YORKSHIRE HUNTERS AND HOUNDS 193 



stud as that to be seen at Birdsall is an object-lesson 

 of the good hunter-breeding has been to the country 

 when carried out on the scientific principles adopted 

 by two Lord Middletons during a mastership of 

 over fifty years. It is said that the pony type was 

 the original pattern aimed at in the stable, and 

 to-day it is noticeable that a medium-sized hunter 

 is in favour, measuring rather under 16 hands, a 

 short-legged, active, blood-horse, excellent in back 

 and shoulders, with depth through the heart. Such 

 a type of hunter is adapted for any country, possess- 

 ing pace and stamina, power of hocks, and second 

 thighs, the best conveyance the heart of man could 

 desire. Bays, browns, and chestnuts are the pre- 

 dominating colours, all having manes, and semi- 

 bang tails, which adds to the evenness of appearance 

 noticeable throughout the stud. 



Amongst the many notable thoroughbred sires 

 which have been kept at Birdsall by the Lord 

 Middletons for the use of the farmers and the puppy- 

 walkers, are many which completed a distinguished 

 career on the turf, and proved their stamina by 

 winning races in their fourth year of training. Lord 

 Middleton's hunter sires include the names of 

 Peppermint by Camballo, a winner at the Hunter's 

 Improvement Society Show; Gordon by Hermit, 

 dam by Young Melbourne ; Sherbrooks by Dutch 

 Skater, dam Verderer by King Tom ; Red Eagle 

 by Thurio, dam Tranquillity by Venison, who raced 

 up to his sixth year, and afterwards was awarded 

 three royal premiums ; Wales by Bel grave, dam 

 Victoria ; Cardonald by Carronald, a descendant of 

 Stockwell ; and The Dempster. 



Quite twenty in the stable were b}^ Gordon, and 

 had the character for being the best of hunters, 

 able to gallop up and down hill and stay all day. 



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