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484. Mule breeding. This industry is sufficiently popular in the State to
warrant me in thinking that if more donkeys were employed great progress might
be made. Up to the date of my visit (January 1896) 26 zemindari mares had
been brought to the home stud to be covered by the donkey. At present there
are available:—
1 Country-bred donkey kept in the State stables.
1 Country-bred donkey formerly kept at Bahadurgarh.
Five could very well be employed. I therefore recommended that 3 more
should be employed.
Nabha.
485. Horse breeding in this State remains very much in statu quo, and is
confined to the home studs. I noted, however, that an improvement had taken
place in this direction; there was not such an overwhelming preponderance
of duns and piebalds, and in fact there were many very nice mares of whole
colour.
Very few mares, the property of zemindars, are covered by the State stal-
lions. The reason assigned for this being that the greatest care is exercised in
their selection; but, as I pointed out, the stallion power is in excess of the
requirements of the State and it would be well to allow mares slightly inferior
in quality to be covered by them.
This State is wedded to country-bred stallions, and although, as I stated
last year, I am of opinion that fresh blood is required, still, these are as good as
country-bred stallions can possibly be. The Arab purchased last year is, I
regret to say, not appreciated; he lacks the high crest and the screaming pro-
pensities of the country-bred.
Mule breeding has not as yet commenced, although a donkey stallion has
been purchased.
846. The ruler of this State is most desirous to extend mule breeding in his
territory, and with this object a horse show has been started at Jaitu. It was
held this year for the second time only, and 724 horses attended; these came
from the following districts and States :—
Ferozepove district
... ...
Faridkot State
...
... ...
Patiala
„
...
...
...
Nabha
„
...
...
...
Horses.
186
64
21
17
288
Mares.
262
109
24
41
436
Total.
448
173
45
58
724
It will be seen that only a small percentage came from the State itself,
but, as stated by Veterinary Lieutenant Larnder who attended, the object in
starting this show was to induce the people of this portion of the State to take
an interest in horse breeding and to keep mares for this purpose, and I trust
that it will have the desired effect, as it is situated close to the district of
Ferozepore and the Faridkot State in which parts horse breeding flourishes.
487. I draw attention to the following extract from Veterinary Lieutenant
Larnder's report on this show. He says :—
" I saw many very useful animals possessing substance and bone; a few of which were by the following
Government stallions :—'Driver,' 'Banker,' 'Phenomenon,' 'Banynrd' and 'Claudian'; some of these
might have made useful Native Cavalry Troopers. I noticed that a horse dealer of Lahore purchased 5
of them."
I ask, is it not a matter for regret that Native Cavalry do not endeavour
to purchase all they can; certainly Remounts are not so numerous as to
warrant their missing a single opportunity, and yet we hear of 5 good remounts
reaching them through a horse dealer. I might add that I addressed the
Officers Commanding 2 Native Cavalry Regiments informing them of this
show.
Jhind.
488. This State has already made a great start in the Tehsils of Jhind and
Chakri Dadri. It will be remembered that during 1894-95, 2 Arab stallions
were supplied for the use of these Tehsils; they have already done such good
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