80 THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OF ENGLISH HORSES. 



mares shot ahead, and the gallant old horse gave it up. The contest now 

 became highly interesting. Signorina ran well in, and was beaten only by 

 a neck. 



She likewise won a Goodwood cup, beating the Colonel and Zinganee, both 

 out of the same stables with herself, and nearly distancing a field of others. 



This is a continuance of success that is scarcely equalled in the annals of the 

 turf. The loss of the Manchester cup was solely attributable to the accident 

 that occurred while she was running. She likewise failed in the St. Leger ; 

 but there she was thrown down by another horse during the race. She was 

 never beaten in a fair struggle. Her owner, however, was perhaps justified in 

 selling her, as he did, for 1500 guineas, when he knew that he was consigning 

 her to the royal stud ; for he thus rendered it impossible that the laurels that 

 she had won could ever be torn from her. 



She possessed the points and form of a racer to a degree of perfection which 

 has been rarely met with. It is true that she stood nearly sixteen hands ; but 

 the depth of her chest, her length, her quarters, her pasterns, marked her as 

 equally framed for motion and for endurance. Her colour was bay, with black 

 legs and feet, and a small stroke on the forehead. The slouched ear has been 

 found fault with by some ; others, and perhaps with more truth, have con- 

 sidered it as an indication of pure blood. It has been hereditary in some of our 

 stables, as in the Orville family. 



She was bought of Sir M. W. Ridley, for George IV., for 1500 guineas. 



Her produce, after having been put into the stud, was eagerly sought after 

 by foreigners, and sent out of the country. Fleur-de-Lis is now (1842) in the 

 possession of Monsieur Lupin, in France, who bought her at the Hampton 

 Court sale for the inadequate sum of 660 guineas. The valuable mare Wings, 

 the dam of Caravan, was sold to the same person for 600 guineas ; and Young 

 Mouse, the dam of Rat Trap, for 360 guineas. 



THE HUNTER. 



There are few agriculturists who have not a little liking for the sports of the 

 field, and who do not fancy rich music in the cry of the hounds. To what 

 extent it may be prudent for them to indulge in these sports circumstances must 

 decide, and they deserve the most serious consideration. Few can, or, if they 

 could, ought to keep a hunter. There are temptations to expense in the field, 

 and to expense after the chase, which it may be difficult to withstand. The 

 hunter, however, or the hunting horse, i. e. the horse on which a farmer, if he 

 is not a professed sportsman, may occasionally with pleasure, and without dis- 

 grace, follow the hounds, is in value and beauty next to the racer. 



Fashion and an improved state of the agriculture of the country have mate- 

 rially increased the speed of the chase. The altered character of the fox-hounds, 

 and the additional speed which they have lately acquired, compel the farmer 

 to ride a better horse, or he will not live among his companions after the first 

 burst. Stoutness is still required, but blood has become an essential quality. 



In strong, thickly -inclosed countries, the half-bred horse may get tolerably 

 well along ; but for general use the hunter should be at least three-quarters, 

 or perhaps seven-eighths bred. When he can be obtained with bone enough, a 

 thorough-bred horse will form the best of all hunters ; especially if he has 

 been taught to carry himself sufficiently high to be aware of and to clear his 

 fences. 



He should seldom be under fifteen or more than sixteen hands high ; below 

 this standard he cannot always measure the object before him, and above it 

 he is apt to be leggy and awkward at his work. 



