OLD FRIENDS— MEN AND HORSES 217 



him with the remark, that I would ride some of 

 his new horses over Leicestershire for the benefit 

 of their education. However, Zbrowski was a 

 very fine horseman, and could do that equally 

 well himself ; but he had at the time a horse they 

 called the bone-breaker, which he said he would 

 be very pleased if I would ride, supposing I did 

 not mind the risk of a fall. He had apparently 

 earned his name by breaking the collar-bone of 

 those who had ridden him; but I was short of 

 horses then, and could not afford to be too parti- 

 cular. The first time I rode the horse he was sent 

 on to the meet for me, when I noticed his mouth 

 was bleeding. Afterwards I always rode him on 

 myself, and found he had a very fight mouth. 

 The cause of his falling was being ridden by heavy- 

 fisted men, and he carried me brilliantly without 

 ever making a mistake, until his owner realized 

 what a first-class hunter he was. 



A few seasons later I used to buy horses during 

 the winter and spring, seUing them by auction the 

 following October. 



It, however, rather spoils the pleasure of hunting 

 when you have to consider the damage you may 

 do to your mount, and the risks of laming him. 



I had a few fairly successful sales ; but the horses 

 were nearly always bought by people from a dis- 

 tance, as my known reputation for extreme poverty 

 in Leicestershire made those who knew me think it 

 impossible I could have a good horse. The only 

 horse ever bought by anyone who had seen me rid- 

 ing them was a chestnut Lord William Bentinck 

 gave about a hundred and twenty for at my sale. I 

 had not recommended him, but he had noticed him 



