INTRODUCTION. lU 



ha\e been induced to enter them in hack-stakes ; and 

 where there have been conveniences foi* the purpose, 

 such horses have generally been trained at home, by 

 hunting or saddle-horse grooms. I have known some 

 gentlemen Avho, from the attention they have paid 

 to their horses during the hunting season, have con- 

 sidered themselves judges of their condition; and from 

 this circumstance, have now and then been induced to 

 superintend the training of their hunters or hacks. 

 Other gentlemen, who have not entertained quite so 

 good an opinion of their own knowledge in this par- 

 ticular have wisely sent their horses to regular training 

 stables ; whilst otheis, again, have, on similar occa- 

 sions, kept their horses at home, and have confided 

 the entire management of them to their hunting or 

 saddle-horse grooms. 



It is for the information of such gentlemen and 

 their grooms, that this work is principally undertaken ; 

 and although I have adhered, or rather shall adhere, 

 strictly to the practical rules and regulations of training 

 thorough-bred horses, yet the line may be drawn so as 

 to enable hunting grooms (aided by the experience 

 they have had) to train either half-bred or thorough- 

 bred horses, and to bring them into a much more 

 fit state to race, than, as far as I have generally per- 

 ceived, they are in the habit of doing. 



But I will just remark, that whenever gentlemen 

 have their horses engaged to run in a match of any 

 importance,- — when the powers ol" the horses may be 

 deemed nearly equal, or when they may have been 



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