THE HACKNEY 



73 



stallion named Fordham, by Denmark (177). The first Hackney 

 stud founded in the United States was established by A. J. Cas- 

 satt of Philadelphia. In the spring of 1883 he imported the 

 stallion Little Wonder and the mares Patience and Buttercup, 

 having previously brought over the mare Stella, by Confidence 

 (158). Little Wonder was exhibited in 1883 and later proved 

 to be a sire of much excellence. Other importations were 

 as follows: Prescott Lawrence, Newport, Rhode Island, 1884; 

 J. B. Perkins, Cleveland, Ohio, 1887; Henry Fairfax, Aldie, 

 Virginia, 1888 ; John A. Logan, Youngstown, Ohio, 1888 ; Gal- 

 braith Brothers, Janesville, Wisconsin ; J. H. Truman and Sons, 

 Bushnell, Illinois ; Powell Brothers, Springboro, Pennsylvania ; 

 and some others, 1889. In 1890 Dr. Seward Webb, Shelburne 

 Farms, Vermont, made an importation of twenty-seven mares and 

 four stallions, the most important consignment up to this time. 

 Since then many Hackneys have been brought >to the United 

 States from England. 



Hackney characteristics are especially shown in conformation 

 and gait. The head naturally tends to be wide in the forehead, 

 full in the mouth, with an eye that is bold and active. The neck, 

 which is often full at the throatlatch, inclines to coarseness and 

 tends to some crest effect. The body is deep ribbed, full in 

 front and behind, and the back wide and strong. The croup is 

 usually long, level, and wide, and the thighs are very strongly 

 muscled. The legs and feet are noted for their soundness. The 

 Hackney may perhaps be regarded as blockier of form than other 

 coach breeds of coblike character. Mr. Henry Y. Euren states 

 that the general description of the Hackney which fitted both old 

 style and new ideal is in brief this : " A powerfully built, short- 

 legged, big, broad horse, with an intelligent head, neat neck, 

 strong, level back, powerful loins, and as perfect shoulders as 

 can be produced." 



The gait of the Hackney originally had its chief value in a long, 

 strong trot for road work. With the evolution of years the fashion 

 of modern times called for the high-stepper, with extravagant 

 action. The horse Confidence (158) was the sire of many horses 

 of this type of gait, and, as some think, to the detriment of the 

 breed, though "the get^g.^^C^5fi(^ence^ielded a larger total profit 



