horses : HACKNEY PONY

Origin: England.

Australia Status:

International Status: in its home country listed together with the Hackney Horse as Critical (Fewer than 300) and as Critical/Nearly extinct globally by EST.

Arrived in Australia: the Nineteenth century, for example, an "excellent hackney" was advertised in Hobart in 1824. Horse repositories throughout Australia regularly sold hackneys. By the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, many registered Hackneys were imported as their popularity hit a high. Mr W. I. Winter-Irving imported a stud of Hackneys in 1898 and exhibited some at Melbourne Royal, where they were put in the Roadster class. A news article at the time (Leader, Melb.) explained how Australia was just learning to use the term Hackney for the breed rather than call them Roadsters. In the current era, there are also imports from England.

Australia Population: 54 mares of breeding age, with a possible additional 72 of 20. 15 stallions and possibly still 101 geldings alive. (a large number of the population is over the age of 20 and may be deceased without being recorded) - 2020

History: The Hackney Pony is a breed of pony closely related to the Hackney Horse. Originally developed by Christopher Wilson by using a Hackney stallion over Fell Pony mares. He's desire was to create a true pony type with the large trot and other characteristics of the Hackney Horse, in which he was successful.

By the 1880's the breed was established and rather popular and they was considered very stylish to drive during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The introduction of motor vehicles as a form of transport seen the Hackney Ponies numbers decline radically until after World War II, when the Hackney Pony started being developed as a show pony, which stopped it's dive towards extinction.

Breed traits: Height up to 14hh. It should have true pony characteristics, with a small pony head, carried high and large intelligent eyes. Neck muscular, arched and carried proudly, with powerful shoulders, a compact back and a light frame. They usually have even more exaggerated action than the Hackney horse, knees rising as high as possible and hocks coming right under the body. The action should be fluid, spectacular, and energetic. A brave, alert and energetic pony with great stamina and a reputation for being fearless. Colours are black, bay and chestnut, with chestnut exhibiting flaxen manes and tails. Sabino gene amongst the breed contributes to many having white markings, with the possibility of white markings also body.

Uses: driving, pleasure, showing.

Breed Organisation: Hackney horses and ponies are registered under the same umbrella, in Australia, it's the Australian Pony Stud Book http://www.apsb.asn.au/ . In England, it's the Hackney Horse Society http://hackney-horse.org.uk/breed-standard/4539315681 founded in 1883.

Additional Notes: Foal chart for the past decade https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EZ2-FwEpFofYR5JpTgknIId6qk25lz6D/view?usp=sharing

Top photo: Hackney Pony Stallion - Eyrie Houdini. Photo by Leah Montefiore. Bottom photo: Stillbrook Mary Louise and foal Beauwood Comet by Leah Montefiore 

(new breed profile added 28/05/2020 by A.Y.)

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