PREFACE. 



A QUARTER of a century's experience in writing technical 

 books on horses proves to me that the reading public, which 

 becomes better educated every day, values opinions only when 

 they are supported by valid reasons. Therefore, while giving 

 full prominence to practical details, I have tried to explain 

 their principles in a scientific manner, and have been greatly 

 helped in this endeavour by many eminent authorities whose 

 names I have mentioned in the text of this book. Without 

 their valuable and kindly assistance and advice, it would 

 have been impossible for me to have obtained all, or even 

 the most part, of the information of which I was in search. 



I am much obliged to Messrs. Sutton and Sons for the 

 grasses and clovers, of which I have taken photographs ; to 

 Messrs. Champion and Wilton and Mr. T. U. Clarke for help 

 about saddlery and harness ; and to Mr. Arthur Richards for 

 notes on the cleaning of carriages and gear, and on stable 

 servants. 



A large portion of this work appeared in articles which I 

 wrote for the Live Stock Journal I have had thus the 

 advantage of seeing them in print and rewriting them before 

 putting them into book form. 



Yew Tree House, Crick, Rugby, 

 ist July, 1900. 





