INTKODTICTIOK". 



I PRESENT this, the pioneer work of its class, to the 

 public, with both trepidation and confidence. Aware 

 of the many faults in construction, style, and the 

 manner in which the ideas are conveyed, I claim the 

 leniency of my readers, and can only advance the 

 plea, that as no writer, more scientific, polished, and 

 practiced, had attempted the task, the errors of a 

 novice in literature would be overlooked and excused, 

 that would meet with severe criticism in a Veteran 

 Author. This book has been written in the hours 

 intervening between the morning's drive and the 

 evening's walk ; and when the rigors of winter put an 

 end to active training, the labor of composition, and 

 care of the horses, about equally divided the time. 



The practice recommended to be followed in these 

 pages, in order that a horse may acquire condition 



