CHAPTER XII. 



ON SADDLE HORSE GROOMS AND BOYS. 



In most of the publications on the subject of horses 

 I have had an opportunity of perusing, much has been 

 said of the want of education in grooms. Some au- 

 thors go so far as to say, they are very ignorant of the 

 management of horses. How far these gentlemen are 

 competent to judge on this latter point, I shall not pre- 

 sume to say. 



It is very true that grooms, generally speaking, are 

 not very highly educated ; nor am I aware that to get 

 horses into condition requires a very cultivated mind. 

 I have known very good training grooms that could 

 neither read nor write (I have lived under such men) ; 

 and, notwithstanding their misfortune in not possessing 

 either of these very useful acquirements, they were 

 good, practical training grooms ; that is, so far as re- 

 garded the working and feeding of their horses. Hav- 

 ing lived in various stables, I have had an opportunity 

 of ascertaining their abilities in this particular, and I 



