go BREEDS OF HORSES 



often appear the same names as are found in trotting horse 

 pedigrees, showing that these breeds have similar origin. 

 Later, toward the middle of the nineteenth century, the 

 establishment of horse shows did much to encourage im- 

 provement in the breed. The action of the Hackney is at- 

 tractive, being strong and " flashy " rather than " speedy." 

 Speed is sacrificed for great knee and hock action, which 

 produce the " high stepping " horses so popular at horse 

 shows. Since weight is essential to strength, and action is 

 associated with lack of weight, the greatest difl&culty met 

 in getting good Hackneys is to attain proper weight and 

 retain quality and action in the animal. 



Characteristics. — In form the Hackney is muscular, 

 with a round, compact body. To allow the desired high 

 knee action, the shoulder is well sloped and muscular. 

 Strength and depth of thigh favor the extreme action of 

 the hock. The neck is quite muscular and nicely curved ; 

 the head is clean with a straight profile. The loin is 

 heavily muscled, and the croup is comparatively straight. 

 The feet of the Hackney are well shaped and of good qual- 

 ity. The pasterns are long, strong, gently sloping, and 

 springy, and the joints of the knee and hock are large, 

 clean, and well set. 



These horses are generally chestnut, brown, or bay of, 

 sohd color, making them easily matched. 



Males weigh up to 1500 pounds and females up to 1300 

 pounds. 



Hackneys are well distributed throughout the world 

 wherever fancy carriage horses are demanded. Although 

 the first importation of any great numbers to America did 

 not appear until after 1881, they are now our most popular 

 heavy harness horse. 



