48 STUD BOOKS. 



to prevail ; but the reason of this is plain, 

 for not only has this horse had little time 

 yet to develop, but he is himself a very 

 composite animal. The hackney, or roadster, 

 as he was more commonly called, of the 

 preceding and early part of the last century 

 was a very different, and probably more 

 useful horse than the present fashionable 

 animal. He had no uniform characteristics,' 

 nor indeed, was he specially bred for his 

 work. Before railway days it is obvious 

 there must have been an immense deal 

 more hacking work in this country than 

 there is now, or will ever be again. Men of 

 various classes rode " post," or on their 

 own nags, on business or pleasure habitually, 

 who now perhaps never cross a horse at 

 all, save some few in the hunting season. 

 And the nags they rode were as diverse in 

 character as their riders. Yet I have not 

 the least doubt but that where one safe 

 and comfortable hack is to be found to-day 



