The Hackney
is often considered both a horse and a pony. They are
often considered the ultimate driving horse. The Hackney
is used as a carriage horse. They are strong and fast
and can easily pull a carriage at a brisk trot. Because
they are fairly docile, easy to train, and elegant in
appearance, the Hackney is the ideal animal for wealthy
farmers. They are also well known for their courage.
Originally, there were two types of Hackney; a heavy
coach type, and a lighter horse. The two types have
been bred together so today's Hackney is more like the
lighter horse but shares the characteristics of both.
It has a high, floating gait, which is why the Hackneys
are often shown as harness horses. It has a compact
body. Its tail is held high and its withers are low.
They have small heads with equally small muzzles and
ears. Its eyes are large and expressive. They appear
in all colors, although bay, brown and black are most
common.
