THE HACKNEY, OR ROAD HORSE. 



LIKE the race horse and the hunter, the HACKNEY or ROAD HORSE is obtained by 

 judicious breeding, and is said by Mr. Youatt to be " more difficult to find than even 

 the hunter or the courser. There are several faults that may be overlooked in the hunter, 

 but which the Road Horse must not have. The former may start, may be awkward 

 in his walk or even his trot, he may have thrushes or corns ; but if he can go a good 

 slapping pace, and has wind and bottom, we can' put up with him and prize him. But 

 the Hackney, if he is worth having, must have good fore legs and good hinder ones too ; 

 he must be sound on his feet, even-tempered, no starter, quiet in whatever situation he 

 may be placed, not heavy in hand, and never disposed to fall on his knees. A Hack- 

 ney is far more valuable for the pleasantness of his paces and his safety, good temper 

 and endurance, than for his speed. We rarely want to go more than eight or ten miles 



HACKNEY, OR ROAD HORSE, 



an hour, and on a journey not more than six or seven. The fast Horses, and especially 

 the fast trotters, are not even in their paces, and although they may perform very ex- 

 traordinary feats, are disabled and worthless when the slower Horse is in his prime." 



The same author, to whose valuable work on the Horse the reader is referred as a 

 treasury of valuable information, proceeds to observe that pure blood is disadvan- 

 tageous to a Hackney, as it gives small hoofs, slender legs, and a long stride, each of 

 which qualities would be hurtful on the hard stony road. There should, however, be a 

 spice of high breeding in the animal, the amount to be regulated by the country in 

 which it lives and the work which it has to perform. 



When properly managed and kindly treated, the Hackney is a most intelligent ani- 

 mal, displaying a singularly excellent memory. This extraordinary memory of the 

 Horse has often proved serviceable to its owner, and in many instances has been made 



