168 The Hunting Countries of England. 



strong breed, that will often stand up before hounds 

 for two hours or more, even on a good scenting day. 

 The country being so limited in extent_, the coverts 

 have occasionally to bear considerable pressure; and 

 foxes will then take refuge in any small spinnies, or 

 sometimes even in a strong hedgerow. They will, 

 however, seldom if ever lie actually in the open; as 

 after October there is not even the shelter of a stubble 

 to protect them. 



The fences of the Burstow vale are almost entirely 

 bank-and-ditch — not difficult for a hunter taught in 

 the country, but just such as must bring to grief a 

 horse whose education has been limited to jumping 

 everything he meets at a fly. Hazel, or sometimes 

 thorn, is grown on the banks ; but the hedge itself is 

 less of an obstacle than a blind, being as a rule merely 

 loose growers, trimmed or straggling. But the ditch 

 may be broad ; the bank the same, and high ; and a 

 hunter has to jump the one, alighting on the other. 

 A shortlegged horse, with a muscular back and his 

 full allowance of ribs, is the style of mount for the 

 Burstow vale, and he will do well enough also for the 

 Forest. It is an excellent country to make a tyro into 

 a horseman ; but it is not an easy one over which to 

 teach a young horse and see the sport at the same 

 time. It should be mentioned that the vale in question 

 is exceptionally level throughout, a fact that in itself 

 leads to the deep ground proving less severe upon 

 horses than if it were more undulating. 



In spite of not advertising the vale fixtures, the 

 Saturday field is often quite as large as convenient, 

 to itself and for sport — though, as all things go by 



