He loved the fresh open-air existence of the woods and fields, and there he found his one great amusement.

He shot and fished, but did not care much for these pursuits, for his hobby was hunting, which gratified at once his passion for horses and dogs and his love for the strong excitement of the chase, when dashed with just enough danger to make it really fascinating.

He showed in his sport the same thoroughness and love of perfection that he displayed in everything else.

His stables were filled with the best horses that Virginia could furnish.

There were the "blooded coach-horses" for Mrs.
Washington's carriage, "Magnolia," a full-blooded Arabian, used by his owner for the road, the ponies for the children, and finally, the high-bred hunters Chinkling and Valiant, Ajax and Blueskin, and the rest, all duly set down in the register in the handwriting of the master himself.