Natural Hackney Movement?

Hackneys pretty much move like that naturally. Those used for driving often have the highest knee action (the stallions do too - what stallion doesn't like to show off a bit?) I can't say I've ever seen one being ridden.

Hackney breed standard - http://www.hackney-horse.org.uk/standards.asp

History of the breed - http://www.hackney-horse.org.uk/history.asp

It's like with Welsh Ds - some are built like tanks and have a very high knee action, whilst others are built quite a bit finer and don't have a very high knee action at all. However, you can get chunky ones without a very high knee action and some of the finer ones can have a high knee action.

It depends on breeding and conformation of a particular horse.

I don't really know much about the breed either but I do know that they have natural movement. The proper training can enhance it, but I've heard that there is some "soring" that goes on, much like the TWH, maybe not to the extent of the "big lick" training, but there is some .

Now before anyone has a fit, I'm not saying that ALL TWH are sored, not even all "Big Lick" horses are, but there ARE still barbarians who still practice soring.

As far as the dressage part, not every hackney will have extreme movement, just like saddlebreds, TWH's etc. Dressage doesn't want extreme movement from knee action, they want light, upward movement with flair. :) So the training would be very different.

I know one Hackney pony. She has never in her life been used for hackney shows. She was a lesson pony (English) and is now a mounted games pony. She has naturally high knee carriage. I would guess it's a natural trait for the breed, but they can be trained to enhance this movement.