6
up the present stamp of mare; this read in connection with the remark made by
the Superintendent, North Punjab, to the effect that he is greatly in favour of the
Arab being used for the small and pure country bred mares of the Frontier
till a large breed is produced, confirms the opinion which I have always held
that we must, when dealing with the indigenous mare of the country, first
cross her with Arabs, then when we obtain a cross sufficiently large, the
Hackney can be brought in, but that too long a continuance of Hackney
strains will lead to the production of a class of horse totally unfitted for mili-
tary purposes; then it is that the Thoroughbred or big-boned Arab sire is
called for.
In Baluchistan, I am of opinion that but few, if any, Hackneys should
be employed. In this part of the country we have a class of mare in every
way calculated to throw good remounts when crossed with Thoroughbreds
or big Arabs, and I consider that it would be bad policy to introduce any
coarse blood.
The demand for Thoroughbred English and Arab sires is much greater
than the supply, but this year it is hoped that 14 Thoroughbreds will be
received for Northern India by importation from England, and that 6 Aus-
tralian Thoroughbreds will also be received. This number added to 13 Arabs
that will be purchased during the year will go far to satisfy the demands made
by the various horse breeding centres.
Stallions which
produce
the
most
suitable
stock for
the
Army.
17. Table V (page xiii). It was stated in last year's report that the
statistics contained in the Table could not be supplied by the various Superin-
tendents as they were unable to visit the Dep6ts on every occasion when re-
mounts were issued, and even if they did, this would give no idea of the
number of rejections. The information can only be supplied by the Remount
Department and the Director of that Department has kindly furnished the
statistics contained in this Table. It will be seen that 492 remounts were fit
to be issued, and that of this number, 37 or 7.5 per cent. were either cast as
unfit or sold as undersized.
The percentage of remounts issued with known pedigrees must be consi-
dered satisfactory. The percentage of those noted as unknown being only:
22 per cent. at Ahmednagar.
22.4 per cent. at Kurnal.
At Hapur, the percentage of such is rather high, standing as it does, at
46 per cent.
Country-bred
remounts.
Number pur-
chased:—
18. Table VI (page xv) will show that 2,330 remounts were purchased
during the year. The following will show the number obtained during the
past 3 years:—
Bengal
Bombay
...
...
...
...
Imperial Service Troops
TOTAL
...
...
...
...
1892-93.
1,832
351
...
2,183
1893-94.
1,972
343
102
2,417
1894-95.
1,573
656
101
2,330
The numbers shown as purchased by the Imperial Service Troops do not,
I feel certain, represent the actual number of country-breds obtained for the
different Native States, but the Inspector-General, Imperial Service Troops,
has kindly promised in future to submit a Roll of all such horses bought by
the various Inspecting Officers or by those subordinate to them.
The increase in Bombay is mainly accounted for by the great number of
remounts stated to have been purchased for the Police in Sindh, viz., 222.
From the report received from the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, there is nothing to show where the 656 remounts obtained from the
Bombay Presidency were bought, but from the number of purchases made at
the Horse Shows in Sindh, it is presumed that the majority are obtained in
that province.