Bibliothèque mondiale du cheval

« The present booklet has been written with the intent to prove that of late years the English nation has failed in the production of one of its most important commodities, and the means by which a further extent of this evil can be remedied has been suggested.
The race-course has caused the excessive creation of thorough-breds. Why should not the general-utility horse possess a suitable arena whereon to exhibit his speed and endurance at other paces than the gallop ? The demand for such horses in a commercial point of view is not sufficiently attractive to create the much- needed supply; but were trotting courses instituted in this country similar to those in America then the supply would, in a very few years, exceed the demand.
The illustrations which accompany this small volume are intended to point out the classes of horses which existed during the various periods of the world’s history, and especially those common to Great Britain during the past and present centuries; from which the public will be able to judge whether we possess such good horses now as we did one hundred years ago.
As Englishmen it is our duty to do all in our j)ower to prevent the decline and fall of the British utility horse, for such certainly will take place unless we bestir ourselves to energetic action in supplying a commodity which we now in great measure obtain from foreign sources. Is it not a national disgrace that England of the past, which supplied Europe with her best horses, should now be dependent upon Continental countries for her useful supplies ?
Reader ! Assist in rescuing us from an impending national calamity ? It can be accomplished by the adoption of means similar to, if not identical with, those detailed in the following pages. » Présentation de l’éditeur (1881)