62
389. The Remount Agent, however, was able to secure 17 head of young
stock against 11 last year. With reference to these, Veterinary Captain Maxwell
says:—
"I am of opinion that the young stock purchased for Kurnal was the best batch of youngsters that I have
seen leave Sibi."
390. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, concludes his report
as follows:—
"It will be noticed in the remarks made by purchasing Officers that it is the general wish that the date of
the Sibi Show should be altered and put one month before the Sindh Show, so that both horses and purchasers
can go on from Sibi to Sindh and thence to the Punjab. At the Jirga held in Sibi by the Agent to the Governor
General.—Sir James Browne—this matter was placed before the Chiefs and Sirdars of Baluchistan, and discussed,
the result being that all expressed the opinion that in the interests of the Show and also in those of horse breed-
ers, the date should be altered to a month before the Sindh Show. I especially solicit the favour of your con-
sidering this matter as I believe it to be one closely affecting the future of this Show. Quetta in October, Sibi
in January, and Sindh in February, is I think the natural sequence."
391. I quite concur in the opinion expressed and will give effect to it
when fixing the dates of the various Shows to be held in India.
392. I cannot close the review of this Horse Show without recording my
very best thanks to Major MacIvor, C.I.E., for the assistance which he has given
this Department in the development of horse breeding; to him alone can be
attributed the high state of excellence which has been reached by this district
and I can only add that I greatly regret his departure.
393. The arrangements at this Show are also so good that I feel compelled
to state that for these we are indebted to Diwan Ganpat Rai, the energetic
Honorary Secretary of the Show.
BOMBAY PRESIDENCY.
Ahmednagar
Horse Show.
394. This is the only Show held in the Presidency. The total number of
entries amounted to 976 against 878 last year, showing an increase of 98.
The brood mares and young stock are reported as having been exception-
ally good.
395. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, states, with regard
to remounts:—
"A small and bad class. I am of opinion that the conditions of the Deccan are such that it will never
produce mature remounts. The very large number of young stock exhibited (219) in the yearling class, by Gov-
ernment sires, is a proof that the Deccan ryot breeds horses, but has neither the means nor appliances to keep
them after a certain age, as few 3 years olds were exhibited and they are not found in the districts. Under these
conditions. it is suggested that the Government may be pleased to consider whether it would not be advantageous
to empower the Remount Agent to buy the stock of known dams and sires at an earlier age than is at present
permitted."
"The Remount Agent purchased 10 head of young stock for the Rearing Depôt, and describes them as the
best batch yet obtained in the Deccan. He also states that they compare favourably with those bred in other
parts of India, but the prices are considerably higher."
396. Two or three points, in connection with the above extract, call for
remark:—
1st.—Age at which young stock is purchased. This is laid down at 18
months, and I would strongly recommend that young stock
should not be purchased at an earlier age.
2nd.—Ahmednagar is the only Show held in the Presidency proper; if,
therefore, the Remount Agent could only obtain 10 heads, where
he is striving his utmost to work up to the sanctioned number,
it shows but a poor return for the 39 stallions employed in the
Deccan, especially when it is taken into consideration that no
Native Cavalry Remounts were obtained.
3rd.—I was unable to be present at the last Show, but judging from the
stock I saw at that held in 1894, also from the stock I saw in the
Ahmednagar Remount Paddock, I cannot agree with the state-
ment that it compares favourably with that bred in other parts of
India.