Throughout his lifetime, George Washington enjoyed fox hunting during the fall and winter at Mount Vernon, often inviting his neighbors and business associates to join him in the sport. Slaves William (Billy) Lee and his brother Frank Lee served as huntsmen during Washington's outings, managing the hounds and directing them by means of hunting horns, such as this one, which were played with one hand while riding. The exceptional quality of this horn suggests that its maker, George Henry Rodenbostel of London, originally intended it to be played in an orchestra, rather than the forests of Virginia.