The new Rare Breeds Watchlist has raised concerns for Hackney horses.
Published today (12 April), the new Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) Watchlist renews its warning about the future of the breed, with 2021 seeing its effective population size fall below 50.
“This is extremely concerning as an effective population of 50 is set as a threshold for concern by the FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization),” said an RBST spokesman.
The breed, which already had very low numbers, has seen further decline over the past year with just 31 mares producing registered progeny from only 12 breeders. This compares with more than 300 breeding females registered in 2011.
RBST Chief Executive Christopher Price also flagged concerns for other native breeds, but said their future was looking brighter.
“For our equines, very low numbers remain of Eriskay ponies, Suffolk horses, Cleveland Bay horses and Hackney horses,” he said. “There is good news in the stability or improvement for the Eriskay, Suffolk and Cleveland Bay breeds, however, the Hackney’s effective population size continues to decline and we are urging more people to support the breed’s modern uses.”
During the 1800s, Hackney horses were popular in Britain thanks to their speed and stamina as a light carriage horse. The breed’s popularity fell as people switched to motorised vehicles. Today, the breed is still used for driving and enjoyed in the show ring.
RBST is a national charity working across the UK to save and safeguard the future of rare and native livestock and equine breeds.
Visit www.rbst.org.uk to find out more and to donate to the charity’s conservation programmes.
