A chestnut Hunter held by a Groom in a Stable Yard

This painting was possibly commissioned whilst Herring was living on the estate of William Taylor Copeland (1797-1868), the porcelain manufacturer, M.P. for Stoke on Trent and Lord Mayor of London in 1835. Copeland also owned racehorses, which were trained in Staffordshire by Joseph Parlby at Berry Hill Farm, and a stud at Russell Farm, Watford, Hertfordshire.
After moving to London from Newmarket in 1833, Herring found himself in financial difficulties and, in 1839/40, Copeland invited him to live in a house on his estate at Leyton, Essex. Copeland commissioned many pictures from Herring, including some hunting designs used on his Copeland Spode transfer printed wares.