Bibliothèque mondiale du cheval

« Resuming it would give an additional interest to this little ballad, application has been made to Am drew Ducrow, Esq. for permission to take a sketch, from life, of his celebrated Hanoverian horse Brigand, which originally performed the principal character in the entertainment called “The High-Mettled Racer; or, the Life, Death, and Restoration of the favorite Hunter.”
The restoration was added by particular desire, many per sons regretting that so beautiful an animal should meet with so untimely an end. In the representation on the stage, therefore, recourse was had to enchantment, and from the apparently lifeless body (which sank down through a trap) arose another beautiful animal, richly caparisoned, and sur rounded by Fairies.
The High-Mettled Racer is a true copy from the original, with a single exception— viz. his tail, which instead of being, as in the original, a long one, has had some few inches docked off.
The publisher takes this opportunity of expressing his thanks to Mr. Ducrow, for his great politeness in not only giving him free access to his stables, but for his personal attention, in seeing that the horses were exhibited in the Circle, and shown in every attitude that could be of service to the artist. The beautiful order in which the stables are kept, reflects great credit on the management. The names of the different horses ai’e affixed to each stall, and the whole are under the care of Mr. Richard Valler, (formerly postillion to Queen Charlotte), a very civil and obliging gentleman. Some idea may be formed of the extent of this Establishment, when it is stated that more than ninety horses appeared at one time upon the stage, in the celebrated "Battle of Waterloo."
The anecdotes of Race Horses (at the end of the book) are extracted from a very clever and a very valuable work, entitled Biographical sketches and authentic anecdotes of horses by Captain Thomas Brown, Author of "Authentic Anecdotes of Dogs," — both of which volumes have been spoken of in terms of the highest praise.  » Présentation de l’éditeur (1831)