PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. 



The basis of the present work is the valuable matter 

 written by Mr. Herbert shortly before his death, comprised 

 within the first thirteen chapters. An extension of the 

 work was undertaken by the author, and the outline of 

 the remaining chapters was being filled out by him, when 

 that strange and fatal mood overshadowed his life, and 

 terminated his earthly labors. 



In committing the unfinished task to other hands, we 

 have been particularly fortunate in procuring, for each de- 

 partment, competent and experienced aid ; and if the style 

 of a favorite author is not to be recognized by our readers 

 in all parts of the work, they may derive some compensa- 

 tion from the fact, that by combining the experience of a 

 number of contributors we present a completness and 

 variety not to be expected in the production of any one 

 mind. 



These Hints to Horse-Keepers are intended to in- 

 clude every subject of interest to those who, for pleasure or 

 business, own or use a horse. From their comprehensiveness 

 they are necessarily brief and condensed. More elaborate 

 works on each speciality have previously been in the 

 hands of the public, and this volume is not adapted, nor 

 intended, to supplant them; but by presenting in one 

 volume a com pen d of our valuable standard works, with 

 the latest discoveries and improvements, it is believed we 

 have answered a demand till now unsupplied. 



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