BREEDS OF HORSES 133 
able to walk, trot and canter with ease and distinction. 
In addition to these gaits some riding horses have been 
educated to take the gaits known as the rack, and either 
the running walk, fox trot or slow pace. 
6. The Hackney.— The 
Hackney originated in Eng- 
land from good driving 
mares bred to Thorough- 
bred stallions. The name 
comes from hack, originally 
meaning any horse which 
is suitable for hauling 
light carriages at a rather 
rapid pace. Modern Hack- 
neys have not been devel- 
oped to go fast, but to serve as heavy harness horses of 
great style. The walking gait, with high knee action, 
is the technical conception of what these horses should 
be. Hackneys are not as angular as Thoroughbreds. 
They are also smoother; the neck is more arched, the 
chest fuller, the back shorter, the thighs better muscled 
than in the case of the Thoroughbred or trotter. The 
striking characteristic of these horses is the leg move- 
ments. They greatly flex 
their legs, the knees and 
hocks being raised to an ex- 
treme height. There is no 
’ fixed color of the breed, but 
bay, brown and chestnut 
are the most common. 
“These horses are used 
chiefly as park animals and 
for driving in boulevards, 
where style and not speed 
is required. FRENCH COACH 
ENGLISH HACKNEY 
