218 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



carrying me well, and the horse was certainly a 

 fine performer. Unfortunately his new owner took 

 him up to Yorkshire, where the heavy plough 

 found out his weak point — a very pronounced 

 " dishing " with one foot. This did not affect him 

 on the grass; but in the deep "going" it rendered 

 him helpless, and I fear proved a disappointing 

 purchase. 



The best horse I ever owned, and the only one 

 on which it seemed a waste of time to jump small 

 fences, I bought from a farmer for twenty pounds. 

 He originally belonged to Mr. H. T. Barclay, and hav- 

 ing broken down was given to the farmer. Being 

 fired and allowed a year's rest with occasional work 

 in the plough team, he was quite sound when he 

 came to me. Doubtless he would have carried me 

 for many seasons had I not aspired to win a race 

 with him ; but in addition to being a wonderful 

 jumper was very fast, and was only cantering when 

 most hunters were galloping. It had long been 

 my ambition to win the Ladies' Purse at the Melton 

 Hunt meeting, and this seemed my opportunity. 

 Unfortunately that spring the ground dried up very 

 quickly, and it was as hard as a turnpike road. The 

 result was that I was unable to give him a winding- 

 up gallop, and in the race itself dare not press him to 

 keep his place on that part of the course which was 

 slightly downhill. Later on he made up lost ground, 

 and was close up fourth in a large field, finishing up 

 without being the least bit distressed, but I have al- 

 ways thought that with the " going " soft I should 

 have won easily. 



The race went to a very good horse belonging 

 to Mr. Nathaniel Gubbins, ridden by that ex- 



