Hackney Pony

by Lisa Selvaggio

Published: January 4th, 2018

About Hackney Pony

Height

Weight

600 lb

Physique

Compact, slim, agile, strong

Lifespan

30 years

Best Suited For

All levels of horse owners and those interested in owning a show horse

Temperament

Friendly, energetic, active, brave, alert

Comparable Breeds

Hackney Horse, Fell Pony

Hackney Pony Breed History

The Hackney Pony is related to the Hackney Horse. In fact, this breed does not even have its own breeding stud because it is usually just combined with that of the Hackney Horse.

This pony breed dates back to 1872, when Christopher Wilson developed it in order to create a new pony within the already popular Hackney Horse breed. To get the results that he wanted, the Hackney Horse was bred with the Fell Pony and the Welsh Pony. The result was a pony with similar characteristics to the Hackney Horse, such as agility and speed, but in a smaller package that would be ideal for carriage pulling, shows, and children.

In addition to being beautiful, the Hackney Pony also has an appealing personality.

At first, the Hackney Pony was referred to as the Wilson Pony. And because these ponies were kept outside even in tough conditions, the breed developed its endurance and ability to adapt to various conditions. By the time the 1880s rolled around, the Hackney Pony breed was finally established and known for its trotting ability. These little horses were used as carriage horses in Great Britain, and some were exported to the U.S. as well, where they were also used throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries before cars were commonplace.

Although these ponies, like other equine breeds, declined in popularity and use with the rise of the automobile in the 20th century, the breed became more popular as a show pony following World War II. And these ponies were even used in the United States to develop the American Shetland Pony.

Today, the Hackney Pony is still a popular equine breed. As a show breed, Hackney Ponies could be categorized based upon their appearance, size, and show ring performance. These categories include the Roadster Pony, the Harness Pony, the Hand Pony, the Cobtail Pony, and the Pleasure Pony.

Breed Traits

In addition to being beautiful, the Hackney Pony also has an appealing personality. These horses are calm, friendly, and smart. However, they could also be energetic and spirited, so care should be taken when they are around children until you get to know their personality.

On top of that, Hackney Ponies also like receiving plenty of attention from their caretakers, so they even look forward to being groomed regularly. Plus, this breed is known for being brave and alert. They have great stamina and enjoy being active, so they make great show ponies and fun pets. Therefore, a Hackney Pony may not be the best choice for those who don’t plan on giving their horse attention and allowing their pet to release his energy in productive ways.

The Hackney Pony is related to the Hackney Horse.

Overall Description

The adorable and elegant Hackney Pony features small ears and a small yet fine muzzle. You will also notice large, bright eyes that are alert and bold. The head is small and convex, while the neck is well formed and long.

The body is compact and slim, and the frame is light. The legs are strong, the feet are hard, and you may notice that these ponies hold their heads high as well. There is great depth in the chest, the shoulders are powerful, the tail is well set on the pony’s quarters and it is carried high, and the withers are low.

This pony moves with a gait that is referred to as the park trot. This means that the animal’s knees will rise up high. So another defining characteristic of this breed is how it moves.

Hackney Ponies have great stamina and enjoy being active.

Colors

The fine and silky coat of the Hackney Pony could be black, chestnut, or bay in color. The majority of these ponies, though, will feature a bay colored coat, while chestnut colored Hackney Ponies are considered rare. And some Hackney Ponies could also feature a few white markings on the body, head, and legs.

Grooming Requirements

To keep your Hackney Pony looking healthy, you do not need to do anything special. Instead, the same basic grooming routine that you can use when caring for any other horse can also be employed for this pony. To get started, all you need is a standard grooming kit for horses. Then it is a matter of setting a routine of grooming your horse to help keep him clean and happy. Your pony should really enjoy the attention and look forward to the grooming sessions, as this breed likes to be pampered.

You could bathe your Hackney Pony with a gentle shampoo designed for horses whenever it is necessary to do so. The rest of the time, you could use a curry comb to remove loose hair and debris from your pony’s coat. Using circular motions with this tool will help you get good results. You could then follow that up with a body finishing brush to cover sensitive areas like the legs before using a shedding blade and dandy brush to remove even more excess hair and debris. Next, to clean your pony’s face, you could just use a soft cloth that has been moistened with some water. Gently clean the areas around the ears and eyes. Finally, you can use a hoof pick to clean out the hooves, a tail brush to comb out the tail to keep it smooth, and a mane comb to remove tangles and keep the mane looking lustrous.

By Kym Andersen/Shutterstock; casinozack/Shutterstock; Robert J. Beyers II/Shutterstock

Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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A Pittsburg couple was shocked to discover that their dog Cecil decided to have the most expensive snack of his life, after wolfing down $4,000 in cash. According to Cecil’s owners, Clayton and Carrie Law, the seven-year-old goldendoodle is a well-behaved boy who has never really done anything bad before. The couple had withdrawn cash to do a home improvement project, but Cecil had other plans for the envelope full of money. Less than 30 minutes later, Cecil was caught devouring thousands of dollars. “I walked back into the room and then all this cash was on the ground. He’s just like this, standing there, and I’m like oh my gosh, he ate some of this money and was in shock. I yelled to Carrie ‘He ate the money, he ate the $4,000,’” said Clayton Law to CBS News. After the initial shock, the couple discovered that Cecil ate a lot of the bills, but that some were still on the floor, albeit torn up and chewed into pieces. Carrie and Clayton describe their pooch as laid back, weird, funny, and almost human-like, and say that he is typically more of a snuggly couch potato. “He doesn’t do many dog things, he doesn’t chew furniture or clothing, that’s why we were extra shocked when he decided to do this,” said Clayton Law. “He has never in his life tried to get anything from the counter, even coffee table. We could leave dinner and go to the kitchen and grab wine, and he would not touch the food, and he just doesn’t care. He just took this opportunity and ran with it,” said Carrie Law. Once the initial shock passed, the couple contacted their vet to see if the dog needed any treatment. Given the goldendoodle’s size, there was no risk of bowel obstruction and he only needed to be monitored at home. At first, Cecil seemed fine, but in the middle of the night, the Laws were awoken by the sound every dog owner knows - the retching of their dog about to vomit. “When you hear that, you immediately just react, so I jumped out of bed and just made sure that he didn’t throw up anywhere,” said Clayton. “And then I went to pick it up… and I realized there’s a lot of like half eaten and $100 bills and $50 bills here.”That night marked the start of the Law’s unfortunate mission of sifting through their dog’s vomit and poop in an attempt to recover some of their money. Luckily, the couple was able to piece together most of the bills after carefully washing and sorting all the pieces back together. “There we are at the utility sink washing this shitty money, yelling ‘Yay! Yes! We got one!’ It smelled so bad,” Carries confessed. After piecing together as many bills as they could salvage, the couple managed to recoup $3,550. According to Carrie, the bank was really nice about it and told them that these things happen all the time. “They said it actually happens quite a bit because money just picks up so many scents, especially if it’s used in the food industry. I guess dogs pick up on that - they have such a good sense of smell - and something about it just drove him crazy.”Almost a month after the incident, Cecil is doing fine and is still a good boy. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

New Study Shows Which Dog Breeds Are Most Likely to Get Cancer

When it comes to humans, early detection is key when dealing with different types of cancer, and the same is true for canines. Naturally, a healthy diet, daily exercise, and regular veterinary checkups can all help keep your four-legged companion in tip-top condition.But, wouldn’t it be great if you knew in advance that your pooch is more predisposed to cancer? A new study published in Royal Society Open Science shows that there is a strong link between the dog’s size and their likelihood of getting cancer.Leonard Nunney, a biologist at the University of California, Riverside, and the lead author of the study wanted to understand how cancer starts and how it is initiated in different dog breeds. Nunney explained that while humans have an increased risk of developing cancer as they get older, the same isn’t true for dogs.This new study looked at dogs ranging in size from a tiny Chihuahua up to a mastiff, and a giant Great Dane. Despite the popular belief that larger dog breeds are at a higher risk of cancer, it turned out that bigger dogs are at a lower risk of developing any type of cancer simply because they tend to have shorter lifespans compared to smaller dog breeds, which typically live longer. Breeds like golden retrievers, German shepherds, and Labrador retrievers are considered large dogs and usually live up to 12 years. This study showed that smaller dog breeds, like Chihuahuas, terriers, and Pomeranians are at a higher risk for developing cancer because they tend to live longer, typically around 15 years or more. While doing their research, Nunney and his team made another discovery. They learned that certain dog breeds, regardless of their size, are more predisposed to developing certain cancers.Nunney lists terriers, specifically West Highland terriers, also known as Westies, as having a higher likelihood of developing bladder cancer. Flat-coated retrievers are prone to a rare type of cancer, called sarcoma, which is found in soft tissues and bones. In addition to these two breeds, Bernese mountain dogs are also more likely to develop cancer than other dog breeds. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, one in four dogs will, at some point in their life, develop cancer. Furthermore, almost half of dogs over the age of 10 will develop some type of cancer. But before you rush to get your dog to the vet for a full checkup, know that just because smaller breeds are more likely to develop cancer, that doesn’t mean they will. According to researchers, only a few dog breeds tend to be predisposed to cancer, as this illness is caused by genetic mutations. The researchers also discovered that while ancestry-based interbreeding reduces the breed’s life expectancy, it doesn’t increase the risk of cancer. Thanks to this new research scientists and animal experts can better understand dog breeds and how their genetics play a role in developing cancer. “Dogs are an extremely good model for understanding the genetic changes that may lead to a higher susceptibility of specific cancers,” added Nunney. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Do Dogs Experience Grief?

Anyone who has ever shared their heart and home with a dog can attest to how deep the emotional connection we form with our best friends is. It is this bond that makes saying goodbye so difficult. But are we the only ones experiencing this pain?If you have recently experienced the passing of a pet or family member and noticed your dog acting a little differently, you may be wondering – Do dogs experience grief, too?In this article, we will dig into the truth about canine emotions and canine grief. This includes understanding what grief means to your dog, learning to recognize the signs that they may be mourning and tips for helping your best friend navigate this difficult time.Do Dogs Experience Grief or Mourning?The short answer is yes, dogs do grieve the loss of a person or animal in their lives. In a 2022 study led by Dr. Federica Pirrone, a veterinary physiologist at the University of Milan, 86% of dog owners reported that they saw a change in behavior in their surviving dog after losing a companion.Our dogs form close bonds with one another and with us. This can be seen both in wild dogs, with the relationships that exist between pack members, as well as the domesticated dogs of today.While they can’t tell us how they are feeling (although we wish they could), dog parents often witness physical and behavioral changes that indicate something is “off” for their dog following a loss. This occurs when a family member (human or pet) passes or even if a family member moves away like a child moving out of the family home.Recognizing that our dogs also go through a grieving process allows us to take steps to help our beloved furry friends deal with this difficult time.

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