40
The Deputy Commissioner states that this is an improvement on past years,
and with reference to the prizes offerred for the remount class, adds:—
" Two prizes only were given to the owners of the remounts purchased by Fateh Mohammed for
the 8th Bengal Cavalry, the other three purchased by Mangal Singh of the 3rd Bengal Cavalry were
at once removed by that officer, so that no. prizes could be awarded."
146. I shall have to draw attention, when making general remarks on horse
shows held in India, to the difficulties experienced in getting remounts judged
or in obtaining the necessary information from Remount Officers.
Lahore Horse
Show.
147. This show was held on 29th and 30th March 1895, and as far as the
quality of exhibits is concerned, was far better than former years.
148. The total number of animals present was 919, being an increase of 149
on last year; the number that competed for prizes was also 64 greater. This is
encouraging, but the quality of the brood stock was to my mind the most pro-
mising feature of the show. The branded mare and filly classes filled well,
and a finer lot than entered the ring could not be desired. The origin of these
mares can be clearly traced to two stud-bred sires that were located in this dis-
trict some years ago.
149. Last year but two remounts were purchased at this show. On this
occasion, 7 were bought by the Remount Agent and 8 by an officer of the 9th
Bengal Lancers. This is most encouraging, especially as on this point, the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, states :—
"Many horses of course find their way eventually to Kurnal or Hapur Depôts, and also to the
ranks of Native Cavalry, through the hands of Lahore dealers, who purchase in the district
throughout the year."
150. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, and the Deputy-
Commissioner of the district, both recommend an increase in the amount awarded
as prizes from Imperial funds. I fully agree with their recommendations, and.
consider that it will be advisable, in future, to abolish a number of small shows.
and to endeavour to encourage good ones, such as Lahore. I shall endeavour
to give effect to these recommendations when allotting the amount sanctioned
for prizes during the year 1895-96.
151. The President of the Judging Committee, Major Gordon, 19th Bengal
Lancers, reports as follows with reference to the brood stock and remounts :—
" The show of branded mares of various ages was in every way excellent; the mares were
mostly fine big roomy animals well adapted for producing serviceable remounts for the various
branches of the mounted service, and the excellent condition in which they were shown bears
evidence to the interest evinced by owners in this industry.
" Similar remarks apply to the branded fillies and 4-year olds, of which 36 competed; the
winners were excellent specimens of their class.
" In fillies out of branded mares by Government stallions, 40 were shown, and though perhaps,
these hardly reached the standard of excellence obtained by the two former classes, still there was
nothing to find fault with, and many of those exhibited should make very good mares to breed"
from.
" In the remount class there were only two purchasing officers present, Captain Birdwood for
the Army Remount Department, and Major Dawson for the 9th Bengal Lancers, As only horses
that have been actually purchased can compete in this class, the total number brought before the
judges was small—7 for the Army Remount Department, and 8 for the Native Cavalry. Captain
Birdwood's young stock (7) should develop into useful remounts for the British mounted service,
and Major Dawson purchased 8 very useful and nice looking remounts at what must, in these days,
be considered a moderate price, the average being about Rs. 390. Had more purchasing officers
been present, it seems possible that more serviceable remounts might have been found."
And on the question of remounts, the Deputy Commissioner remarks that
the show would be more successful even than it is if it were possible to induce
breeders not to part with their young stock to dealers who scour the district in
their search for. suitable horses for Native States and other purposes. The
dearth of purchasing officers at the show, year after year, is partly responsible
for this, as breeders are thus forced to treat with dealers.
This, taken in connection with Major Gordon's remark that had more pur-
chasing officers been present it seems possible that more serviceable remounts
might have been found, is very disappointing. It would appear that Native
Cavalry visit Lahore readily to purchase from dealers but will not attend
centres, such as the horse show, where they could buy direct from the breeder.