PRELIMINARY REMARKS. % 17 



useful and valuable piece of machinery, the reaper and self- 

 binder. See with what opposition his machine met with — first, be- 

 cause it was an unheard-of thing ; and again, because the laborer 

 saw how it would do the work of many men at comparatively a 

 small cost. They even went so far as to intimidate the farmers 

 who had purchased a mower, threatening to demolish it on sight. 

 The reaper of that day was a heavy, cumbersome thing, necessi- 

 tating the employment of four strong horses to haul it through 

 the grain, whereas now they have so much improved, simplified^ 

 and lightened, at the same time increased its usefulness, that two 

 ordinary horses might walk through the fields of standing grain, 

 cutting, binding, and throwing the straw in rows, ready to be 

 picked up by tbe farmer. 



By these few instances mentioned, it will be readily seen by the 

 reader that all new and progressive attempts at improvement 

 have invariably met with the severest criticism, opposition and 

 condemnation. 



The author being aware that he is advancing many new, 

 original and scientific ideas relating to horses, anticipates much 

 criticism ; but is confident from his long and varied experience, 

 that if the reader will properly consider and experiment with the 

 methods recommended in this work, he will be ready to accord 

 them the credit justly due to their merit. 



We are familiar with the various methods employed by the 

 numerous horse-trainers throughout the United States and 

 Europe. Such men as the justly celebrated Rarey, who went to 

 Europe and tamed the vicious horse Cruiser, and afterwards 

 brought him to the United States, exhibiting him on the stage in 

 all the principal cities, creating no little excitement and curiosity 

 by his many performances. 



We also have a very high opinion of the widely known and 

 highly esteemed horse-trainer H. E. Eockwell, who drove his 



