88 THE HUNTER. 



The position of the fore-legs of the hunter ad- 

 mits of more latitude than that of his hinder ones, 

 or indeed of any other part of his frame. We have 

 seen brilliant hunters standing in all positions and 

 postures as regards their fore-legs. Some very 

 much over the knees — that is, with the knees bent 

 and projecting outward ; many upon very twisted 

 fetlocks, turning the toes out ; and a few, though 

 only a few, turning the toes in. In the human 

 frame, a certain squareness in the position of the 

 feet is consistent with strength, as we see in the 

 statues of Hercules, but the lightness of a Mercury 

 is indicated by the direction of the toe outwards. 

 This is, to a certain extent, the case with the 

 horse. Although, if measured by the standard of 

 perfection, his toe is required to be in a direct line 

 with the point of his shoulder, yet we have seen 

 and heard of some of the speediest and best racers 

 and hunters, the position of whose fore-feet have 

 deviated considerably from this supposed essential 

 line ; but the inclination of the toe outwards is so 

 common in horses used for these purposes, that it 

 can scarcely be called a fault. Indeed, some per- 

 sons argue, that a leg so placed afibrds a broader 

 base to the superincumbent weight, than when 

 quite in a line with the shoulder — that is, provided 

 the twist arises from the fetlock, and not from the 

 settins: on of the arm at the shoulder. Be this as 

 it may, we are well assured that, provided the 

 hinder legs and quarters are good, a hunter will 

 admit of a considerable deviation from the true line 

 in the fore-legs, and carry his rider brilliantly. It 



