Bibliothèque mondiale du cheval

« One of the greatest evils and abuses of the horse that still seems to lie before me to treat of, is the biting; and which, considering how simple an object it is, surprises me has not been done long since : but somehow the subject of horse affairs, through the tyranny of those who are occupied with it, seems as it were beset round with some spell or enchantment, so great is the fear of the general public in intermeddling, as they would call it, in these matters; so that abuses are perpetuated before our eyes, and seen every hour of the day, yet none care to interfere. And neither is it with any mean feigning that I say I feel my hands truly feeble for the task, and the arrival of those years that do not improve a writer; yet is the task wanting, and in hoping yet fearing I engage myself in it, heartily wishing it in better hands, which it well deserves.
It is the property of ignorance to grasp at power by whatever means it can be obtained, and no sooner are they in possession of it, than they abuse it and use it tyrannically; whilst lookers on, supposing all is right, and that experience must have taught them the best methods, surrender their understandings to these miserable agents, scarcely reflecting on the atrocity of their measures : although but a very little well-directed examination and real attention to the subject would dissipate the illusion, and expose in its true colours the monstrous folly of their proceedings. A very large portion of these cruel and unmerited sufferings will be found, on examination, to proceed from the cherishing and encouraging unfounded fears and apprehensions which ought with propriety to have no existence. Fashion also has had her share in it, and not unfrequently it is the interested purposes of the makers and venders of bits, and of those who derive a profit in recommending them, and are sharing in the plunder of their masters : others again love a mystery, and think by such uncouth and complicated machinery to guard this department of knowledge from being intelligible, and so maintain their empire and secure their interests. For the true biting of the horse does not require complication or harshness, or severity, but, on the contrary, every purpose is best served and obtained by the direct contrary. Since harshness is much more likely to produce the disobedience and danger that it pretends to prevent, than torender it less accessible; making them to commit often from pain and rage, the very faults complained of, and then desire to remove by a further severity.[…] » Présentation de l’éditeur (1835)