During the golden era of carriage driving during the Victorian times, it was the height of fashion to be seen in your own private carriage pulled by a Hackney horse. Whether you were driving yourself or being driven by a coachman, these elegant, high-stepping horses were the Porsche of harness horses.

The Hackney originated in England in the early 1800s and are related to the American Standardbred through a trotter mare named Blaze. She was related to Messenger, one of the foundation sires of the Standardbred. The hackney pony was developed by crossing the hackney horse with small welsh ponies. The hackney horse stands 14-15.3hh and the hackney pony does not exceed 14hh.

Hackneys are usually brown, bay, black or chestnut in color. They are full of personality, brave, proud, athletic, and love to show off. They have a small head with a convex profile, and large ears and eyes. The head is always carried high, and with spirit. Its neck is long and set almost vertically from very low withers and strong shoulders. Its compact body is silky coated and the tail is carried high. Though the Hackney does not have long legs, the hocks are set low. It stands proudly with its hind legs out behind.

In the twentieth century, Hackneys were no longer needed as work horses, but they were so loved for their flashy style that they remained popular in the show ring. Today, they are on the list of endangered breeds, with only 200 in the United States and 2500 world wide.