152 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



fresh and well on their legs," said Mr Weedon, " the 

 advantage of always keeping them going in this 

 gentle way, is incalculable at the commencement 

 of the season. It invigorates their whole frame, 

 strengthens the muscles, preserves their bowels free, 

 and keeps them from getting out of shape and form." 



On conversing with Lord Molyneux, at Chester 

 races, on Potter's stable management, his Lordship told 

 me that he was now steward to his father, and of course 

 had nothing to do with the horses ; but we both 

 agreed on the very superior form the Earl's hunters 

 were in when he hunted Leicestershire : and, as I 

 before observed, they were always walked out with 

 the hounds in the summer. On my asking Lord 

 Molyneux after the horse he called Oxford, he told 

 me he was quite well, but had had an operation per- 

 formed upon him. I saw this very first-rate horse 

 a short time afterwards in London, looking remarkably 

 well ; but I shall have occasion to speak of him again, 

 when describing the celebrated Ditchley day with 

 Lord Middleton's hounds when he hunted Warwick- 

 shire, and when Lord Molyneux rode this horse, and 

 was one of three who saw it. 



During my excursion I spent a day with Mr Lockley, 

 who has ever been celebrated for the condition of his 

 horses ; and knowing that he had a very favourite 

 hunter, for which he had refused a large sum of money, 

 I had some curiosity to see how he was treated, I 

 found him in his stall, out of which, with the exception 

 of travelling into Leicestershire, and other hunting 

 countries, he had not been for three years — not even 



