158 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



there were many falls, but hounds scored a kill, 

 Lady Sykes being presented with the brush. On 

 the Lincolnshire side the pack were out on 

 December 27th, setting a big dog-fox going from 

 Folkingham Big Gorse, a twisty hunt of one hour 

 resulting, much to the entertainment of a Bank 

 holiday crowd of foot people. The find at the 

 gorse was unexpected, for the covert had only 

 recently been burnt down, having grown itself 

 out. Unfortunately the day was marred by a bad 

 accident, which happened to the Rev. Thomas 

 Heathcote, the squire of Folkingham, whose horse 

 fell at a fence near to the gorse, broke its own 

 back, and so injured his rider's spine that he died 

 from the effects some eighteen months later, in 

 his seventy-fifth year. The name of the horse 

 ridden on this fatal occasion was Glenthorne, and 

 a rather singular history is attached to him, for he 

 was bought by Mr. Heathcote without seeing him 

 first, trusting to the description in the sale list of 

 Sir Thomas Leynard's hunters at Belhus Park. 

 Mr. Tattersall was entrusted with a commission 

 of 170, and in due course the horse arrived at 

 Lenton Vicarage, to be well criticised by the 

 family, who hunted from that house six strong. 

 Except for a good shoulder, he did not appear 

 to have a point to recommend him, being very 

 much on the leg, possessing a big fiddle -shaped 

 head, long neck, and small quarters. But he 

 proved himself a sterling good hunter, and carried 

 the ladies in turn on the Leicestershire side. We 

 may add, whilst talking about Glenthorne, that the 



