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CHAPTER XV. 

 THE SHIRES AND THEIR FENCES. 



FOR pleasant riding we require light " going," which we 

 obtain best on turf; and for good hunting we need an 

 enclosed country, fairly stiff fences, and a sufficiency of coverts 

 and woods, which should not be too large. Although grass 

 is the ideal material for galloping on, we must not forget that 

 the light plough which almost entirely replaces pasture in 

 Essex, rides light and holds scent admirably. Hounds of the 

 modern type are more apt to run away from horses in an open 

 country, than among fences, which stop hounds more than 

 hunters, supposing that the obstacles are jumpable. Captain 

 King-King reminds me that " in down countries there are no 

 fences, and a fox is viewed away from gorse coverts ; but he 

 is soon out of sight. I consider the pace of a fox and that of a 

 hound to be about equal ; the former for choice. I have never 

 known a fox, unless a cripple or heavy vixen, absolutely 

 coursed down ; though I have seen plenty which have been 

 found on moorland, get a start of only a few yards. Of 

 course I am not counting foxes which are chopped. It is 

 marvellous how a fox can break view on an open plain, and 

 bring the hounds to their noses. We may see him going 

 on, but they can't. The slightest inequality of ground is 

 enough for him. In 1863, I saw an hour and twenty minutes 

 with the Vine, and a kill in the open, with not one fence. All 

 this was over downs. On Exmoor and Dartmoor there are 

 practically no fences, but no countries hold better or keener 



