Sir Watkin Wynris Horses. 429 



and with a peculiarly expressive, old-fashioned muzzle, 

 and very straight hind legs. Railway King was a re- 

 markably handsome hack, and Phoebe, by Charles XII., 

 which had been ridden by Walker for eight seasons, 

 in some of his severest days, had not mark or blemish 

 on her. 



It may be set to the credit of his fine horsemanship, 

 that he never staked but one horse, and killed but 

 one, which put its foot in a grip, during his eighteen 

 seasons at Wynnstay. Simpson, the stud groom, who 

 had been with Sir Watkin for twenty-two seasons, 

 brought the horses out in great form no easy task, 

 as the sale took place one month after the season, and 

 Sir Watkin's hounds are proverbial for making long 

 days. They have no grass roads, and frequently 

 never get home till ten or eleven at night, after thirty 

 miles of road work. Nearly the whole of Sir Watkin's 

 horses are Irish, and have been selected for him by 

 Lord Combermere at four years old. Walker finished 

 with Limner, and Shropshire, and Sir Watkin pre- 

 sented him with the former when he retired to his 

 small farm and his " Shrops," within a stone's throw 

 of Marchweil Gorse. Its " red rascals" have laid a 

 heavy poll-tax on his poultry, but he bears it like a 

 stoic, and revenges himself by hunting them two or 

 three days a week. The Don, Cockatoo, the Major 

 (an entire horse and great for an hour), the stout 

 December, the Emerald Mare, Silvertail, President, 

 Phcebe, and the Felon have been among his especials. 

 He brought his own Nimrod from Fife, where the 

 dark chestnut had left several foals of four seasons, 

 besides hunting all the time. Sir Watkin then bought 

 him, and rode him for two seasons, and Walker for 

 two more. Mr. Lloyd took The Felon to Leicester- 

 shire, where " the bay stallion" in such hands made 

 many a well-mounted field remember him. 



The Monday s fixture is in the Garden country, 

 which is principally grass. Royalty is its great cover, 



