Echoes of the Hunting Horn 



and that fact seems to make the entire proceedings a 

 very friendly affair. Here one never encounters stereo- 

 typed regulations; there are no reserved enclosures; 

 no privileged vantage-points. Everyone is heartily 

 welcome, and except for five shillings levied on motors 

 entering the car-park, anyone can go anywhere one 

 wishes around the course and enjoy a whole day's 

 racing absolutely free of charge. Though Point- to- 

 Points have become highly-specialised undertakings 

 so far as horses and riders are concerned and are no 

 longer the grand finale of the hunting season, they still 

 retain much of the old-world that is very lovely, and 

 continue to provide the local farmers with a rollicking 

 day's free entertainment. 



The occupants of the huge brown-panelled horse-box 

 are being unloaded; and while the last two await their 

 removal, their well-chiselled heads look out with calm 

 interest on a countryside which has been transformed 

 overnight by the very advent of them and their kind. 

 They seem to glory at the sight of the throng gathered 

 in homage to horseflesh. One feels that heads so intelli- 

 gent-looking are capable of enjoying the humour of 

 the situation with absolute relish. This mechanical age 

 dolefully predicts the passing of the horse, but these 

 two representatives of the species think differently. 

 Horses drew carriages long ago, but nowadays the 

 situation is reversed ! 



Bookmakers are shouting the odds, as if endeavouring 

 to interest investors in the next county. Jockeys are 

 assisted into their saddles. How they can tackle natural 

 country in such fragile-looking wisps of leather, with 



88 



