74 



THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



than any other horse of his day." While the fancy city trade 

 desires matched pairs with very high action, this is inconsistent 

 with the most graceful or forceful movement. The ideal Hackney 

 has a perfect walk and a trot associated with a powerful stride. 

 The feet are carried clear and full from the ground and are . 

 strongly and actively raised at the knee, while the hock is carried 

 forward under the body with much grace, strength, and action. 

 Hayes states ^ that the Hackney has been evolved into a light, 



high-stepping, showy 

 carriage horse and 

 that his conformation 

 is not well suited to 

 saddle work of the 

 present day, which has 

 turned toward army 

 service and jumping. 

 The color of the 

 Hackney is commonly 

 chestnut, but bay or 

 brown are rather fre- 

 quent. Black, roan, 

 and buckskin are 

 found also, but are 

 of rare occurrence. 

 Chestnut has become 

 almost a typical color 

 with this breed. Re- 

 ferring to this color, Hayes says that "it is an interesting fact 

 that chestnut Hackneys are generally better shaped and have more 

 brilliant action than Hackneys of other colors, and consequently 

 they form the large majority of winners at shows. This success 

 of chestnut color is not always continued in the sale ring, because 

 purchasers of harness horses usually prefer bay or brown." White 

 markings, such as a star or blaze on the face or white on the lower 

 part of the leg, also occur. 



The height of the Hackney shows considerable variation, but 

 in the larger type it ranges in popular favor from 15I to iSf 



1 M. H. Hayes, The Points of the Horse. London, 1904. 



Fig. 23. A Hackney filly foal demonstrating action 



at six weeks of age. From photograph by courtesy 



of W. D. Henry, Sewickley, Pennsylvania 



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