IMPROVEMENT IN CROSS-COUNTRY HORSES. 233 
prices given for hunters and steeplechase horses, which must 
tend to improve their breed and consequently their qualities 
in the same ratio as a similarly enhanced value has improved 
our thoroughbred horses. I may therefore fairly assume that 
our horses have made progressive improvement, and are now 
better than at any other period of their history; and that 
we may congratulate ourselves on the happy and complete 
success that has followed the indomitable pluck, skill, and 
energy of breeders of the thoroughbred. 
a 
