THE PROVINCES. 



263 



is often a crowd in the Vale, there is generally plenty of room 

 for it to disport itself, particularly if hounds run fast. ' Brooksby ' 

 describes the sort of nag for this country in more detail than he 

 ^ ;% generally devotes to such matters, and 



'wJ-". though the style of animal that will 



R.y carry you in comfort over a strongly 

 <^^ fenced grass country must be pretty 



'Something to think about 

 next day.' 



much the same all the world over, his description is worth 

 quoting : 



The Vale calls for all the best essentials in a hunter. He must 

 gallop, he must jump, and he must stay. He need not be an abso- 

 lute flyer, but he can't be too good ; and it is noticeable that a man 

 tutored in the Vale is not only likely to ride -well over the best of 

 the Shires, but generally brings thither a stamp of cattle that can 

 do him credit. Stoutness is a main feature in a Vale horse. Hocks, 

 quarters, and back are the main points, depth of chest and ribs 

 indispensable. The length of one type of Leicestershire horse is 



