PREFACE. 



FEW subjects can more justly claim the attention 

 of the public, than that noble and useful animal, the 

 horse ; and there are few indeed of any moment, that 

 have met with more neglect from society. Not more 

 than one or two authors in the United States have 

 turned their attention to this interesting subject. This 

 neglect, in which every individual is so deeply interested, 

 must have proceeded frpm the low standing in society 

 to which the horse has been sunk by men destitute of 

 veracity, too often having the opportunity of dealing in 

 those invaluable animals, committing frauds, making 

 false statements of age, gaits, condition, &c. to the injury 

 of those who are unfortunate enough to confide in their 

 assertions, or to deal with them. 



In this little work, whose size is calculated for the 

 pocket, I shall endeavour to guard the unsuspecting 

 against the arts of the jockey, and to point out so plainly 

 the difference between an elegant and a common horse 

 a good and bad horse, a sound and an unsound horse, 

 that any person may become a tolerable judge, by 

 reading this little book with attention, however unfa- 

 miliar the subject may have been heretofore. It is 

 my object to be useful rather than offend, or appear 

 learned. I shall avoid all hard names, technical terms, 

 &c. ; and will offer to the public the information 1 



'* 821848 



