PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. XI 



circumstances, over which I had no control ; and 

 to those who may not have the same knowledge, 

 and have not had the same practice, I offer my 

 sincere congratulations that they have not been 

 placed in the like predicament, for fate has not 

 vouchsafed to give this knowledge and practice to 

 me as a matter of pleasure, but has buffeted both 

 into me in her most angry moods, or, at all events, 

 a great part of both are the result of her will and 

 decree. 



There are, beyond doubt, numberless men who 

 possess more knowledge of, and have had more 

 practice in, the matters contained in this work 

 than I can boast; and I am equally willing to 

 give them credit for being able (if they felt in- 

 clined to do so) to lay the result of that know- 

 ledge and experience before the public in better 

 form and terms than I can: to such men, of course, 

 this work would be useless ; but I trust that to 

 thousands of others it will not be found to stand 

 in the same position. 



That there are many GENTLEMEN better judges 

 of horses or their management (as GENTLEMEN'S 

 horses) than myself, I make no doubt ; that there 

 are many dealers, breakers, trainers, and others 

 concerned in the sale of horses that know more, I 

 must also, of course, admit ; but it might, perhaps, 



