362 The Hunting Countries of England, 



for, thougli practicable in many places, it swells 

 out here and tliere to unjumpable proportions; and 

 the Hunt regard it with wholesome awe in con- 

 sequence. 



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 absolute flier; but he can^t be too 

 good : and it is noticeable that a man tutored in the 

 Yale 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 backs 

 are the main points — depth of chest and ribs indis- 

 pensable. The length of one type of Leicestershire 

 horse is out of place. But there are two sorts for 

 Leicestershire ; and the thick one is the better. This 

 is the Aylesbury horse. 



Now for a few items of geography — Tuesday, as 

 above noted, is for The Vale proper ; and among its 

 meets are Shipton for the Winslow spinnies, on the 

 edge of the Vale, or for Christmas Gorse. The latter 

 lies well in the lower ground, belongs to The Squire, 

 is full of foxes, and replete with recent memories of 

 good gallops. From the Gorse to the Claydon Woods 

 (Bicester) is a fine and constant line. Hogston may 

 also be for Christmas Gorse ; and Dunton is a great 

 meet held at the house of Mr. Mead, who makes Lord 

 Carington^s covert of High Haven his special care 

 and treasure. High Haven is a square mass of gorse 

 and Blackthorn mixed ; and is the Ranksboro' of the 

 Whaddon Chase. A common and beautiful line is 

 from High Haven to Christmas Gorse — eighteen 



