THE HACKNEY 
T HE Hackney is the outstanding breed of fine har¬ 
ness horse. Before the automobile came into such 
general use he was in great favor as a carriage horse, 
but today, as with the gaited American Saddle Horse, 
most of the demand for this breed is for the show ring. 
For this use at the horse shows, purebred Hackneys are 
desired. 
This breed varies greatly in size from the small pony 
of 12 hands to the 16 hand horse. The body of the 
Hackney is heavy in proportion to the height. With a 
strong, level back, deep chest, and heavy croup and 
quarters, he is a powerfully built horse and exhibits 
a fine quality. 
The Hackney is usually bay, brown, or chestnut. 
When the coloring is accompanied by white stockings 
and a blaze or other marking of white on the face, a 
very attractive appearance is presented in the show 
ring. This horse usually has his tail docked, or cut 
short, and his mane pulled. 
Like the Thoroughbred, the Hackney is of English 
origin. His family tree can be traced back to the Dar- 
34 
