Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-09-14
THE HACKNEY AND THE ROAD
HORSE.

From the Rider and Driver, New York
Copies of the appended letter were
forwarded last week to some of the
most prominent members of the Ameri-
can Hackney Horse society with re-
quest for their views on the subject in
yolved. 1t is our belief that discussion
on the merits and dement's of any breed
of horse will result in the crystalzatioD
of valuable ideas. We propose to pub
lish the answers received, no matter
whether they be favorable or upfavor-
able 70 any particular kind of horse, so
long as the character of the writer is
known to us as high-mnded and honor
able and consequently not prone to laud
the virtues of any one horse at the eX-
pense of the other for selfish or CONNER
cial reasons. The first answer we have
received comes from the pen of that
well-known breeder and sportsman, Col.
Spencer Borden of Fall River, Mass,
who, in addition to other honOrs, Occu-
pies the position of American inspector
for the English Polo Pony Stud book.
Undoubtedly, Mr.. Borden's letter will
excite lively criticism, and in this dis
cussiOn we propose to act simply as a
medium for the interchange of views,
reserving to ourselves the right, at the
end of the debate, to publish our deduc-
lions. We feel convinced that the dis
tinguished gentlemen who constitute the
W
jealous in their work and so broad
minded that they will take up tine sub
ject and thrash it out calmly and intelli-
gently and In the same spirit of sports
manship which should pervade the arena
of any contest. In view of the discus
sion which will undoubtedly be aroused
by Mr.. Stewards letter, we shall publish
from week to week, serially, extracts
from the history of the Hackney breed
in England. as prepared by Mr.. Henry
f. Euren, secretary of the English
Hackney society, ana published in the
American Hackney Stud Book. BY this
means the horse-lovng reader, whether
Hackney or anti Hackney, will obtain
much information that is valuable and
interesting. The first instalment, which
treats of the early origin and name of
the breed, appears elsewhere in the
Rider and Driver this week. Fol-
lowing is the letter to which we refer:
PHILIP b. STEWART, Counselor-at-Law,
Equitable Building
BOsTON, August 20, 1894.
To the Editor Of the Rider and DriUer -
/ am much interested in your efforts to
further the cause of the roadster. The
traditions and present merits of Morgan
stock are familiar To me, and hold my
very warm admiration but they have
faults as class. and en- not illiberal
enough to look with dIsfavor toward any
effort making toward the best horse for
road use. Such an aim should be ham
pered by no prejudice nor impeded by
blind aItisanshIp. Therefore | follow
with friendly interest the fortunes of
the Hackney in this country. This fam
lily of horses has figure and style
which charms the eye, and suggests
power for great usefulness.
There is one Indispensable quality for
road horse and "A general utility horse
in regard to which have seen very little
reference in your columns when discus
sing llle lldckncys Ut any where else, anu
about which Hackney breeders, in so
far as | have talked with them, give very
little satisfacton-this is, the ability and
inclination to travel cheerfully and
easily on ordinary suburban roads, with
their ups and downs, unwhipped and
unurged, for long hours and long dis
tances. Has the Hackney this endur-
ance and everyday and all-day courage?
Can he travel twenty-five miles day
over hill country for weeks at time,