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I purpose in this volume to treat of the most noble and useful of domestic animals, — the horse. I desire
to put into a small compass and cheap form the result of many years of reading and observation, that every
farmer's boy in New England may have in his possession a book which shall contain within its covers enough
of instruction to qualify him to breed, train and drive, buy and sell, horses intelligently and profitably.
This is my hope. I purpose, also, to lay before him the true principles of animal propagation, following
which the breeding of fast and valuable horses shall be in no sense the result of chance or "good luck," as
the phrase is, but of causes clearly understood and arranged from the start. I shall show him how to raise a
vicious or amiable colt, a slow or fast one ; what to discard and what to include in this selection of dam
and she ; and how, when the perfect animal is produced, to educate him properly, and bring him forward in
intelligence and docility until he is able to contribute most directly and fully to his owner's profit or
pleasure. While I shall advance and strive to sustain my own views, I shall, in all cases, give my reasons
therefor. I lay no claim to originality. I have no hobby to advance, or pet theory to advertise to the
public. My success, if success attend my efforts, will be due to the patience with which I have studied the
subject, and the entire absence of passion and prejudice in writing out the views thus obtained. I confess
my indebtedness to many books and many authors. The cumbersome volume of veterinary practice, the quaint
medieval treatise, and the sensational pamphlet of the professional "horse-tamer" who perambulates the
country to-day, astonishing the uninitiated with the tricks of his trained ponies, have alike supplied me
with material for reflection. I wish to give in a condensed form the aggregated wisdom of all, to the end
that whoever may purchase this work shall have the sum and substance of what is known concerning the horse.
I do not deceive myself so far as to suppose that I have wholly succeeded ; for the subject is a vast and
intricate one, and man's performance is seldom equal to his desire. Still it may be that enough has been
done to vindicate the motive, and serve the public. If this should be the verdict of my patrons, I shall
rest content.
If any should express surprise that one in my profession should devote his leisure to such a
purpose, I have this to say, That to me it has been a labor of love in the first place for the noble animal
of which I write, and whose existence and services have ever been and are to-day closely connected with the
commercial, social, and religious development of the country ; and, in the second place, I acknowledge the
presence in my heart of a desire to associate myself in every honorable way with that class of my countrymen,
to which, by birth, early education, and present aspiration, I belong, — the agricultural class. Compelled
by the obligation of public life to pass the larger part of my time in cities, my mind and heart continually
revert to the country, where, in the cultivation of the products of the earth, and the propagation and
training of the domestic animals, man finds, as I judge, his most honorable and happy employment. I have no
sympathy with that professional exclusiveness which forbids to the intellect the powers and pleasure of
general knowledge and universal studentship ; nor do I ever wish to see the day, when, restrained by a false
sense of professional dignity, I shall refuse to impart needed information to any one, of whatever walk and
pursuit of life, who may be assisted and bettered thereby. With this purpose, and prompted by this impulse,
I now send this volume forth, and bespeak for it the careful perusal of those who admire and are interested
in the noble animal of which it treats.
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