54 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
horses, other than Hackneys, in the heavy-harness classes, 
is that the hind-leg dwells somewhat like a duck swimming 
in water; it is not brought up quickly to the body. Very 
frequently, the leg from the hock down is thrown stiffly 
forward, making the horse spread or sprawl in his gait, 
as his hind-feet have to be thrown out and _ past the fore- 
feet. Such a horse, no matter how high or folding or 
even perfect his fore action may be, cannot go with that 
collected and well-balanced stride that a heavy-harness 
horse should have. He may likely go faster, but at a 
moderate gait, such as that which is most useful for heavy- 
harness horses, he cannot go collected and with snap and 
style. Snap and style in hind action are as_neces- 
sary in the view of the critical horseman as that of the 
fore-feet, and, to have it, the hocks must be properly 
flexed, with perhaps less stifle action than that required 
for speed. 
50. Color of the Hackney. — In reference to the color, 
it may be said that these horses are mostly chestnut, bay 
or brown, with white markings. A rich, dappled brown 
is not an infrequent color. 
51. Soundness of the Hackney. — A note should be 
made of the fact that unsoundness is not frequent among 
Hackneys. While not in the least desiring to detract 
from this desirable trait, yet it needs to be qualified some- 
what, especially when it is used to make invidious com- 
parisons with the Standardbred trotter. The Standard- 
bred trotter usually leads a strenuous life, beginning to 
race when two years old. The popularity of the colt 
trotter as a money-maker, because of the large stakes for 
two- and three-year-olds, as well as the large purses for 
free-for-all campaigners, puts our Standardbred trotter 
through a course of racing that is a very trying ordeal. 
