“to see his famous race-horse Magnolia—­a most beautiful creature.  A whole length of his was taken a while ago, (mounted on Magnolia) by a famous man from Europe on copper....  I afterwards went to his stables, where among an amazing number of horses, I saw old Nelson, now 22 years of age, that carried the General almost always during the war; Blueskin, another fine old horse next to him, now and then had that honor.  Shaw also shewed me his old servant, that was reported to have been taken, with a number of the General’s papers about him.  They have heard the roaring of many a cannon in their time.  Blueskin was not the favorite, on account of his not standing fire so well as venerable old Nelson.”

Chastellux relates, “he was so attentive as to give me the horse he rode, the day of my arrival, which I had greatly commended—­I found him as good as he is handsome; but above all, perfectly well broke, and well trained, having a good mouth, easy in hand and stopping short in a gallop without bearing the bit—­I mention these minute particulars, because it is the general himself who breaks all his own horses; and he is a very excellent and bold horseman, leaping the highest fences, and going extremely quick, without standing upon his stirrups, bearing on the bridle, or letting his horse run wild.”

As a matter of course this liking for horses made Washington fond of racing, and he not only subscribed liberally to most of the racing purses, but ran horses at them, attending in person, and betting moderately on the results.  So, too, he was fond of riding to the hounds, and when at Mount Vernon it was a favorite pastime.  From his diary excerpts of runs are,—­

“Went a Fox hunting with the Gentlemen who came here yesterday.... after a very early breakfast—­found a Fox just back of Muddy hole Plantation and after a Chase of an hour and a quarter with my Dogs, & eight couple of Doctor Smiths (brought by Mr. Phil Alexander) we put him into a hollow tree, in which we fastened him, and in the Pincushion put up another Fox which, in an hour & 13 Minutes was killed—­We then after allowing the Fox in the hole half an hour put the Dogs upon his trail & in half a Mile he took to another hollow tree and was again put out of it but he did not go 600 yards before he had recourse to the same shift—­finding therefore that he was a conquered Fox we took the Dogs off, and came home to Dinner.”

“After an early breakfast [my nephew] George Washington, Mr. Shaw and Myself went into the Woods back of Muddy hole Plantation a hunting and were joined by Mr. Lund Washington and Mr. William Peake.  About half after ten Oclock (being first plagued with the Dogs running Hogs) we found a fox near Colo Masons Plantation on little Hunting Creek (West fork) having followed on his Drag more than half a Mile; and run him with Eight Dogs (the other 4 getting, as was supposed after a Second Fox) close and well for an hour.  When the Dogs came to a fault and to cold Hunting until 20 minutes after when being joined by the missing Dogs they put him up afresh and in about 50 Minutes killed up in an open field of Colo Mason’s every Rider & every Dog being present at the Death.”