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Hackneys |
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Hackneys |
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There is no question that the brilliant, high-stepping Hackney is the world's most spectacular harness horse. Today, it is largely confined to the show ring, but the Hackney has all the courage and ability to compete with equal distinction in competition driving events. The early Trotters, on which this breed was founded, were noted for their speed and endurance under both saddle and harness. One particular Trotter, Bellfounder, trotted 2 miles in 6 minutes and 9 miles in 30 minutes.
The Hackney Pony and Hackney Horse originated in England, from Yorkshire, Norfolk and Cambridge. The Hackney Pony stands less than 14 hands high (56" or 142 cm). The Hackney Horse stands between 14 and 15.3 hands high (56-63" or 142-160 cm). Most common colors are bay, brown or dark brown, chestnut and black; greys or roans are rarely seen. The Hackney Pony's spectacular action makes it an idea show pony which spectators love to watch. It's high spirits require careful handling, and it really is not a children's pony. The brilliant action of the elegant, small Hackney Horse originally made it a fashionable, fast means of transport and today it is a feature at many shows. In harness, a hackney pulling a hackney cart is one of the most exciting events of the show ring. This hackney cart is very light and single-seated, and it is fitted with 4 pneumatic wheels. Hackneys are commonly associated with the Hackney Cab, and these horses could be seen drawing early omnibuses (which originated in Paris).
"Hackney" may be derived from the old French word "haquenee" which may mean "horse for hire." That is how most of the Hackney's ancestors used to work. Harnessed to vehicles, they were available for hire in London, just as taxi-cabs are today. The original Hackneys were rather cobby trotters, and the breed was developed from the older British regional breeds of trotter, the Yorkshire and Norfolk Roadsters. Some authorities believed that the word "haquenee" is related to the Spanish word "haca," which means hag or gelding.
The Hackney, both Horse and Pony, has its base in the traditional English trotting horses of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Norfolk and Yorkshire Trotters shared a common ancestor in Shales the Original.
The Hackney Horse was derived from some of the best of the Norfolk Roadster stock, one of which was Shales the Original. Shales could be traced back, via foundation stallions, to the Thoroughbred. He was by Blaze, the son of Flying Childers, who was by the Darley Arabian. The Darley Arabian was one of the chief ancestors of the Thoroughbred. Blaze was related to Messenger, founder of the American Standardbred harness racer. Another famous sire of the Hackney was Fairways, whose son, The Norfolk Cob (1829), out of Shale's Mare, is reported to have trotted at 24 mph. This high-class, speedy Norfolk blood was crossed with Yorkshire Roadster mares, resulting in the Hackney Horse.
The Hackney, together with the Roadsters, thrived from the early part of the 19th century until the advent of railroads. With an aptitude for light draft work, the Hackney provided a speedy, elegant means of travel along the newly macadamized roads. But since the railroads reduced the demand for horses, the sturdier, less-spectacular breeds of Roadsters died out. The Hackney's high-stepping action sustained it as a fashionable spectacle as a show animal. The Hackney has a fiery, energetic and spirited temperament and a quality of speed and endurance.
In 1878, there were serious efforts to organize a Society. The original meeting was at Downham Market in Norfolk, but it wasn't until 1883 at Norwich, that the agreement was made to start a Stud Book for Hackneys, Roadsters, Cobs, and Ponies. Eminent names soon became involved. The Prince of Wales became Patron to the Hackney Society, which helped make the breed very fashionable and the Society active and prosperous. Both the Hackney Pony and Horse share the same Stub Book.
The Hackney Pony is the smaller version of the Hackney Horse, and it shares much of the same history. Both are based on Norfolk Roadster and Yorkshire Roadster stock, breeds that were developed during the 18th century as fast trotters to pull light carriages and to provide a speedy means of travel. The Yorkshire Roadster or Trotter was based on Thoroughbred and Coach Horse crossbreeds, while the Norfolk was based on Trotters, Galloways, and Thoroughbreds. The Norfolk foundation sire was Shales the Original, who was foaled in 1755, and he was an offspring of Flying Childers, the son of the Darley Arabian. Shales produced such good lines that Yorkshire breeders used some of his Norfolk stock, which led to the development of the Hackney.
The Pony version of the Hackney was created by Christopher Wilson of Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria, Westmoreland. He used a Roadster stallion which had Yorkshire and Norfolk blood named Sir George, who was foaled in 1866. By putting Sir George to the very best Fell mares, Mr. Wilson began his new breed. In the 1870s, Wilson started breeding ponies for use in many activities, including racing. He was so successful for this that they became known as "Wilson Ponies." Ponies from Sir George which started the new breed, became known as the Hackney Pony.
Sir George stood 14 hands high, but most of the Fell mares were only about 13 hands high. By the 1880s Wilson had created a distinctive type, based on local Fell Ponies with occasional Welsh crosses. The contributions from Welsh Ponies influenced the Hackney Pony's conformation and size. The Fell mares' qualities were their high knee action, power and substance. Sir George's progeny were mated back to their sire to produce elegant ponies with brilliant harness action. To keep the height of his ponies down, Wilson turned his ponies out on the moors. This also produced sound individuals and kept them tough, for only the most sound would survive. This practice of leaving the ponies to fend for themselves ensured a remarkable hardiness of constitution. Sir George's assets, which were passed on to his offspring, were his "high class," speed and elegance, much of this passed on from his pedigree which included Flying Childers. The result of this crossing was the spectacular, high-stepping Hackney Pony. This new breed became so popular that one filly sold for $1000 in 1896.
Hackney Ponies have been exported around the world. They have been and still are, exhibited at shows and used to deliver goods. They are tough, energetic workers and also great "show-offs," with their flashy appearance and extraordinary movement. Hackney Horses are still exported the world over, even though the automobile has superseded them as a means of transport. They have been kept mainly for demonstrations and showing. They have become known as "the ballerinas of the show ring" with their dynamite personality and brilliant action. Today, these horse are a feature item in the show ring in many countries.
The Hackney Pony should look like a genuine pony with a small, intelligent head. The profile should be convex, and the ears should be small and neat. The muzzle should be of fine quality. Its eyes should be large and very bold. Its neck should be long and well-formed, and the shoulder powerful. The head should be carried high, and the expression of great alertness and spirit. Its coat should be particularly fine and silky. The withers are low, not like those of a riding horse. The body should be compact and limbs strong. The limbs must be short with strong hocks, which are well let-down (not standing high above the ground). There should be great depth through the chest. The tail is set and carried high. The most important aspect to the Hackney Pony is the brilliant action, which should be fluent and spectacular with the knee raised as high as possible and the feet flung forward in a rounded movement. The hocks should come well under the body, lifting so high that they nearly touch it.
The Hackney Horse has a small head with a convex face, large eyes, small ears and a small muzzle. The neck is long and well-formed. The shoulders are powerful with low withers. Its body is compact without undue length in the back, and with a broad chest. The tail is well set on the quarters and carried high. The forelegs are straight with gently sloping pasterns and well-shaped feet. The hocks are "well let-down." Its coat is fine and silky. The striking feature of the breed is its brilliant action. The legs must be raised high enough and thrown forward enough to cover the ground, not just raised up and back. The head should be carried erect, but not too high or too low. The ears should be pricked. The whole animal should be a living portrait of elegance and beauty.
At rest the Hackney should stand firm and four-square with forelegs straight and the hind legs back to cover the ground. When in action, the brilliance of the action is always paramount in judging the Hackney. The action has to be straight and true, with no throwing of the hooves from side to side. The high courage and stamina of a modern Hackney is largely due to the selective breeding in its ancestry, based unconsciously on the form of performance-testing via matches. The Hackney Pony should combine the brilliance of Hackney action with a real pony character.
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Published December 1995 in NorthWest Breyer Horse Club Newsletter. (ma/em)
© 1995-2019 NW Breyer Horse Club
& Refiner of Gold Creations
Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 1/27/2019
