PREFACE 



In offering this treatise to the public, my idea is 

 to assist the horse-owner, the farmer, and the 

 colonist to judge for himself as to the practical 

 soundness of a horse he may be interested in — 

 for it is not always convenient, or even practical, 

 to send for the veterinary surgeon whenever a 

 horse has to be looked over — and I shall en- 

 deavour to make myself as clear as possible to 

 this class of my readers, avoiding as far as I can 

 all technicalities with this purpose in view. 



I trust this book may be found useful particu- 

 larly to colonists, for I myself have frequently 

 seen in New Zealand, where I was for some 

 little time, the great difficulty experienced in 

 selecting good sound animals for work and for 

 breeding purposes when purchasing them, owing 



