Evening star., 1934-11-04

the Quorn. Pytchley, Cottesmore, ETC.,
it is necessary to own a string Of the
best performers to carry you. A man
who does not jump should hunt with
provincial packs. This does not mean
that the man whose jumping days are
over is not sportsman or knows moth
ing of ox-hunting-often completely
the reverse. He may know more about
it than most Of those galloping and
jumping!
THERE will always be two types Of fox
hunters-the man who hunts for the
sport and the man who hunts to ride.
The former knows all there is to know
about fox-hunting, but is not thrust
er," but the latter often knows nothing of
the science of fox catching and thinks
only of the number of fences he has
Jumped! The perfect fox hunter takes
his fences as they come, rides straight,
always has an eye on the pack and
knows at all times what the hounds are
doing.
But what sort of Jumps" asks the
novice, do we have to face-let US say,
with the Pytchley, Grafton and Whad-
don Chase? Do we find banks like the
Blackmore Vale country-or stone walls.
perhaps?"
will try to answer the question.
None of the best hunting countries Of
England is fiat, especially in Leicester
shire and Northamptonshire. In the
midlands we have almost all undulating
land to ride over, and every description
of obstacle occurs, from quite easy flying
fences to solid -and-laid, strong tim
Der or uncut bullfinches. This last type
Is less frequent than formerly. A bull
finch is an uncut fence. allowed to grow
to its full height, sometimes 8 to 3
feet. The lower part of which is more
solid and has to be jumped clean, but
2 or feet from the top it may be brushed
through.
In the old days, on either side OF
this there was an ox-rail about feet
from the fence itself, to keep the cattle
in, but nowadays only the upright posts
are left, the wire which Is stretched
from post to post in the Summer being
taken down when fox-hunting COM
mences. Occasionally awkward bot
toms" have to be negotiated, and for
these a clever horse is wanted-one who
will Jump of his hooks at steady pace.
The Fernie country, just south OF the
Quorn, in parts is rather bigger country
to Jump, although much smaller In area.
Unfortunately, a few years ago there was
a good deal of wire left during the sea-
son, most of which was unmarked, but
I believe that lately most Of this night
mare of hunting has been taken down.
Below the Fernie country we have the
Pytchley; this and the Quorn are the
two most fashionable countries, but In
the Pytchley there are many more uncut
bullfinches. Both of these packs have
very large fields" always out with them.
The adjoining Cottesmore, although
equally good to ride over, is not quite so
fashionable.
DRECTLY south of the Pytchley is the
- Grafton, with some Of the stiffest
fences in England. The best possible
horse is needed to carry one over 1t in
safety. The chief feature, as far as
humping IS concerned, IS the great
strength Of its eut-and-laid fences and
The five-foot-deep bitches, which-to our
nndoing-are often found on both sides
n them.
remember galloping down at one OF
these strong double -ditched fences one
day between Ted Lyon and Pudding"
Williams, both, alas! now ex-masters and
hard men to hounds Hounds had Just