PREFACE. xvil 



my heart, I wish them success ; and yet they too frequently 

 declare things to be cruel about which there is a question, 

 whilst serious instances of cruelty and severe suffering 

 appear either to escape their observation or meet with no 

 rebuke or interference from them whatever. It is amongst 

 the lower classes, who are uninfluenced by education and 

 wise training in childhood^ that cruelty is most prevalent 

 and most to be combated. 



To treat a horse cruelly is most intolerable ; and any one 

 having the care of a horse would, were he to consider 

 the matter, undoubtedly be conscious that to injure and 

 ill-treat a beast from whom he expects so much, and 

 upon whom he is so dependent, is false economy; since he 

 is, in fact, injuring himself as he depreciates the value of 

 his own property. And even if the horse does not belong 

 to him whilst he is making use of it, it is undoubtedly to 

 his advantage to obtain the best results he can during its 

 hours of labour. 



In speaking of shoeing and my experience tliereof, I 



would preface the remarks that I make in the chapter 



which appears in this work treating exclusively on that 



subject,* by saying that under no circumstances, except in 



the treatment of disease, do I ever allow a smith to pare 



the sole, cut the frog, rasp the hoof, or otherwise tamper 



with my horses' feet. As regards writing on such subjects, 



I am convinced that too constant reference to authorities 



is apt to retard the originality of one's own ideas. Any one 



writing about things with which they are thoroughly well 



acquainted, and knowledge of which they have gained at 



the fountain head of all knowledge, which is " Fact," 



when desiring to expatiate on such subjects need not 



altogether submit to the restraint imposed by other 



people's opinions when they are qualified to express one 



for themselves. By taking a line of their own the subject 



is more likely to be treated with originality. 



* I refer to a further volume on the subject of Highways and Horses 

 under contemplation, which may possibly follow this one. 



