3-021-530 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Horse Show at the Agricultural Hall: the fence and water jumping, 1869. 'The most amusing performance was that of the water jump. It was a shallow pool of muddy water, like a piece of a wide ditch, with a low slanting hurdle on the taking-off side of the leap. To the right and to the left hand of this obstacle the line of barrier was diversified by other fences, consisting of hurdles stuffed and topped with furze; in some places there was a double fence of this kind. They were arranged by the directors and executive officials of the Horse Show, with the aid of Mr. Anstruther Thomson, Captain Percy Williams, and other gentlemen of sporting experience. The master of the East Sussex hounds was first over the water jump, but none took it in such good style as Mr. Payne, a well-known rider in the Grafton Hunt, upon Mr. Beasley's chestnut, Valentine. There were several tumbles; but nobody was killed or suffered the fracture of a bone, though some of the falls were bad for man and horse. A little white or piebald pony, which took everything that came in its way, made much fun'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.