31 



CHAPTER IV. 



The Hackney or Harness Horse. 



The term " Hackney " is applicable to almost 

 any kind of horse used for lighter draught purposes, 

 though at one time it was customary to speak of 

 the " Hackney " as the Norfolk trotter, and this 

 county may be regarded as the one in which the 

 breed originated. Although the present strain of 

 " Hackneys " does not disclose much evidence of 

 the thorough-bred ; nevertheless, the " Hackney " is 

 indebted for most of its excellences to the Darley 

 Arabian imported by one Mr. Darley, and foaled 

 in 1702. This horse was the sire of Flying Childers, 

 foaled in 1715, followed by Blaze, foaled in 1733 ; 

 Shales the ist, 1755, who was the sire of Driver, 

 foaled 1765; in 1780, Jenkinson's Fire-away; and 

 this horse was the sire of West's Fire-away, which, 

 in turn, begat Burgess' Fire-away in 1815. The 

 horse last-named is the sire of Wild-fire, and the 



