350 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



several ox fences until we ran to ground in a drain, after as 

 brilliant a scurry of ten or twelve minutes, as I ever rode in. 

 Dick Sutton was mounted on a fine-looking thoroughbred 

 horse which he rode on Saturday, but had only recently 

 purchased of Payne the dealer, and went in a style that could 

 not be excelled, getting a fall at the very last ox-fence, but 

 escaping scatheless. Captain Coles (of a regiment quartered 

 at Loughboro') rode as he seems always to do with in- 

 domitable pluck. 



"Champagne" pleased me immensely. I had never yet 

 put his powers so fully to the test, but he answered the call I 

 made upon him gallantly. Though the pace was racing, and 

 over ridge and furrow, to which he is not accustomed, it was 

 not at all too quick for him ; but, on the contrary, he seemed to 

 enjoy it and pulled more than ordinarily, taking his fences at 

 full swing without a mistake, clearing the ox-fences magnifi- 

 cently. One of the most awkward fences was one of the latter 

 description, from one grass land into another, sloping down to 

 it with a drop on the other side and a very bad approach, and 

 the rail dark coloured and scarcely discernible. This he led 

 over takine it in his stride, but rather swervino- towards 

 Shepherd who was riding parallel with me, for which I 

 expressed my regret. Altogether I was delighted, as well 

 with his good speed and cleverness as with his jumping, and 

 can only conclude by saying that no horse could have per- 

 formed better in so quick a thing than he did. I must 

 certainly think again before parting with so fine a hunter. 

 When I heard Dick Sutton declare that he would not take 

 ^300 for his horse while admitting that he was inferior in 

 breed and appearance to "Champagne," I could not help 

 feeling that long as the price was I gave for the latter, I had 

 not given more than his value, indifferent as a hack though 

 he be. 



I felt anything but well or in good spirits this morning, and 

 it was no small comfort to find myself on him instead of either 

 of my other pulling horses. He has gone very much better 

 since I have had the large easy bit, which I procured after he 

 had given me the fall with the Duke of Beaufort's Hounds 

 last season, which deprived me of the use of my bridle hand 

 for so long a time ; and the improved mode of shoeing him has 

 still further added to the comfort and mode of his going. It 

 seems singular that I should have felt, and still somewhat feel, 

 less confidence in "Champagne" than I need have clone, but I 

 suppose it has proceeded from riding him alternately with a 



