THE HANDY HORSE-BOOK
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
“Most certainly the above title is no misnomer, for the ‘Handy
Horse-Book’ is a manual of driving, riding, and the general care and
management of horses, evidently the work of no unskilled hand.”—_Bell’s
Life._
“As cavalry officer, hunting horseman, coach proprietor, whip, and
steeplechase rider, the author has had long and various experience in the
management of horses, and he now gives us the cream of his information
in a little volume, which will be to horse-keepers and horse-buyers
all that the ‘Handy Book on Property Law,’ by Lord St Leonards, has
for years past been to men of business. It does not profess to teach
the horse-keeper everything that concerns the beast that is one of the
most delicate as well as the noblest of animals; but it supplies him
with a number of valuable facts, and puts him in possession of leading
principles.”—_Athenæum._
“The writer shows a thorough knowledge of his subject, and he fully
carries out the object for which he professes to have undertaken his
task—namely, to render horse-proprietors independent of the dictations of
ignorant farriers and grooms.”—_Observer._
“We need only say that the work is essentially a _multum in parvo_, and
that a book more practically useful, or that was more required, could not
have possibly been written.”—_Irish Times._
“He propounds no theories, but embodies in simple and untechnical
language what he has learned practically; and a perusal of the volume
will at once testify that he is fully qualified for the task; and so
skilfully is the matter condensed that there is scarcely a single
sentence which does not convey sound and valuable information.”—_Sporting
Gazette._
“We can cordially recommend it as a book especially suited to the general
public, and not beneath the attention of ‘practical men.’”—_The Globe._
“Contains a very great modicum of information in an exceedingly small
space.... There can be little doubt that it will, when generally known,
become the established _vade mecum_ of the fox-hunter, the country
squire, and the trainer.”—_Army and Navy Gazette._
“A useful little work.... In the first part he gives just the amount of
information that will enable a man to work his horse comfortably, check
his groom, and generally know what he is about when riding, driving, or
choosing gear.”—_Spectator._
“This is a book to be read and re-read by all who take an interest in
the noble animal, as it contains a most comprehensive view of everything
appertaining to horse-flesh; and is, moreover, as fit for the library and
drawing-room as it is for the mess-table or the harness-room.”—_Sporting
Magazine._
“By all means buy the book; it will repay the outlay.”—_Land and Water._
[Illustration: DRAWING COVER]
THE
HANDY HORSE-BOOK
OR
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS IN DRIVING, RIDING,
AND THE GENERAL CARE AND
MANAGEMENT OF HORSES
BY
A CAVALRY OFFICER
FOURTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED
With Engravings
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCLXVIII
_The Right of Translation is reserved_
TO
MAJOR-GENERAL LORD GEORGE PAGET, C.B.
Inspector-General of Cavalry,
SON OF THE DISTINGUISHED HORSEMAN AND HERO WHO COMMANDED THE CAVALRY AT
WATERLOO, AND HIMSELF A LEADER AMONG THE “IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED,”
THIS BOOK IS BY PERMISSION INSCRIBED,
IN TRIBUTE TO HIS SOLDIERLY QUALITIES, AND TO HIS CONSIDERATION FOR
THE NOBLE ANIMAL WHICH HAS CARRIED THE BRITISH CAVALRY THROUGH SO MANY
DANGERS TO SO MANY TRIUMPHS,
BY HIS LORDSHIP’S OBEDIENT SERVANT,
“MAGENTA.”
PREFACE.
Finding myself a standing reference among my friends and acquaintance on
matters relating to horse-flesh, and being constantly in the habit of
giving them advice verbally and by letter, I have been induced to comply
with repeated suggestions to commit my knowledge to paper, in the shape
of a Treatise or Manual.
When I say that my experience has been practically tested on the road,
in the field, on the turf (having been formerly a steeplechase rider,
as well as now a hunting horseman), with the ribbons, and in a cavalry
regiment, I must consider that, with an ardent taste for everything
belonging to horses thus nourished for years, I must either have sadly
neglected my opportunities, or have picked up some knowledge of the use
and treatment of the animal in question.[1]
Born and bred, I may say, in constant familiarity with a racing-stable,
and having been always devotedly attached to horses, the wrongs of those
noble animals have been prominently before my eyes, and I have felt an
anxious desire to see justice done to them, which, I am sorry to say,
according to my observation, is but too seldom the case; indeed, I have
often marvelled at the tractability of those powerful creatures under the
most perverted treatment by their riders and drivers.
My object, therefore, in offering the following remarks, is not to trench
upon the sphere of the professional veterinary surgeon or riding-master,
but to render horse-proprietors independent of the dictation of ignorant
farriers and grooms. Intending this little work merely as a useful
manual, I have purposely avoided technicalities, as belonging exclusively
to the professional man, and endeavoured to present my dissertations on
disease in the most comprehensive terms possible, proposing only simple
remedies as far as they go; though, for the satisfaction of my readers,
I may mention that, as an amateur, I have myself devoted much time and
thought to the study of anatomy, and that any treatment of disease herein
recommended has been carefully perused and approved by a veterinary
surgeon. Theories are excluded, and I confine myself simply to practical
rules founded on my own experience.
Hints and remarks are here offered to the general public, which, to
practical men, will appear trifling and unnecessary; but keen and
extended observation, carried on as opportunity offered, amongst all
classes and in many countries and climates, has given me an insight into
the want of reasoning exhibited by men of every station in dealing
with the noble and willing inmates of the stable, and has assisted in
suggesting the necessity for just such A B C instructions as are herein
presented by the Public’s very humble servant,
“MAGENTA.”[2]
PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION.
Increased attention having been directed to the necessity for greater
vigilance with regard to the breeding and production of good and useful
horses, many readers have expressed a wish that I would give some decided
views on these subjects; and concurring with them as to the exigency
of the case, I have ventured, in an additional chapter in this new and
Third Edition, to make a few remarks, which, although doubtless patent
to practical men, are naturally looked for by the public in this Manual,
which has been so favourably received.
“MAGENTA.”
PREFACE TO FOURTH EDITION.
The Third Edition of this little work, published so recently as April
last, being already out of print, the Author, in presenting a new one,
feels called upon gratefully to acknowledge this unusual mark of favour
on the part of the public.
LONDON, _November 1867_.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
PART I.
BREEDING, 1
SELECTING, 2
BUYING, 6
STABLING, 8
GROOMING, 12
HALTERING, 16
CLOTHING, 18
FEEDING, 20
WATERING, 25
GRAZING, 26
TRAINING, 28
EXERCISING, 31
WORK, 33
BRIDLING, 38
SADDLING, 43
RIDING, 49
HARNESSING, 56
DRIVING, 65
DRAWING, 72
SHOEING, 75
VICE, 84
SELLING, 89
CAPRICE, 90
IRISH HUNTERS, AND THE BREEDING OF GOOD HORSES, 93