viii PREFACE. 



the ideas of the artist more accurately than they portray the 

 realities of nature. 



In the attempt to conform to the requirements of truth, 

 I have, as far as practicable, relied on photography for 

 illustration. This art not alone gives exact representations 

 with marvellous minuteness of detail, but has completed the 

 solution (begun by Professor Marey) of the once vexed 

 question of the action of the horse's limbs during the various 

 forms of movement, and has accordingly afforded us, in our 

 present study, data which are as instructive as they are 

 reliable. As I have written this book for non-scientific 

 readers, as well as for those who desire to thoroughly master 

 the subject ; I have placed in small print the few chapters 

 which I have devoted to the anatomical and mechanical 

 details which were necessary to render the work complete. 

 A perusal of the large print chapters will give a good general 

 view of the practical side of the subject, and, in most cases, 

 the reasons for the opinions advanced. The information 

 contained in the small print ones is, however, indispensable for 

 the full comprehension of all the principles discussed, and as 

 it is of a very elementary character, I trust it will not be 

 neglected. We must here remember that the horse is a 

 living machine, the capabilities of which cannot be accurately 

 gauged, without a knowledge of its construction, and of the 

 principles of its working. Having treated on Soundness and 

 Age of Horses in another book, I have omitted these subjects 

 entirely from the present one. I must, however, state that as 

 they are directly connected with the question of a horse 

 "standing" work, it is impossible to judge his capabilities 

 with a near approach to correctness, without a knowledge of 

 veterinary science. 



