Bibliothèque mondiale du cheval

« […] The first volume I published on the training of the English race horse may be said to be a sort of ground-work or introduction, containing such preparatory and essential matter as I considered was necessary for my readers to become thoroughly acquainted with, previous to their entering upon the more minute and detailed parts of my subject, viz. the training horses to run. And, as far as I have proceeded in the subsequent chapters of this volume, I have endeavoured to lay down the rules for training race horses with as much perspicuity as possible. In the training and running of them, the changing of circumstances must occasionally alter things, which of course will be the cause of exceptions to some of the rules I have made mention of. I could readily quote a variety of examples, but such quotations would be but of little use, beyond that of enlarging this volume — a sort of thing I wish to avoid. I have therefore thought it better to lay down generally the whole of the practical principles, as well as all the minute details. Thinking it necessary, I have been led to mention, in different chapters, the above general practical principles very frequently : it may be considered by some of my readers, that I have made too great a repetition in this respect; but those of them who know what little trifling circumstances of neglect or mis-management will cause horses in training to change considerably for the worse, can well understand the necessity of my being thus particularly minute, so as clearly to elucidate, as far as I have gone on with the subject, all matters relative to the management of race horses while they are being trained.
In [the] volume [II], as in my first, I have in many parts expressed myself in the language (if it may be so termed) of the turf, not, I confess, because such language is the most refined or gentlemanly, but because I think it necessary for such noblemen and gentlemen as are engaged in turf matters readily to understand the conversation of the business people of their stables. This language, used by trainers, jockeys, and stable boys, when they are conversing with each other on business, is very expressive, that is to say, they understand each other in very few words; and where I have thought the terms used not generally intelligible, I have explained them. Indeed, that my meaning may not be misconstrued, I have endeavoured, as far as I have proceeded with the management of the condition of thoroughbred horses, to elucidate, as clearly as I possibly could, the manner of feeding, clothing, watering, exercising, or working of all of them, agreeably to their ages and constitutions. How correctly I may have succeeded in arranging all these matters, I must leave to the consideration of those of my readers, who are known to be thorough good practical judges of how race horses should be treated when lying by in Winter, as well as how they should be treated while they are in training during Spring, Summer, and Autumn. » Présentation de l’éditeur (1840)

« London, 1828, 1834, 1840. » Huth (1887)