The South African Hackney Horse Breeders' Society

The Hackney is a British horse breed. It is not purely indigenous, but was bred for a specific objective, and that is to supply elegant road transport in the seventeenth century. It was the habit in England to internode the tails to prevent them from picking up dirt during rainy weather. The name Hackney seems to have been adopted by the Normans who settled in England and called their horses "Haquen�e" or "Hacquen�e" which gradually changed into Hackney. The Hackney horse breed as we know it today, decends mainly from the Darley Arab, a stallion imported in 1706 to England from the East.

The Hackney is of long standing in this country. They were apparently imported as far back as 1792 by the Dutch East India Company. In his book, Points of the Horse, Captain M H Hayes refers to the subject of South African horses. He says "Mr Duncan Hutcheon, who is the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, tells us in his interesting pamphlet, "Military Horses and How to Breed Them" that in 1792 eight stud horses were imported from England." These animals are believed to have been of the early English Roadster breed. There is abundant documentary evidence to show that the name Roadster, was synonymous with Hackney.

HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY
In the first volume of the Stud Book, 1906, 9 stallions and 8 mares are mentioned. From 1906 to 1948 quite a number of Hackneys were imported. Unfortunately the old South African Hackney Horse Society fell into neglect, which lead to its disbandment. In 1962 the present Society came to life. A great number of pure bred Hackney Horses, which could have appeared in the Stud Book but for the failure on the part of their owners to have made the necessary application and the fact that an own Society did not exist - were examined by the Society's inspectors. Most were found eligible and were subsequently registered as Hackney Foundation Stock. This Register was in fact closed on the 1st of March 1994. At the present there are only 35 horses left on this register. Most Hackney owners and breeders have become members of this Society which totals 28 with nearly 300 registered horses. Since 1962 only 10 Hackneys were imported which leaves the door wide open for excellent business opportunities.

The Society has members all over the Republic of South Africa, but there seems to be a concentration of breeders and owners in the Southern part of South Africa.

BREED CONFORMATION
A modern Hackney Horse should be a fairly short-legged, powerful little animal, which may stand anything above 14 to about 15,2 hands high. Only in exceptional instances can the Hackney type be preserved in all its truth and purity beyond this height. His head and neck should be well sprung from the shoulder. The head should not be over-small, be fairly broad between the eyes, but nevertheless should not lack refinement. Their eyes must be full and bright and the ears pointed, not too long, but very active. The neck ought to be light and fine as it approaches the head.

Our Thanks to The South African Hackney Horse Breeders' Society

For the Information on this site.

Other Pages in this site

Hackney

Hackney Link Page

Evolution of the Hackney Horse

Hackney Feedback Form

HISTORY OF THE BREED

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Last modified: 11/07/05