Prefatory Note 



THE text of this book speaks for itself, but 

 a few words may be useful with regard 

 to the illustrations. 



The Stable Handbook is professedly 

 a book for men of moderate means. Why, then, 

 it may be asked, illustrate it with portraits of 

 horses and ponies of a class which must be 

 beyond the means of the majority of readers. 

 My answer is this : These pictures are object 

 lessons, just as the prize-winner at the show is 

 intended to be an object lesson to breeders. 

 To train the eye to judge of horses none but the 

 very best models should be set before it. The 

 reader who will examine the illustrations will 

 be able to see for himself what are the best 

 models approved by experienced judges, and 

 having educated his eye to these, be better quali- 

 fied to judge of what he wants when he comes to 

 buy for himself. These pictures will also enable us 

 to distinguish between mere prettiness and useful 

 points. Then they will serve to bring before us 

 the different types that are useful for the varying 

 work to which a horse may be put, and this will 

 steady our judgment when buying. If we wish for 

 a general purpose horse, one that we can ride or 



