function site_form_alter(&$form, $form_state, $form_id) {
    $horizontal_form_ids = array('forward_form');

    if (in_array($form_id, $horizontal_form_ids)) {
        site_make_form_elements_hozontal(&$form);
    }
}

function site_make_form_elements_hozontal(&$form) {
    $horizontal_types = array('textfield', 'textarea');  // the #type attribute
    site_apply_attribute($form, $horizontal_types);
}


function site_apply_attribute(&$tree, $horizontal_types) {
    foreach (element_children($tree) as $key => $value) {
        if (isset($tree[$value]['#type']) && in_array($tree[$value]['#type'], $horizontal_types)) {
dsm('apply to ' . $data['#type']);
        } else if (is_array($tree[$value])) {
            site_apply_attribute($tree, $horizontal_types);
        }
    }
}