New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-06

LIEF Illustrations. CThe American Sportsman's
Lbrary) Svo. pp. xiv. al Inc MACMILLAN CoiH-
pany.
1ssuad in the american sportsman's Library"
and primarily concerning itself with the horse
as an adjunct TO the healthful recreation or
mankind. this volume has in reality a much
broader scope. AS Mr.. Collier aptly points out,
the horse is 30 important factor In our coun-
try's prosperity that any contribution 10 the
sum of human knowledge in regard to the AMI
NAL that tends to it's more intelligent use' has
q value that is not to be reckoned by the amount
of Measure to be derived from the mere riding
and driving of horses in hours of leisure
In his chapters on driving Mr. Collier starts
on the common sense basis that to get the best
out of a horse. either for pleasure or business
II is not only advisable but necessary to under
stand something of it's history and anatomy
and he devotes enough space to these subjects
to form an excellent groundwork for the tyre,
who Is assisted to further knowledge by a brief
but carefully selected photography. Both Mr.
Price and Mr.. Anderson are practical In all they
have to say. and refreshingly free from fads
and subservience to the arbitrary and often I'M
reasonable dictates Of fashion. The book Is writ
ten for those who desire to gain wholesome en-
toynent from their horses, not for those VINO
seek to make them medium for self-exploita-
ton and display. This is forcibly illustrated by
Mr.. Golfers remarks form:
Form" of which we hear so much in relation
tionaI or ridiculous. Form IS rational when IT is
When Il is merely an idea Of proper clothing;
When you dress comfortably, and sit securely. and
form because you are obeying the Wen thought out
without knowing the reason why, you ridcu-
lous; This is the whole secret Of form one Is
matter; the other is merely manner
Dwelling on the fact that the horse has little
~ tiTy1Id
of animals, Mr.. Collier impresses on the reader
the necessity of keeping 1t under constant con-
troll Such control cannot be effectively exerted
unless the driver knows more about the horse
than the horse knows about the driver. A horse
Is quick to perceive when it is In inexperienced
hands. It becomes irritated and confused by the
ignorant and contradictory signals 1t receives,
or by the lack Of any at all. Having no conn-
dence in him who should be its master, and none
in itself it is ready to take fright on the least
provocation, and instincttvely and instantly
thinks of fight as it's sole means Of escape.
above all things" he urges, do not imagine
that because you own one or more horses ana
stroke their necks occasionally that you know
a horse when you see one. Such knowledge does
not come from cutaneous friction or by money"
He says further:
No man who knows nothing about horses.
matter how charitable he may be, no matter how
enthusiastically regular he may be, matter how
conspicuousy tender hearted he may be 10 chill
dren insects and the poor, has any business on
a horse or behind horse. First, because ne is
almost Invariably cruel to the horse and secondly,
because he is endangerng the lives or other people,
From an economic standpoint the saddle
horse Of course, ranks far below the harness
horse, and, save in the army, its use is princi-
palIy for purposes Of pleasure and sport To
be a good rider Is difficult even than 10
be good driver, and pace MI Collier, more en-
toyable. as it is certainly more beneficial and
exhilarating form of exercise. AS Mr.. Anderson
says in his division of the volume:
The trained horse under the trained rider moves
at the masters will; the two are one; 1t Is tho
centaur. The intent is with the action. There
is time for consideration, and thought has been
expended in early practice and has produced those
instructive motions OF the man which are always
right and always instantly obeyed instlnctively
Excellent are his hints to the proper acqui-
sition of this SKILL the results of intimate knowl-
! edge and long experience. He includes chap
tiers on the breeding and training Of horses their
purchase and sale, and interesting accounts Of
some of the typical American saddle horse stock
far