100 The Hunting Countries of England. 



minor growth. Deep dells, and lofty hills, hard climb- 

 ing, continual energy and increasing movement, are 

 the characteristics of this rough region and the cue 

 for your conduct. A pony might show you all that 

 takes place till the woods are suddenly quitted. Then 

 you need the best horse your banker will find you^ 

 the best years of your youth, and a belief that most 

 fences are to be jumped when the pace is good. For 

 the Skeffington neighbourhood requires a dash and 

 determination, a fling* and a de^dlment, that are not 

 called for in a more sober sphere — though that sphere 

 be grass as quick scenting and one whereon hounds 

 can fly as quick as here. For the fences of this dis- 

 trict are just to be done — if the horse has all the best 

 and boldest qualities of a true Leicestershire hunter, 

 and the man is the pick of Melton or Market Har- 

 borough. Even then, he will have to turn aside now 

 and again; for the bottoms which thread the valleys 

 are not to be taken as they offer themselves ; and the 

 wide-built oxers are not to be trifled with, when 

 twenty minutes up-and-down these green hills has 

 taken the steel out of even a thoroughbred. Launde 

 Abbey will be the meet for the good Launde Woods, 

 and Loddington Hall and Tilton Wood will generally 

 be named for the woods adjacent. Still further south 

 we have Beaumont Chase as a fixture for Wardley 

 Wood and Stoke End. A sixteen or seventeen miles^ 

 ride to covert recommends itself but indifferently to 

 Meltonian taste ; and, were Wardley Wood anything 

 but what it is, the journey would seldom be made. 

 But such a covert, whose wide turf rides are almost 

 as carefully preserved as its breed of strong wild foxes. 



