74
In order to discourage the dealer as much as possible, it was also decided to
restrict the competition in remount classes to animals purchased from bonâ fide
breeders, and to prevent dealers from taking part in such competitions.
In connection with the remount classes, it was further decided that the
competition in these classes should take place as scon as the majority of the
purchasers intimated to the Secretary of a horse show that they had finished
their purchases.
By this, remounts are not detained at shows longer than is necessary and
breeders of remounts are not debarred from competition as was frequently the
case.
Judging of the
Remount class.
266. Complaints are made by District Officers that Purchasing Officers re-
move the remounts bought at shows, without giving the Judging Committee an
opportunity of having them brought before them. There can now be no excuse
for their doing so, as arrangements have been made and all District Officers,
with one exception, have been solicitous to give effect to the new system by
which remounts are judged at any time that is most convenient to the majority
of the Purchasing Officers. This should obviate all difficulties. It is, of course,
very essential that breeders, who keep their stock to a proper age, should derive
the benefits of the money awarded for prizes in the remount class, but still,
it was necessary to guard the interests of the Native Cavalry and to ensure their
not being put to any extra expense by having to keep their remounts at the
show longer than was necessary. The. careful carrying out of the new order
will meet the case.
The exception alluded to above, as being the only one in which the new
order was disregarded, occurred in Jacobabad in Sindh ; here the remounts
purchased by the Remount Agent were detained, not only to allow them to be
judged, but also to be paraded with the prize winners. The matter, being one
of serious moment, affecting, as it did, not only the Purchasing Officer but also
the breeder, the case was reported to the Government of Bombay, who have
directed the attention of officers concerned to the wishes of the Government of
India on the subject, and have requested them to carefully observe the rules
laid down.
Prizes for Re-
mounts
at
Horse Fairs &
Shows.
267. During the year under review, effect has been given to the new rule
that prizes for remounts at horse shows are to be reserved for breeders, and that
such as have been purchased from dealers are not allowed to compete. I feel
convinced that this alteration will do much to induce the breeders to keep their
young stock to that age at which it will be fit for remounts. Discretionary
power has to be given to Judging Committees to decide whether exhibitors
should be allowed to compete or not, as frequently zemindars, and this is speci-
ally the case in the North-Western Provinces, purchase young stock and rear
it. These men, although not breeders in the literal sense of the word, should
be encouraged, and are not the class of exhibitors whom it is sought to prevent
from competing in the remount class. It is the dealer proper, who puchases
a full-grown horse from a zemindar with a view of selling it on the first oppor-
tunity, that we wish to discourage.
At no shows attended by the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, were any objections raised to the working of the new rule, except at that
one held at Jacobabad in Sindh. Here, the Bombay Government, advised by
the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, issued a Resolution to the effect that the proposed change in Notes 3 and
4 of the rules for the guidance of Judging Committees need not be made
applicable to the Sindh horse show.
This decision has been arrived at on the grounds that the alteration would
interfere with the trade in Northern horses, but as the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, states that the main object of the dealer in attending
a show is to sell and not with a view of competing for prizes, or in any way to
interfere with the legitimate local breeder, I fail to see how the introduction of
the new rule would in any way interfere with the Northern Horse Trade.