390 



WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



C.'s ; — let him do this, and then form his estimate 

 of Connaught horsemanship. 



A mistake prevails in England, as to the supposed 

 inferiority in value of the horses commonly employed 

 by the Western sportsmen. I have seen a field out, 

 when, of twelve horses, ten would probably average 

 at one hundred guineas each ; and the remaining two 

 (brothers, Jerry and Lancet) were reported to have 

 cost the noble owner five hundred guineas apiece. 

 When the dangers of a stone-wall country and the 

 desperate riding of the men are considered, these are 

 indeed sporting prices. And yet accidents of a serious 

 character are not frequent; every horse that has been ridden 

 to hounds is generally blemished more or less ; but it 

 is astonishing in such a country and with such riders, 

 how long some noble hunters have lasted. 



The hounds, with few exceptions, are inferior. They 

 are seldom properly kennelled, or regularly hunted. 

 Masters of hounds in the West seem careless to all 

 considerations beyond having a pack that can go high 

 and keep tolerably well together. In sizing and 

 draughting dogs they are by no means particular, 

 and hence the ensemble of many a kennel is materially 

 injured. In home management and field turnout, 

 they are infinitely behind their English brethren — ^the 

 packs are carelessly hunted — the kennel servants badly 

 appointed — and I have met men upon the plains able 

 to take a horse over anything that hand and heart could 

 carry him, who to a stranger would appear, from " the 

 wildness of their attire," to be desperate apprentices 

 levanting with their master's property. 



And yet, after this eulogy upon the splendid horse- 

 manship of the Western gentlemen, it may appear 



