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These 7 stallions should be carefully inspected and any that possess the
faults that should be guarded against, as before mentioned, should be got rid
of. If the State officials would like me to do so, I would inspect them when in
Mysore. Ponies to replace any of these could be purchased in Bombay at an
average of Rs. 400 to Rs. 450.
We now come to the district of Mysore itself, where it is believed the
best mares are obtainable. To commence with, 2 stallions should be bought for
breeding in this district; these should be the best that money can buy. I would
put down their cost at about Rs. 800 each. The number is fixed at 2, as that is
the number for which employment is found, but as the industry recommends itself
to the ryots and as they begin to see the advantages, and further, as castration
is extended in the district and the number of village Tats diminishes, it will
be necessary to add to the number of stallions employed.
These two stallions should be placed in two of the best centres in the dis-
trict in charge of district officials, who should be asked when on tour to preach
to the people and to point out the advantages to be derived; by their personal
influence they should ensure at least 60 mares being covered annually by each
stallion.
They should, when on tour, cause mares to be collected at different centres;
should select the best of those collected; they should then get the owners to
promise that when these mares come in season they will take them to the stal-
lion to be covered. Mares so selected should be supplied with a certificate on
the form marked A. Certificated mares to have priority of claim to the
services of the stallions.
A register should be kept of all mares covered. At the time of: covering,
the owner of the mare should be supplied with a Covering Certificate.
The Veterinary Assistant would obtain a list of mares covered during the
year previously and should ascertain the result, giving the owner of any
foal born a Produce Certificate.
The Veterinary Assistant,in addition to performing this duty, should actively
carry out castration commencing with the worst village Tats that can be found
He should be obliged to castrate all village Tats free, and should be compelled
to send a monthly diary to the Officer in charge of Pony Breeding Operations.
This diary should show the villages visited and the work done, and should have
the signature or seal of the headman of each village which he visits. To enlist
his sympathy in the work, he might be promised some reward for all colts cas-
trated over 150 annually.
The posting of stallions at certain centres is advocated rather than sending
them on tour, as the latter system has been frequently tried and found to fail.
No doubt a certain number of mares are covered when a stallion is taken on
tour, but great disappointment arises when breeders bring their mares to a stand
and find that the stallion is not present.
Breeders should be encouraged to keep their fillies, the produce of State
stallions, for breeding purposes.
When operations have been in existence for two or three years, it might
be advisable to hold a Pony Show in Mysore, somewhat on the lines of those
held in Salem and Coimbatore districts in the Madras Presidency.
The Veterinary Assistant who is proposed for service in the Pony-Breeding
Department might be sent to the Babugarh Depôt near Meerut for two or three
months to be trained; there he would be taught the management of stallions
and mares at the time of covering, &c., &c.
By the kindness of Colonel Macintyre, I was able to inspect the country-
bred horses of the Imperial Service Lancers which had been bred at the Kune-
gal Stud. Many were useful horses but I feel certain I shall be pardoned if
I express an adverse opinion on many that I saw; the fault I would find with
them is that they are too light and although Colonel Macintyre has a great
opinion of their powers of endurance, still they are not what I would describe
good troop horses likely to do well on service.