7
Captain Phillot, 3rd Punjab Cavalry, remarks, with reference to the re-
mounts bought by him at Rawal Pindi:—
"Apparently more horses by thorough-bred sires than formerly. Horses at Fair not so well bred as at
Shahpur and Gujrat, but of a better class than Amritsar."
Colonel Egerton, Commanding Queen's Own Corps of Guides, remarking
on the Rawal Pindi Fair, states:—
"There is too much Norfolk Trotter blood and not enough thorough-bred or Arab."
33. It will therefore be seen that there is a consensus of opinion that in old
established districts where horse breeding has been carried on for some years
with the Norfolk Trotter or Hackney stallions, thorough-bred sires are impera-
tively called for; in less advanced districts, Arabs and Hackneys are required.
The success of our operations depends greatly on the Superintendents of this
Department on whom devolve the duty of allotting various classes of stal-
lions to the different districts, and I constantly urge upon them how necessary
it is to exercise the closest supervision in this important matter. At the time
of branding, each mare is allotted to the breed of horse likely to mate best with
her; this is carried out as far as possible, but it will be readily understood that
this is not always possible to carry out, especially as at some stands only one
horse is to be found, there not being work for a larger number.
34. In conclusion, it may be said that for some years at any rate, thorough-
bred sires and good Arabs must be most extensively used, but that few Hack-
neys will be required annually; these, however, must be small, compact, well-
bred horses with good bone, not tied in below the knee nor calf-kneed.
Stallions which
produce
the
most
suitable
stock for
the
Army.
35. Table V (page xiii) kindly furnished by the Director, Army Remount
Department, shows that out of a total of 438 remounts fit to be issued, 381
were actually issued and 57 were either cast as unfit or sold as undersized.
Omitting numbers of breeds which produced but a small number of remounts,
such as Australians and Turkomans (few stallions of these breeds being em-
ployed), and turning our attention to thorough-breds, Hackneys, and Arabs, we
find the following results:-
Thorough-bred English ...
Half-bred English, Norfolk
Trotters, etc ... ...
Arabs ... ...
Total
namber
issued.
48
115
44
Rejected.
8
17
16
Percentage
of rejections.
14.28
12.87
26.66
36. The above call for no remarks except the very large percentage of re-
mounts, the produce of Arabs, that were unfit to be issued. Twelve out of the
16 rejections of remounts of this class were due to the fact that they were un-
dersized.
37. This proves what I have so frequently urged, that it is useless to expect
the small Arab to produce remounts fit for British Cavalry, and therefore
it is necessary to obtain big horses of this breed; that such are obtainable with
blood combined, the Arab market proved last year, but they are expensive and
cannot be bought at the price paid for the smaller horses.
38. The percentage of horses issued, with known pedigrees, must be con-
sidered satisfactory, amounting, as it did, to 55.90. This of course would be
greater if so many were not bought from dealers who take no trouble to obtain
the foaling certificates from the breeders.
39. I consider this one of the most important sections of the horse breeding
portion of this report. I shall therefore record the opinions of the various
Superintendents employed in the Provinces where this industry prevails.
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab
states:—
"It is only necessary to see the average prices paid by the Remount Purchasing Officer for each class of
young stock, to know that much better prices are paid for well grown youngsters by thorough-bred sires than
he gets of any other stallion. In districts which have taken up the breeding movement for a long time, as for
instance Shahpur, large prices are obtained for young stock having perhaps two strains of thorough-bred,
blood. I think it will be found in the future that this class of animal will stay better, do more work, carry
condition longer, and be in every way a more suitable animal for Army purposes."