AUTHOR'S PREFACE, 



I PUKPOSE ill this volume to treat of the most noble and 

 useful of domestic animals, — the horse. I desire to put 

 into a small compass and cheap form the result of many 

 years of reading and observation, that every farmer's boy in 

 New England may have in his possession a book which shall 

 contain within its covers enough of instruction to qualify him 

 to breed, train and drive, buy and sell, horses intelligently and 

 profitably. This is my hope. I purpose, also,, to lay before 

 him the true principles of animal propagation, following 

 which the breeding of fast and valuable horses shall be m 

 no sense the result of chance or "good luck," as the phrase 

 is, but of causes clearly understood and arranged from the 

 start. I shall show him how to raise a vicious or amiable 

 colt, a slow or fast one ; what to discard and what to include 

 in his selection of dam and sire ; and how, when the perfect 

 animal is produced, to educate him properly, and bring him 

 forward in intelligence and docility until he is able to con- 

 tribute most directly and fully to his owner's profit or 

 pleasure. While I shall advance and strive to sustain my 

 own views, I shall, in all cases, give my reasons therefor. I 

 lay no claim to originality. I have no hobby to advance, pr 



