mistake to suppose, that anything worthy of the name of 

 experience is gamed by constantly repeating the same opera- 

 tion in the same way : greater dexterity may result from it ; 

 but notliing more, for, if it be begun upon a wrong principle, 

 no amount of repetition can make it riglit, so that the utmost, 

 to be expected from such experience, is a greater proficiency 

 in doing wrong. It is inexcusable in gentlemen, whose 

 education should have made it a comparatively easy matter for 

 them to acquamt themselves with these things, to attempt to 

 throw the whole burthen upon grooms and smiths, whose inade- 

 quate instruction in a great measure disquahfies them for the 

 task, and renders it a great labour to them to comprehend, digest, 

 and apply, what they read upon the subject. It is altogether 

 beyond their powers to grapple with it ; and they naturally 

 fall back upon traditional error, which comes cut and dry to 

 then- hands, and, knowing that it has served the turn of 

 former ages, they adopt it m the full confidence, that it will 

 serve theirs as well. But this should not satisfy a horse- 

 master of the nineteenth century, when art and science are 

 making giant strides in every direction around him. He 

 should bestir himself, and inquii-e, why things are so, and 

 not, as heretofore, rest satisfied with being told, that they 

 are so, because they have always been so ; he should no 

 longer receive a mysterious nod of the head, as an unanswer- 

 able argument, or an misupported doubt, as the matured 

 conclusion of absolute wisdom. His interest as well as his 

 duty demands, that he should inquire for himself the rights 

 of the matter ; for it not only involves the comfort and 

 durability of his horse, but his own personal safety ; and 



