46
185. The following remounts were purchased:—
2nd Regiment, Central India Horse, nine, at an average cost of R255.
Indore Imperial Service Lancers, nine, at an average of R235.
Jeypore Transport Train purchased six ponies.
All the Native Officers purchasing at this Show remark on the falling off and
recommend a return to the old regimè.
Batesar Horse Fair.
186. This Fair was held from 25th November to 4th December 1898.
This, as I have said for some years past, is purely a dealers' Fair, and owing
to its difficulty of approach, it is fast being supplanted by Meerut. Large
numbers of animals were present, but the statistics are never very reliable.
The Tehsildar reports 7,200 horse and 891 mule stock against 4,220 and 450,
respectively, last year.
187. Owing to the fact that many of the Purchasing Officers- last year
remarked that but little encouragement was given to dealers to bring in
remounts, it was decided to offer prizes for this class. The sum of R200 was
allotted from Provincial Funds; of this amount only R115 was awarded.
188. In all, 116 remounts were purchased for Native Cavalry, Imperial
Service Troops, and Police. This number is only eight short of last year.
The average prices paid were:—
Native Cavalry . . . . . . . .
Imperial Service Troops . . . . . . . .
Police . . . . . . . .
R
280
240
250
No young stock was purchased by the Remount Department: this is to be
expected at a dealers' Fair in this country. Captain Alexander, who attended
on behalf of that Department, states :—
"Class offered for inspection decidedly bad and all in the hands of dealers. Only five young stock were
provisionally approved by me, but in the case of three the dealers would not accept the prices I was able to
offer, and two were rejected as unsound finally on veterinary examination."
189. I have placed the above words in italics as they have an important
bearing on the question of the supply of young stock for the Army Remount
Department. It is popularly believed that that Department commands the
market by the prices it is able to offer, but such is not the case, as is frequently
proved by dealers refusing the prices offered.
Bulandshahr Horse
Show.
190. This Show was held from 6th to 11th March 1899 and was an
undoubted success, more than maintaining, as it did, its reputation for being
one of the best horse-breeding centres of the North-Western Provinces. There
was a considerable increase in the number of stock, 1,172 having attended as
compared with 809 last year. Of stock over 14 hands, there were 710. The
number which competed for prizes also showed an increase, viz., 553 against
480.
191. The Remount Agent purchased three head of stock against four last
year, and remarks:—
"I have no knowledge of the class of remount obtained in former years, but those shown this year were
disappointing.
"The young stock was generally undersized and a large number of them unsound mostly from ringbone
and spavin. The brood mares are mostly good, but I think this class would stand some weeding out."
192. The astonishing statement regarding the unsoundness of young
stock, being the first occasion on which such has been brought to notice,
rather troubled me until I received Veterinary-Major Ringe's report, which
to the following effect:—
"I do not agree with the remarks made by Captain Newnham that 'the young stock was generally under-
sized and a large number of them unsound.' The two and three-year old fillies and the branded fillies under
three years were excellent and well up to the general size, and none of them were rejected for unsoundness.
This also applies to the yearling colts, yearling fillies, colt foals and filly foals. The only class in which
rejections were made for unsoundness was:—Native Cavalry Remounts—8, rejected by the Veterinary Officer
of the Committee, and 1 British Cavalry remount, rejected by the same Officer.
"One British Cavalry remount was subsequently rejected by me for unsoundness, but this animal was not
by an Imperial stallion.
"As regards the remark made by the Remount Officer on the brood mares that 'this class would stand
some weeding out,' I can only say that the mares of the Bulandshahr district are noted for their excellence."