Sir Watkin Wynn's. 77 



in passing — a point tliat a horse should soon learn 

 to discover for himself, the more so that great pace is 

 not essential, even if it be on occasion permissible in 

 covering them. Given the ditch towards him, if he 

 cannot bring you safely into the next field he has no 

 business in a jumping country; for, if he springs at 

 all, there is nothing to throw him back or turn him 

 over. With the ditch beyond, and the hedge fairly 

 trimmed, it is a thousand to one on safe landing. 

 And in the whole country there are not a dozen 

 instances of the trap — a ditch on both sides. The 

 only difficulties that ever interfere with riding to 

 hounds are the dingles, occurring chiefly in the home 

 district, and caused, no doubt, by the watershed from 

 the hilltops. These are rough and wooded gullies, 

 forking it in all directions ; and, while you are 

 threading one arm, hounds may be doubling back up 

 another, of which their fox has only too gladly 

 availed himself. The greater part of the country, 

 indeed, is good plain sailing — allowing you to take 

 it at your leisure when the scent is cold, or to fly it 

 when the pack settles to run. Should the latter be 

 the order over the Cheshire Yale, you will need a 

 horse that can hold his own anywhere ; for you will be 

 riding to a flying pack in good company ; and he, and 

 you, must be quick to turn, ready to resolve, and in 

 every sense fit to go. As a rule, a very active, short- 

 legged horse is the one for the country. 



Ruabon, near which the kennels lie, is some five 

 hours from London (Paddington or Euston Square) — 

 too far for the excursionist fox hunter, but by no 

 means a bad place for a man who would hunt four 



