1870-71.] BIG HORSES VERSUS LITTLE ONES. 5 



this added to the other requirements we have spoken of, can hope 

 to meet with few of their like again. Blood, of com'se, has a great 

 voice in the matter ; and so we repeat, get as much as you can, 

 so long as it is not at the expense of bone and size. But if you 

 could obtain a clean thoroughbred with all the other qualities 

 above enumerated, you M'ould have a horse fit to win the Derby 

 at once. No animal is perfect, so we have only touched upon 

 the leading features of our beau ideal; but, though much 

 has been omitted that would be necessary to constitute per- 

 fection, a horse fulfilling all the conditions we have given 

 would be quite as near it as anything we have ever seen in 

 Ijeicestershire. 



BIG HORSES VERSUS LITTLE ONES. 



January 28th, 1871. 

 A FEW words in answer to the letter of the " Practical Man " 

 from the provinces, which appeared in the Field of Januarj- 

 •2lKt, 1871. The remarks evidently emanated from one as 

 experienced as practical ; but, with regard to the first point 

 on which he touches, he must allow us to remove a miscon- 

 ception. Let us assure him that we neither hold with the 

 oft-repeated sentiment of Col. Greene, who, when asked if he 

 had ever ridden in Yorkshire, replied in horror, "What, hunt 

 in a ploughed country! Sooner read a book ! " nor do we follow 

 Mr. Davenport Bromley, who " counts the swell provincial lower 

 than the Melton mufi"." We speak not disparagingly of the 

 provinces, nor slightingl}' of the man who hails from them. 

 On the contrary, we look upon the plough countries as having 

 been created for a double purpose — viz., as a nursery for youth 

 and a refuge for old age. All the best sportsmen here learnt the 

 art of hunting far away from ]Melton, and onl^^ after a novitiate in 

 the provinces came to break a lance in the tilting ground of the 

 Shires. Naturally enough, a man in the heyday of his strength 



