132 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



the mare I am now riding, who is only a common 

 hunter, can jump it without whip or spur in her 

 snaffle bridle.' To this they assented, as they felt 

 sure she could not accomplish the feat. I dis- 

 mounted, as I did not mean to settle the point 

 myself, and requested my neighbour, Morris, before 

 mentioned, to show the way. He thereupon 

 mounted her, took the mare round about 300 yards, 

 shook her up, set her going, and over she flew, land- 

 ing on her hind legs clear of the water, and without 

 a flaw in her stride. After this they did not venture 

 to object, with their trained steeple-chasers. I may, 

 however, mention that in the result every one of 

 the fourteen starters got into the brook, and 

 floundered about, to the amusement of the lookers- 

 on. A Mr. Goldingham got through first, on a 

 horse called ' Tough Tom,' and in the end won the 

 race. On measuring the space cleared by the mare, 

 we found it to be twenty-nine and a half feet ! 



I could easily fill a small volume with an 

 account of the splendid hunting career of this beau- 

 tiful mare, but, omitting further reference to her 

 prowess, complete my story with a description of 

 the singular illness she suffered from, and her tragical 

 end. From one cause or another, something 

 unaccountable happened to her, which was perhaps 

 unprecedented in the ills to which (horse) flesh is 

 heir. A fistulous gathering settled on the top of 

 her withers, just where the neck springs from the 

 shoulders. This became serious, and I called in an ex- 

 perienced veterinary surgeon, the eldest Mr. Lepper, 



