142 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



the rim of a wheel, while the hind feet are carried high as 

 the hock is lifted sharply toward the body with much 

 grace, strength and action. It is stylish, attractive action, 

 not speed, that is important at the present time. 



Uses of the Hackney coach' horse. — The high knee and 

 hock action and the attractive appearance, either stand- 

 ing or in motion, renders the Hackney very serviceable 

 for stylish, heavy-harness, city driving. The breed has 

 been improved with this special object in view, and it 

 merits superior claims, excelling all other coach breeds 

 in this particular field of activity. The degree to which 

 the breed may be useful in producing a more general 

 utility animal is not so clearly evident, though the Hack- 

 ney is often used in crossing with common mares with 

 a view of producing an all-around horse. 



Distribution of the Hackney. — This breed is more 

 widely distributed than any other coach breed. From 

 England it has gone into France, Germany, Holland, 

 Denmark, Belgium, Spain and Italy in Europe ; east into 

 Japan; south into Africa and. Australia; and westward 

 into the Argentine Republic in South America, as well as 

 into Canada and the United States in North America. It 

 is pressing its way into every country where heavy-har- 

 ness horses are in demand. In the United States, the 

 Hackney is found in largest numbers in New York, 

 Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Illinois, but numbers 

 of the breed are becoming broadly scattered through the 

 states in general. 



Organizations and records. — The English Hackney 

 Horse Society was organized in 1883 and published the 

 first volume of its stud book in 1884. The American 

 Hackney Horse Society was organized in 1891, and the 

 first volume of the stud book was published in 1893. 

 Since then five volumes have appeared, registering 1,55" 

 stallions and 2,000 mares. 



