VARIETIES OF THE HORSE. 49 



without a weight on his back is an affair of no difficulty 

 or danger to speak of to the horse. With a heavy weight, 

 it is quite a different thing, and may lay the foundation 

 of numberless foot complaints. I would not counsel 

 anyone to be always getting off his horse, were he Daniel 

 Lambert himself; but in exceptional cases it is a wise 

 proceeding. No one should attempt it who is not sure 

 of his horse, as no one would like to place himself in the 

 position of Mr. Jorrocks, as he appears in that charming 

 sketch by John Leech apostrophising the recreant 

 '^ Artaxerxes.''^ Weight is too often brought forward as 

 a reason, if not an excuse, for not attempting to ride 

 straight to hounds ; and weight unaccompanied by a 

 corresponding depth of breeches pocket undoubtedly is 

 so. But to the ponderous and youthful Croesus, who is 

 in every way but his weight qualified to shine in the field, 

 I could mention many names of men, over fifteen stone, 

 who, when hounds run, insist on being not only thereabouts , 

 but there ; and it has been said that '^ whatever man has 

 done man may do.''"' At all events he may try to. Let 

 any one who doubts the power of heavy men to get across 

 country treat himself to a day with the Pytchley,* and 

 see the example which, if there be a scent, the gallant 

 master and huntsmen will make of the feather weights, 

 the rather if the line be really a strong one. Let him 

 consider the performances of Lords Sefton and Alvanley 

 in bygone days, and of Mr. Gilmour and Sir Francis 

 Grant in our own time. Or, to vary the country, let him 

 go out with the Duke of Beaufort^s or Sir Watkin Wynnes 

 hounds, and he will be convinced that real love of sport 

 can more than counterbalance heavy weight. Weight, 

 when the horse is equal to it, is a positive advantage in 



* Written in 1867. 

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