^Nimrod ' 



with a fine commanding frame, considerable length of 

 neck, a slight curve in his crest, which was always high 

 and firm, and the head beautifully put on. Possessing 

 these advantages, in addition to the very great pains taken 

 with his mouth in the bitting, and an excellent education 

 in the school or at the bar, he was what is termed a 

 complete snaffle-bridle horse, and a standing as well as a 

 flying leaper. Held well in hand — his rider standing up in 

 the stirrups, holding him fast by the head, making the best 

 of, and being able, from the comparatively slow rate at 

 which hounds then travelled, to pick or choose his ground 

 — such a horse would continue a chace of some hours* 

 duration at the pace he was called upon to go, taking his 

 fences well and safely to the last ; and he would frequently 

 command the then large sum of one hundred guineas. But 

 all these accomplishments would never have enabled a 

 horse of this description to carry the modern sportsman, 

 who rides well up to hounds, on a good scenting day, over 

 one of our best hunting countries. His strength would 

 be exhausted before he had gone ten minutes, by the in- 

 creased pace at which he would now be called upon to 

 travel, but to which his breeding would be quite unequal ; 

 and his true symmetry, his perfect fencing, his fine mouth, 

 and all his other points^ would prove of very little avail. If 

 ridden close to the hounds, he would be powerless and 

 dangerous before he had gone across half a dozen Leicester- 

 shire enclosures. 



The increased pace of hounds, and that of the horses 



135 



