FORM. 89 



is well-known, that a much more twisted fore-legged 

 horse could not well be seen, than the celebrated 

 Clipper, the property of the equally celebrated Mr. 

 Lindow, for many years said to be the most bril- 

 lian hunter in Leicestershire. 



But there is one portion of the fore-quarters of 

 the hunter to which a rule must be applied that 

 will not admit of an exception. He must be deep 

 in his chest or brisket — that is, from the top of the 

 withers to the elbow. Numerous are the narrow 

 but deep horses, in their " girth," as the term is, 

 that have carried heavy weights, in the first style, 

 with hounds ; but no matter how wide a horse may 

 be, if he have not depth, he cannot carry weight, 

 and is very seldom a good-winded horse, even under 

 a light man. One of the greatest compliments, 

 then, that can be paid to a hunter, at first sight, 

 is, that he appears two inches lower than he really 

 is. Such, however, is the case with horses whose 

 growth has been forced in their bodies by good 

 keep when young, and thus they come under the 

 denomination of " short-legged horses," so much 

 esteemed by hard riders. They are likewise, for 

 the most part, better leapers than such as have less 

 growth in the body, and stand upon longer legs. 



We have before observed, when speaking of the 

 race-horse, that large bone is not required in his 

 cannon or shank, (the part from knee to fetlock,) 

 neither is it in the hunter. The real power of all 

 animals is in the muscles, sinews, and tendons ; 

 and the leg best calculated to carry weight and 

 endure to a good old age, is that in which the bone 



