Hackney horse facts for kids
A Hackney stallion
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| Distinguishing features | High-stepping trot, flashy appearance |
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| Country of origin | England |
| Breed standards | |
| Hackney Horse Society | Breed standards |
| American Hackney Horse Society | Breed standards |
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The Hackney is a special type of horse from Great Britain. These horses are known for their elegant, high-stepping trot. They are very popular for carriage driving and showing. Hackneys can trot fast for a long time because they have great stamina.
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History of the Hackney Horse
The Hackney Horse breed began in the 14th century in Norfolk, England. The King of England wanted strong, good-looking horses. He needed horses that could trot well for riding. Back then, roads were not very good. So, Hackneys were often used for riding. Trotting horses were also better for war than horses that walked slowly. Because of this, in 1542, King Henry VIII made rich people keep a certain number of trotting horse stallions for breeding.
Early Development of the Breed
Around 1729, a Norfolk Trotter stallion and an Arabian stallion helped create the modern Hackney Horse. The horse that resulted was called the Norfolk Roadster. It was a strong horse used by farmers. It was also fast and had good stamina.
A famous horse named Original Shales was born in 1755. He was the son of Blaze, who was the son of the famous racehorse, Flying Childers. Flying Childers was a grandson of the Darley Arabian. The Darley Arabian was one of the three main stallions of the Thoroughbred breed. Original Shales had two sons, Scot Shales and Driver. Both of them greatly influenced the Norfolk Trotter.
Messenger (GB), born in 1780, was a key ancestor of the American Standardbred horse. In the 1820s, a horse called "Norfolk Cob" trotted 2 miles in just over 5 minutes. Another famous horse, "Nonpareil," was driven 100 miles in less than 10 hours.
In 1820, a Norfolk Trotter stallion named Bellfounder was sent to America. He could trot 17 miles in an hour while carrying a heavy rider. He became an important ancestor of Hambletonian 10, a famous Standardbred. At first, trotting races were done with riders. Later, as roads improved, Hackneys were also used for pulling carriages. They became excellent riding and driving horses.
The Modern Hackney
Robert and Philip Ramsdale, a father and son, brought Norfolk horses to Yorkshire. There, they bred them with Yorkshire trotting mares. In 1800, a famous Hackney mare named Phenomenon trotted 17 miles in 53 minutes. In 1832, her daughter, Phenomena, also trotted 17 miles in 53 minutes.
During the 19th century, trains became popular, and the Norfolk breed was used less. However, the Hackney Horse Society later helped bring the breed back. The Norfolk and Yorkshire Trotters were carefully bred for their elegant style and speed. This led to the modern Hackney Horse. Their amazing high-stepping gaits saved them from disappearing. They became popular in horse shows. Hackneys are still very successful in harness events. They can also be good riding horses, and some are good at show jumping and dressage.
In 1883, the Hackney Horse Society was formed in Norwich. Their official records for the breed go back to 1755.
Alexander Cassatt helped bring the Hackney Pony to the United States. In 1878, he bought a mare named Stella in Britain and brought her to Philadelphia. In 1891, Cassatt and other Hackney fans started the American Hackney Horse Society. It is located in Lexington, Kentucky.
Hackneys come in both pony and horse sizes. They are one of the few breeds that have both. The Hackney Pony was created in the late 1800s. This happened when Hackney horses were bred with different pony breeds. The goal was to create a special type of show pony.
What Makes a Hackney Special?
Hackney Horses usually stand between 14.2 hands (147 centimeters) and 16.2 hands (168 cm) tall. They can be any solid color, such as bay, brown, chestnut, or black. Hackneys often have white markings.
Hackneys have a well-shaped head, sometimes with a slightly rounded nose. Their eyes and ears show that they are alert. Their neck is strong and arched. Their chest is wide, and their shoulders are powerful and sloping. Hackneys have a medium-length back, strong, level hindquarters, and powerful back legs. Their ribs are well-rounded. Their tail is set high and carried high naturally. Their legs are strong with clear joints. They have long forearms and strong hocks. Their hooves are round and upright.
When they trot, Hackneys show off with very high knee and hock action. This is because their joints bend very well. Their movements are straight and smooth, with a clear moment when all four feet are off the ground. Their front legs lift high with sharply bent knees. Their back legs push strongly underneath them with a similar high action. Besides being strong and having good endurance, Hackneys also have an easy, rhythmic canter and a quick, springy walk.
Hackneys have been sent to other countries like Australia, the United States, and the Netherlands.
See also
In Spanish: Caballo Hackney para niños
