164 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



and on the principle that a motion always requires 

 to be seconded, another example can be given to 

 show that such weird creatures are still to the 

 fore. Dr. Wilson, of Kirkby Overblow, in York- 

 shire, has been kind enough to write me this 

 letter, concerning a horse he lately had in his 

 possession : — 



''March 26, 1905. 



" Dear Sir, — In answer to your inquiry about 

 the horse with five feet, I had one (but sold him 

 about nine years ago) which had a large scar on 

 one fore fetlock, extending down into the hoof 

 in the form of a large fissure, which was said to 

 be where a fifth foot had been growing when 

 foaled. This horse my predecessor here had 

 bought from T. Seeker, the vet. at Borobridge, 

 so I suppose this account would be true. The 

 scar was on the inner aspect of the off foreleg, 

 and the foot was slightly contracted. The pastern 

 was rather upright, and the fetlock joint a little 

 stiff, so that if he galloped putting that foot to 

 the ground first, he shook you a little. He was 

 a very good hunter, and a sound, hard horse. 



" I lost sight of him about four years ago, and 

 suppose he must be now dead, as he was an old 

 horse when I knew him." 



I feel quite thankful that, when I followed the 

 occupation of a trainer, no owner had the temerity 

 to send a horse with nearly as many legs as a 

 centipede to be trained ! Those with only the 

 normal number of four legs caused quite enough 

 anxiety, but if a few of them had resembled 

 Creeping Jenny the strain would have been too 

 much for any peaceful man ! 



