8 INTRODUCTION. 



nature have fastened upon them hahits that make them 

 practically unsafe and worthless for use. Then by the 

 present system, proved to be so defective and injurious, it 

 is the work not unfrequently of months and years to break 

 colts to drive; and even after this great expenditure of 

 time and effort, many of the best horses are ruined ; so 

 that the loss to the people of the country both from the 

 depreciation of value, accidents, and loss of time, is in the 

 aggregate enormous. 



One horse kicks ; a second balks ; a third pulls against 

 the bit and runs away despite the efforts of several men to 

 hold him ; a fourth will not stand while persons are getting 

 into or out of a carriage; another is liable to kick the 

 blacksmith over when he tries to take up or hold his foot 

 for shoeing, compelling, in many cases, the necessity of 

 roping the horse down on his side to be shod ; another is 

 liable to kick any person coming within reach of his heels ; 

 the next is perhaps all right until he catches the rein 

 under his tail which he is sure to do when he is liable 

 to kick or run away ; while, perhaps, the next will try to 

 pull loose or break his neck when hitched by a halter or 

 bridle; another fears a baby-wagon, stone, stump, dog, 

 white cow, umbrella, robe, train of cars, or something else. 

 One horse will not stand ; another will not back ; another 

 will pull away when led by the halter; another lugs on 

 the bit, or pulls on one rein. One horse will not work 

 double, another will not work single ; and so on to the end 

 of the catalogue of vices to which horses are subject. 

 These, with many other vices or habits that could be 

 mentioned, are the cause not only of great pecuniary loss, 

 but of personal injury, if not destruction of life, throughout 

 the country, which, when fully realized, is fearful to con- 

 template. What city, village, or neighborhood is there 

 that has not almost daily disastrous accidents resulting 



