Lord Portmcufs, 375 



for of tlie five days a week that are invariably offered 

 liim, there is not likely to be more than one — if any — 

 beyond a radius of twelve miles. He will get four 

 days a week with the Blackmoor Vale, and one with 

 Lord Portman or The Cattistock — to be varied, or 

 added to, by an occasional trip to the South-and-West 

 Wilts. These are nearly altogether upon grass ; and 

 much of his time will be spent in the air. (No wonder 

 that the soldier sportsman of Aldershot — in hot youth 

 or accomplished maturity — is apt to look upon 

 Sherborne as his haven of refuge, and, when time and 

 funds admit, to flee thither from his drudgery and the 

 sandy wastes around !) The grass is deep ; but the 

 inclosures are generally small, and a galloping horse 

 has scarcely time to extend himself between his fences. 

 Thus a stout horse that is a bold strong fencer and 

 easy to turn is a better conveyance than a raking 

 steeplechaser. Young blood may perhaps often prefer 

 to be flying its fences rather than going on and off 

 them (and the banks of the Dorsetshire vale are 

 usually much too wide even to be merely "topped,^' 

 i.e., kicked back upon). But for a man who has 

 learned to like bank-jumping, and plenty of it, no 

 more pleasant arena can be found than is offered him 

 in the neighbourhood of Sherborne. 



A goodly number of most sporting farmers come 

 out with the East Dorset Hounds. Their horses are 

 probably bought when quite young from Irish droves ; 

 are soon taught to jump ; and can then hold their own 

 pretty easily, in a closely inclosed country where speed 

 and breeding are not the first essentials. On a fine 

 scenting day — no uncommon indulgence where moist 



