i2 4 THE QUORN HUNT 



the close of the run a rate which no other horse in the 

 field would face. There is not, perhaps, very much data 

 to go upon, but in a great many instances we find it 

 recorded that many Leicestershire hunters, at any rate 

 up to the end of the twenties, and in some cases a 

 little later, were, comparatively speaking, ponies. Old 

 Stephen Goodall, riding something like nineteen stone, 

 would never look at a horse much over fifteen hands ; 

 Lord Jersey had three in his stable which were said not 

 to reach that height ; Lord Alvanley's best hunter is 

 reported to have been under fifteen hands one inch, and 

 other instances might be quoted. To-day, as most 

 people are aware, the ideal Leicestershire horse is not 

 under fifteen hands three inches, though of course there 

 are some exceptions ; but it is a matter of stable faith 

 that a good big one is better than a good little one, and, 

 as Whyte-Melville has remarked, when a little horse 

 gets to the end of a big run, especially under a big 

 weight, he is mentioned because he is a little one. 



On the 2 1 st January 1828 the Ouorn had a run 

 which was estimated at eighteen miles from point to 

 point, but hounds were said to have gone thirty-five 

 miles, and the time was given as two hours seventeen 

 minutes. The time may be correct, but the distance 

 certainly is not. 



Before the year 1828 had run its course the Ouorn 

 hounds made their appearance at the covert - side 

 (Mowsley) " in a new carriage invented by the Earl of 

 Southampton, and constructed at his Lordship's private 

 cost." This vehicle was sufficiently capacious to convey 

 any reasonable number of hounds to a fixture. It was 

 built by Ferneley of Thrussington, and was covered in 

 at the top with black glazed leather, with railings at the 

 side, while on the front sat the coachman, huntsman, 

 and whippers-in. This hound-van is said to have cost 

 ,£200. 



