Munnings moved to Castle House, Dedham in 1919 and soon developed a friendship with Frank Girling, a local farmer and landowner who was then living at New House Farm, Little Bromley about five miles distance from Dedham. Frank had a strong interest in horses, photography and art, and therefore it seemed natural that the two men would develop a rapport. Frank would often drive Munnings to Newmarket to watch the horses exercising and perhaps this work was painted during one of these visits.

Horses at exercise on Warren Hill, Newmarket, early morning forms part of a series of works that Munnings executed during the 1940s and 50s of racehorses at exercise. He was fascinated with the movement of the animals and the play of light on their coats at sunrise. A number of similar oil sketches, as well as pencil drawings, of the same subject are in the collection of The Munnings Art Museum.

Over the years Frank Girling built up a strong collection of Modern British art including works by Augustus John, Henry Lamb, Cedric Morris, Walter Sickert, Philip Wilson Steer as well as by Munnings, and after his death part of the collection was donated to The Minories in Colchester. Girling and Munnings were regular correspondents and much of their correspondence has since been donated to The Munnings Art Museum.

We are grateful to the Curatorial staff at The Munnings Art Museum for their assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.