48 FOXHUNTING ON LAKELAND FELLS 



Hampshire downs and the vale country of the 

 Shkes, we progress northward through varying 

 types of country, until we reach the fells of Cumber- 

 land and Westmorland, which comprise some of the 

 wildest and roughest ground in England. 



Any one who has had much experience of 

 riding to hounds in different countries knows that 

 the type of horse suited, let us say to Cumberland, 

 would be entirely out of place in Warwickshire, 

 which is fairly representative of a sound grass 

 country. Now a horse ridden by a man who 

 means to see sport and be with hounds must cross 

 the same Hne of country taken by the latter. If, 

 therefore, to enable him to do this with ease to 

 himself and his rider the horse should be of the 

 correct tj^pe, is it not equally necessary, in fact 

 more so, for the hounds to be of a type most 

 suited to the requirements of their particular 

 country ? 



I think those Masters who set utihty in advance 

 of fashion where their hounds are concerned, will 

 agree with me when I express the opinion that a 

 deviation in type from the Peterborough standard, 

 in order to improve the sport- showing qualities 

 of a pack, should enhance rather than militate 

 against their financial value. 



Unfortunately, nowadays, the reverse is the 

 case. As an example, I wiU take a hound from 

 each of three very different countries, i.e. the 



