83
A very great number of stallions are employed. At my first visit to the
State, I saw 17; amongst which were Arabs, Thoroughbred English, Half -
breds, Thoroughbred Australians, and Norfolk Trotters, besides 16 country-
breds. These horses are used for various purposes when required. The
stallions cover very few mares, the property of Jagirdars ; they are kept
to cover mares at Jodhpore belonging to polo, racing, carriage stables, and in
addition to this, 104 mares, belonging to the regiments, Imperial Service
Troops, have been covered.
I recommended the State to allot only a certain number of stallions for
stud purposes and to keep them for this alone. This would ensure the selection
of only good sires and the elimination of all badly shaped and unsound ones.
In addition to the horse breeding operations at Jodhpore, the State owns
a stud farm at Pali at which 120 mares are kept; here their produce, as well
as that foaled at Jodhpore, are reared This stud farm has, however, suffered
great loss from Surra which will be alluded to elsewhere; so great indeed has
been the loss, that I am informed that the location of this stud has had to be
changed.
District Mares.—Both jagirdars and zemindars keep very good mares and
are very fond of breeding. Arab stallions are kept at 15 of the 22 pergunnahs.
It will therefore be seen that the State of Jodhpore is capable of producing a
number of horses, and I can only add that the more it can produce the better,
for the demand for horses in this State is very great; maintaining, as it does,
2 regiments of Imperial Service Cavalry. Of these 1,200 horses, only 300
are obtained from the State.
A Horse Show was held in March, at which 854 horses competed for the
Rs. 1,000 kindly allotted by the State for prizes. The best class was that of
riding horses and mares for Native Cavalry.
Colonel Elliott, 1st Bombay Lancers, was President of the Judging Com-
mittee, and in consultation with him it was decided to make certain recommend
ations for the improvement of the horse show to be held next year.
I would beg to tender my best thanks to Maharajah Sir Pertab Singh for
the kindness shewn to me and for his desire to extend horse breeding in the
State.
EASTERN STATES OF RAJPUTANA.
Dholpur.
286. But little breeding is carried on in this State, which keeps two stal-
lions for the purpose of covering zemindari mares, but at present only 20 are
covered annually ; more, however, are said to be available for breeding purposes.
The two stallions not being considered in any way fittted for stud purposes,
the Maharana, who is a great lover of horses and one of the best judges of
Arabs, was asked to allot two of the Arabs in his private stables, of which he
owns a very great number, for stud purposes.
A hopeful sign in this State is that a horse show has been held for the
past 2 years, and the Dewan states that he is of opinion that when the Show
becomes better known, there will not only be an increase in the number of
horses atttending, but that there will also be an improvement in the quality.
The latter point will be gained if good stallions are furnished for the use of the
mares in the district.
Bhurtpore.
287. Ten stallions are kept for stud purposes, but not one is in any way fit
for the work. These cover about 30 mares annually, the property of the State,
and about an equal number of mares, the property of the zemindars. The latter
number would, however, be greatly increased if good stallions were kept, as the
zemindars frequently take their mares to Ulwar to be covered.
A rearing depôt exists at Biani at which 45 head of stock are said to be
present; time, I regret to say, did not allow my visiting the run.