, varying in 

 age from four years to sixteen, selected by the judges, were absolutely 

 sound. 



As regards crossing, the same experienced breeder expresses the 

 opinion that the cross between a thoroughbred sire and Hackney mare 

 may be a valuable animal, but is oftener a nondescript weed ; the 

 produce of a Hackney sire and thoroughbred mare is a better 

 one, as both the mare's stamina and the action of the sire are often 

 acquired. 



Some recommend a cross of the Arab, which would certainly give 

 neatness ; others, cart blood, to increase size, which no doubt it does ; 

 but why is it necessary, when such animals as those recorded in the 

 Hackney Stud Books are to be obtained, to go outside and try 

 experiments ? 



The more alike the sire and dam are to one another in form and 

 character, the more certain is the produce to resemble its parents ; 

 and few breeds of animals have male and female so alike as the 

 Hackney, especially among those of cob size. 



