The Horse's Friend The Only Practical Method of Educating the Horse and Eradicating Vicious Habits; Followed by a Variety of Valuable Recipes, Instructions in Farriery, Horse-shoeing, the Latest Rules of Trotting, and the Record of Fast Horses Up to 1876

"The Horse's Friend" by O. S. Pratt is a detailed manual from the 1800s designed to help people train horses effectively and kindly. It shares easy-to-understand ways to teach horses good behavior and stop bad habits. Pratt’s book is full of useful information for horse trainers and owners, containing a variety of old-time recipes, advice on horse care, instructions for shoeing horses, and the specific rules for trotting competitions of the time. From the beginning, Pratt talks about how his childhood and strong desire to learn shaped his love for teaching, both for himself and for the animals he would eventually train. He tells about overcoming obstacles to gain knowledge, showing his strong will to make something of himself. The start of the book also suggests his growing connection with horses, which led him to develop his own special training approaches that he is excited to share with everyone. Through this introduction, the author prepares readers for his work as a horse educator, including tips about future accomplishments, endorsements, and the widespread changes his methods aim to bring about.