186 ON TRAINING GROUNDS. 



The first gallop which I shall notice, I will, from its 

 situation, and by way of distinction, call the outside 

 gallop ; it passes up by the side of the road leading to 

 Bury. As the horses are approaching the top, they 

 are turned to the right towards the plantation, and here 

 they have tolerably good ground to pull up on. The 

 second gallop is similar to the first, but not quite so 

 long ; it passes up from the valley in about the centre 

 part of the ground, between the first-mentioned gallop 

 and where the little stone building called the King's 

 chair, used to stand. A certain portion of this ground 

 answers very well for the purpose of what is called 

 setting the horses on their legs, previous to their taking 

 the longer gallops. In the centre of the ground, or 

 what may be called King's-chair hill, are some very 

 good gallops up to the front of the plantation. Here, 

 after the horses are pulled up, is some tolerably good 

 ground for them to be at walking exercise, sheltered 

 by the fir trees from the easterly winds. There is ano- 

 ther good long gallop which can be had, commencing 

 in the valley by the gorse, and going on a short dis- 

 tance towards the south, and turning to the left, pro- 

 ceeding to the top of the hill, and leaving the planta- 

 tion on the left. There is afterwards a good run home. 

 The surface of the whole of the downs here being on 

 a chalky soil, may be said to be rather hard in the hot 

 summer months, which produces great concussion and 

 heat in the feet of such horses as are in strong work ; 

 but for the convenience of training, and running so 

 great a number of horses as are at all times standing 



