INTRODUCTION 



If all, or even one-tenth, of what has recently been 



written concerning the impending effacement of the 



horse were correct, the appearance of an addition to 



the literature of the stable would be uncalled for. 



The strong opinion may, however, be expressed that 



the horse is very far from becoming extinct, or even 



rare, in Great Britain or any other country. On 



the contrary, to judge by the difficulty that is 



experienced in discovering high - class specimens of 



the principal varieties, and the immense sums paid 



for them when found, it is reasonable to infer that 



not merely does the present demand for horses 



considerably exceed the supply, but that numbers 



of ladies and gentlemen who have not previously 



interested themselves in horse-flesh, are now taking 



a direct and practical interest in the equine race, 



ix 



