During the 1930s, Seago met one of his most influential patrons, Henry Mond, 2nd Lord Melchett (1898 –1949) a British politician, industrialist and financier, as well as an art connoisseur.

During their friendship, Seago was invited to numerous social events at the Melchett family estate, Woodfalls, where he encountered notable figures such as George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, and Augustus John. Lord Melchett’s support provided Seago with financial stability and encouragement to expand his artistic interests and in return Seago painted several portraits of his patron, including one in 1935 of him ready for the Tedworth Hunt.

It is very likely that Brigadier-General Robert Hughes, a close friend of Lord Melchett, would have seen the Tedworth portrait and commissioned Seago to paint one of him (the present work), near his home of Ilsley Hall, into which he had moved in 1930, after his retirement as Director of the Nigerian Civil Service.

The scene depicts Robert Hughes changing horses during a hunt on the North Wessex Downs, near to Ilsley, now East Ilsley, West Berkshire – as seen by the signpost on the left. His mount, its energy spent is perfectly captured by Seago, slick with sweat and steam rising from its body, its warm breath coming from its muzzle. On the right a groom tightens the girth of a fresh hunter ready for the off.

In the distance, a steam train is running along the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (DN&SR) – this was a single-track rail line that connected Didcot, Newbury, and Winchester and was the last major mainline railway to be built in the United Kingdom.

It appears that Seago has drawn much inspiration from his mentor Sir Alfred Munnings – not only in the use of thick, impasto paint, as well as the slightly swirling brush marks used for the tree on the far right, but also the subject of the image is very similar to that of Munning’s work from 1920, Changing horses, which depicts his wife standing between two horses, during a hunt.

In the distance, a steam train is running along the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway (DN&SR) - this was a single-track rail line that connected Didcot, Newbury, and Winchester and was the last major mainline railway to be built in the United Kingdom.

It is likely that Seago has drawn much inspiration from his mentor Sir Alfred Munnings - not only in the use of thick, impasto paint, as well as the slightly swirling brush marks used for the tree on the far right, but also the subject of the image is very similar to that of Munning's work from 1920, Changing horses, which depicts his wife standing between two horses, during a hunt.