50
mares existed, and considering that in last year's Annual Administration Re-
port fears were expressed that this show would have to be closed, it is doubly
gratifying to find that no such fear need now be entertained. This is entirely
due to the interest shown by Captain Douglas, the Deputy Commissioner, to
whom the thanks of this Department are due for the successful Show held this
year.
301. There were 986 animals present as compared with 680 in 1894-95.
For the last five years the figures are as follows :—
1891-92 ... ... ... ...
1892-93 ... ... ... ...
1893-94 ... ... ... ...
1894-95 ... ... ... ...
1895-96 ... ... ... ...
642
836
867
680
986
386 animals competed for prizes as against 121 last year.
302. The Deputy Commissioner in his report, states:—
" These totals show a sensible improvement in the prospects of horse breeding in Jhang and indicate that
animals are still in the district, and with care and attention on the part of the Local Bodies, there is no reason
why the Jhang district should not recover the prominent position it once held with regard to horse breeding."
303. In the branded mare classes, 84 competed against 45 last year: these
are reported by the President, Special Judging Committee, as "good material to
work on and of a better stamp than at either Bannu or Dera Ismail Khan."
The young stock was neither numerous nor good, although it was well kept.
304. Two healthy signs at this Show were:—
(a) The increase in the number of geldings; last year only one was ex-
hibited, on this occasion 20 competed for prizes.
(b) The increase in the number of mules exhibited, viz., 24 against 13
last year.
305. The horse breeding medal was well competed for and fell to Mr. A.
Broadway of Garh Maharaja who, however, generously ceded his right to the
second competitor, Humayun Zaildar Bharwana Syal. His also was a very
fine collection of brood mares and young stock consisting, as it did, of:—
7 branded mares covered by Government stallions.
3 branded fillies.
1 mare covered by donkey stallion.
1 gelding by Government stallion.
306. The President, Special Judging Committee, remarks on the superiority
of the grey mares in this district in the following terms:—
"The number of grey horses shown was not abnormally large and personally I am somewhat prejudiced
against the color, which is a bad one for remounts. It is therefore curious that greys took so large a proportion
of prizes. A prize of Rs. 100 from District .Funds to the five best horses of the Show was divided among five
grey mares."
307. This confirms the opinion which I have so often expressed that the
best indigenous mares are greys. Of course by constant crosses with stallions of
good whole colors, grey horses are fast disappearing from districts where Gov-
ernment stallions are extensively used, still I do not think that any animal has
such powers of endurance as the grey country-bred. In accordance with the
orders of the Government of India, I am not refusing grey Arabs when of good
quality, and some of the best bought in the Bombay market this year were
of that color.
308. The zemindars having expressed a wish to be supplied with better
stallions, one good stallion of each of the following classes has been sent to this
district. Thorough-bred English, Hackney, and Arab; and I trust that we have
now heard the last of the decadence of horse breeding in the Jhang district.