^Nimrod ' 



and their pace, that it would be difficult to detect the blot 

 in their pedigree. A prejudice long existed against thorough- 

 bred horses for the field, particularly such as had once been 

 trained to the course ; and in some quarters it still lingers. 

 It is argued by their opponents that the thinness of their 

 skins makes them afraid of rough blackthorn fences, and 

 that they lose their speed in soft, or what, in sporting 

 language, is termed deep ground ; also, that having been 

 accustomed from their infancy to the jockey's hand, they 

 lean upon their bits, as when in a race, and are therefore 

 unpleasant to ride. Such of them as have been long in 

 training may undoubtedly be subject to these objections, 

 and never become good and pleasant hunters ; but when 

 purchased young, and possessing strength and bone, they 

 must have many counterbalancing advantages over the 

 inferior-bred horse. So far from not making good leapers, 

 the firmness of bone and muscle peculiar to this variety of 

 the breed is prodigiously in favour of that desirable quali- 

 fication. Indeed, it has been truly said of them, that they 

 can often leap large fences when lower-bred horses cannot 

 leap smaller ones — the result of their superior wind when 

 put to a quick pace. 



Whoever wishes to see two distinct species of the horse 

 in the most perfect state, should go to Newmarket and 

 Melton Mowbray — to the former for the race-horse, to the 

 latter for the hunter. In no place upon the earth is con- 

 dition attended to with so much care, or managed with such 

 skill, as in this renowned metropolis of the fox-hunting 



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