PEETACE. 



Thu-ugh, 'iiider over fluctuating but sometimes pro 

 pitious circumstances, the very climax of equestrian 

 power may have been reached in a few cases in the 

 United States, as in the country from which we derived 

 our skill and material, is it not still worthy of all con- 

 sideration how we may contrive to helay^ as the sailors 

 say, what we have gained in that important branch of 

 Rural Industry — not only as a means of individual en- 

 joyment, but as a prolific, indispensable source of 

 National power and wealth ? 



However serious and apparently insurmountable may 

 be the difficulties that stand in the way of farther im- 

 provement of domestic animals, and especially the Horse 

 — either in the general absence of the necessary means 

 and appliances, and of adequate encouragement for the 

 care and expense attendant on the production of Horses 

 of high qualities, there ought, surely, among well-in- 

 formed men, to be no obstacle arising from ignorance of 

 the art of breeding. Hence it is that in sending forth 

 the JVinth Edition of this popular work on Farriery, 

 while nothing seemed to be needed in the way of de- 

 scription or treatment of the diseases of domestic animals, 

 and while the author of this Supplement was only called 

 on to extend the stud-book in a manner to embrace the 

 pedigrees to which breeders and dealers might have 

 occasion to refer, he could not forego the opportunity 



v5) 



