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324. The branded fillies and fillies of two and three years of ageare very
highly spoken of by the Judging Committee, also by the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, who describes them as shapely with bone and qua-
lity; this augurs well for the district if the present interest is only maintained.
325. Castration, I am glad to see, is progressing in this district, 64
geldings competed.
326. Remounts.- A marked improvement is noticeable this year, for whilst
only eight were obtainable last year for Native Cavalry, 11 were obtained for
this Branch of the service, 14 for Imperial Service Troops, 7 mules for Com-
missariat and Transport Department, and one was purchased by the Remount
Agent for British Cavalry.
327. Whilst attending this show I noticed the stock of one particular stal-
lion to be exceedingly bad. He evidently is a good foal-getter, as some of his
stock was to be seen in nearly every class, and so bad was it that it could be
picked out by its shape and color. Considering that such a horse should not be
allowed to cover mares, I ordered him to be castrated and sold. The horse's
name was " Venturesome " a Norfolk Trotter, and although he was a small
compact horse still he was totally wanting in breeding and had a very short
thick neck with heavy shoulders.
Rawalpindi
Horse Fair.
328. Held nominally from the 2nd to 4th April, but virtually com-
menced on 18th March 1896. I specially note this as it may in a measure
account for the failure of the Fair.
329. Taken altogether this Fair was most disappointing, as when the Judg-
ing Committee assembled on the day appointed, it was found that for a large
Fair as this usually is, there were comparatively speaking, few horses to judge.
For although the numbers that attended and that competed for prizes are said
to have been much the same as last year, still there were but few horses on the
show ground.
330. A dead set was made by the dealers who bought up all the young stock
possible and removed them to Serais. This evidently was done with a view of
cornering the Remount Department; this will account for the fact that only
one head of young stock was bought by the Remount Agent, and although
many of these youngsters bought at Rawalpindi by the dealers were afterwards
purchased at Amritsar by the Remount Agent, still, this must result in a loss
to the breeder and to Government.
331. One dealer bought 27 horses and young stock and 8 mules, but in addi-
tion to these, 40 mules and 22 horses were despatched to Amritsar before the Fair
was advertized to commence, viz., from 27th March to 1st April 1896. This
led me to ask the Deputy Commissioner to confine the Fair to 4 days, and also
to ask the Director, Army Remount Department, to notify to Deputy Commis-
sioners the date on which Remount Agents will arrive and the number of young
stock that he will be prepared to purchase; if such notices are widely circu-
lated next year, it will put a stop to the complaints made by the zemindars,
who are led astray by false reports circulated by the dealers, either to the effect
that the Remount Agent will not attend the fair or that he will only buy a
few horses.
332. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, reports as fol-
lows:—
"The stock exhibited was of very fair quality though I am still of opinion that more thoroughbred blood
is required in the district; the Norfolk Trotter strain being in many cases rather too much in evidence. The
breeders, without exception, desire thoroughbred sires and make every kind of excuse in order to get the Norfolk
Trotters removed from the stands."
This opinion is borne out by Captain Phillott, 3rd Punjab Cavalry, and
Colonel Egerton, Commanding Queen's Own Corps of Guides, who both state
that there is too much Trotter blood and not enough Arab or thoroughbred.
Every endeavour will be made to rectify this fault by transferring the
Norfolk Trotters to districts where they have not been used for such a length
of time.
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