How many of you hunters would be turned off by a hunter pony being a hackney? This pony was a rescue that needs work, I am a hunter/jumper person so I would not work with him on gaiting. I have yet to see him gait naturally so I believe I would not have a problem turning him into a hunter pony. However would the fact that he is a gaited breed affect him in the hunter world? Looking for a little insight so any comments are appreciated!
Can it walk, trot and canter without gaiting? Can it jump? Then it can at least do the local stuff…
How much knee action are we talking?
I’m fairly certain that hackneys are only 3-gaited (walk, trot, and canter).
[QUOTE=Kadenz;7840496]
I’m fairly certain that hackneys are only 3-gaited (walk, trot, and canter).[/QUOTE]
I was trying to figure this out, too. I think they have a “park trot” or “road trot” or something that is a really exaggerated trot with a lot of air time (all four feet off ground at once?) but I’m still not sure that counts…
Affect him in placing or as a sales prospect? If the pony is decent it will pin regardless but I do think it would be a harder sell.
[QUOTE=Training Cupid;7840518]
Affect him in placing or as a sales prospect? If the pony is decent it will pin regardless but I do think it would be a harder sell.[/QUOTE]
I’d imagine you’d just leave the breed out of it. Do what the big trainers do and scratch your head and say you think it’s a Welsh cross… 
I leased a hackney cross as my first medium pony (Proud n’ Happy, anyone from the Midwest?? Early to mid 1980s??) She was a fabulous pony, and a very good jumper. I say go for it. She was so perfect with her knees, and such a point and shoot pony.
[QUOTE=french fry;7840502]
I was trying to figure this out, too. I think they have a “park trot” or “road trot” or something that is a really exaggerated trot with a lot of air time (all four feet off ground at once?) but I’m still not sure that counts…[/QUOTE]
Park Trot and Road Trot are show designations. Park Trot is high and airy, where as a Road Trot is forward and ground covering. Basically the type of trot depends on the type of class. Kind of like the frame for an equ on the flat class as opposed to a Hunter Under Saddle class, or a lengthening as opposed to extended trot.
Basically, if you muscle the pony like a hunter, and ride it like a hunter, it will move more like a hunter (conformation dependent).
[QUOTE=french fry;7840538]
I’d imagine you’d just leave the breed out of it. Do what the big trainers do and scratch your head and say you think it’s a Welsh cross… [/QUOTE]
Or what all the people who import warmbloods from Europe and don’t want to disclose their prior show records. Call it a pony of ‘unknown breeding’, LOL.
I have one. he was also a rescue. has a great jump (tight, round and great knees) but cant/wont place in the hack or model. he also dabbled in the jumpers and did some light horse pleasure under both english and western tack. Oh…and he did some gaming too. he was hot as hell, so he wasnt usccessful unless the jumps were decent size but has natural changes. he is retired for the most part, but still super sound and energetic at 26 yrs old.
Silk did he not place because he was a hackney or for other situational reasons?
Hackneys (horses or ponies) are not a gaited breed.
That said, I showed alongside a little girl with a pony bought out of a field who more than likely had at least some Hackney or modern Shetland breeding.
He was built like a mini - 12h - TB.
Jumped great, pinned well, but was NOT an easy ride.
She was one tough Pony Jock!
FWIW:
My Hackney came to me trained as a Roadster, complete with the lofty trot & mucho knee action.
I’ve trained it out of him as I want a pleasure driving pony, not a breed show type.
I do apologize for calling it a gaited breed, I have never had anyone correct me before now and have always assumed the knee action to be attributed to being gaited. I learn something new everyday! Thanks for everyones opinions and insight.
At the lower levels you might have a shot. If the idea is to get it out there, doing something, what difference does it make if you pin? Hackneys generally have a pretty jump because they use their knees well, but they generally don’t hack well in hunters.
If it doesn’t pin it isn’t because of it’s breed, but because of it’s “type.” It isn’t a hunter type in terms of way of going or carriage.
[QUOTE=Little Secret;7840733]
I do apologize for calling it a gaited breed, I have never had anyone correct me before now and have always assumed the knee action to be attributed to being gaited. I learn something new everyday! Thanks for everyones opinions and insight.[/QUOTE]
lol - tell that to the dressage horses! 
But no problem with being incorrect about something - you learned something!
I agree that it depends on type. For a local horse who may be a do-everything for a pony clubber potentially, type isn’t as important as personality, either. For possibly an A show pony, flat knees are more important.
Hackneys are
1.) not gaited
2.) bred to pull their little knees up just as high as they possibly can.
Basically the exact opposite of what you want for a hunter.
“It goes like a hackney” is hunterland slang for “bad mover.”
If it goes against type and looks more huntery, amnesia and a turettes-like outburst of “WELSHcross, welsh” may be advisable.
If it has a good, ground covering canter, it’ll do OK. The conformation to produce that usually indicates it can get a nice jump. Unfortunately Hackneys are bred to pull a cart in high style at various trot speeds so it going to depend on that specific horse. I’d make it a driving Pony if it’s a classic Hackney type. Or a nice all around type if it’s got that good canter.
[QUOTE=Little Secret;7840476]
How many of you hunters would be turned off by a hunter pony being a hackney? This pony was a rescue that needs work, I am a hunter/jumper person so I would not work with him on gaiting. I have yet to see him gait naturally so I believe I would not have a problem turning him into a hunter pony. However would the fact that he is a gaited breed affect him in the hunter world? Looking for a little insight so any comments are appreciated![/QUOTE]
Hackney ponies are not gaited.
You’ll probably have to find a super evil kid to ride this pony. Or one you really don’t like. Keep in mind that the show horse crowd considers “run-away game” to be a compliment. And that’s who breeds them.
[QUOTE=meupatdoes;7841497]
If it goes against type and looks more huntery, amnesia and a turettes-like outburst of “WELSHcross, welsh” may be advisable.[/QUOTE]
coughcoughwelshcoughcough
I just love this.
