Breeding of Htcnters, 279 



horses, when he was on Assheton, of whom he fondly 

 avers, " He was the very best horse I ever had in my 

 life, or ever saw in my life!' He was a complete 

 racer to look at, and barely measured fifteen one and 

 a half ; and those who have had the pleasure of look- 

 ing round Mr. Ferneley's Melton studio will remember 

 his admirable painting of ^* The Squire" charging a 

 gate on the little horse, while the late Sir Harry 

 Goodricke (who always looked out for an odd cramped 

 place) on Doctor Russell, and Mr. Holyoake on Cross- 

 bow, are coming over the fence on each side of him. 

 Dick Burton rode him for three seasons before his 

 master took to him for three more, and he was never 

 known to tire in the longest day, or to give either of 

 them a fall. He originally belonged to the Rev. Mr. 

 Empson, who bought him from his breeder, Mr. 

 Brackenbury, in the Spilsby neighbourhood, for 200 

 guineas, and then found that he could not ride him. 

 He was always falling at his fences, and his constant 

 practice was to get rid of his groom, when he was out 

 at exercise, and jump all the white gates back to his 

 stable. Things became so bad with the two, that 

 Mr. Emerson told Dick Burton he must have a try 

 with him ; and accordingly, when the Quorn met at 

 Owthorpe Knotts next day, the little whole-coloured 

 blood bay arrived with two snaffles and a martingale 

 on. The groom had led him sixteen miles on foot 

 because he dared not get on him, and he looked 

 such a picture that Beau Brummell might have tied 

 his cravat in the reflection of his coat. Dick vowed, 

 before he mounted, that he had never yet seen 

 such a beautiful animal. Once on, he found it was 

 hopeless to try and hold him, and was obliged to 

 let him lead from end to end, over heavy plough 

 and blind fences, in a run of an hour and thirty-five 

 minutes ; and at the end of a run with a second fox 

 only a quarter of an hour less, the little horse was 

 neither " sick nor sorry." To the groom's query 



