Hi
I am a 'lateral descendant' of John Peel. (I am descended from his niece Nancy Peel, who married a Todhunter). I read this site with interest. There is a decent book about the Lake District which has a chapter dedicated to Peel, I must dig it out so I can put the title on here.
I can confirm though that he did at times hunt on horseback, and his pony was called Dunny, and stood at 14hh. He would often leave Dunny for hours at a time when the terrain was too rough for the ponies to continue; and Dunny would wait patiently for his master to return. My ancestor Nancy was brought up by Peel as one of his own, and she used to hunt with him regualarly wearing a green tweed habit and rode a grey pony.
The book I mention also mentions the tale about him catching a hare single handed with a whip.
He also left the house early one morning when they were due to bury one of his sons. Naturally his family were aghast, but Peel had brought back a fox's brush, which he thought a fitting trophy for his boy's last journey.
He also was determined to attend the horse fair at Rosley while his wife was in labour with twin girls!!!
Quite the character, and I get the impression he liked a drink and was 'loud and lairy', but I think behind it all he only meant well.
Rebecca