58
Multan Horse
Show.
287. Held on 6th and 7th March 1899. The interest in this Show was
more than fully maintained this year as is shown by the fact that 1,302
attended against 853 last year. Some excellent mares were exhibited in
Class 1 (branded mares covered by Imperial stallions), but the best class to
my mind was that of the branded fillies; nearly all were by Government
sires and the majority were decidedly good, in fact I quite agree with the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, in saying that in all the filly
classes of various ages from foals upwards, the competition was both numer-
ous and of a marked quality.
288. The class of stallion producing the greatest number of prize winners
was the Arab, credited with thirty-two, whilst the Hackney class took fifteen.
The thoroughbred and stud-bred classes took ten each.
289. Eleven remounts were purchased as compared with seven last year.
Two were bought by the Remount Agent, another would have been bought
had the owner not held out for too long a price. The Native Cavalry remounts
are reported by the Superintendent as a good level lot, most of them by
Government sires and quite up to the usual standard required. The average
price paid was R244.
290. Fifty-seven mules competed for prizes as compared with forty last
year. The increase in the produce of mules in this district is most encourag-
ing, and I believe I am correct in saying that this is the first occasion on
which an Ordnance mule has been purchased in the Multan district.
291. Some excellent stock by District Board stallions was exhibited. The
main features in this Show were:—
(a) The bad state in which the mares and stock were shown. Even
in those cases when they were in good condition, they were
brought into the ring ungroomed and not generally well cared
for; this has always been a failing in this district.
(b) Improvement in young stock generally.
(c) Improvement in class of remounts.
(d) Improvement in class and number of mules exhibited.
Rawalpindi Horse
Show.
292. As far as the actual business done at this Fair is concerned we know
but very little, for although the advertised dates are 3rd to 5th April, still
business actually commences from about the 15th of March.
293. This is a market in which an enormous number of animals change
hands. I regret that up to date the report has not been received from the
Deputy Commissioner, but I trust that it will arrive before this report goes to
Press, as I asked him, if possible, to trace the destination of the large number
of young mules that are annually taken out of the district. From the return
received, we find that whilst 79 mules were purchased by Government, 1,057
were bought by private individuals, and it is not as if these were mules of an
inferior stamp. This is not the case for, from a return received from the Secre-
tary of the Fair, I find that whilst the lowest price paid was R20, the average
price was R210. The same remark applies to horses for, whilst we find that
only 17 were obtained for Government purposes, 612 were bought by private
individuals.
294. Regarding the actual Horse Show I can only say that I was greatly
pleased with the stock seen in the Fair. It was of great promise, and although
in some cases the Norfolk Trotter strain was too apparent, I feel convinced that
in a short time improvement will be noticeable. On this subject the Superin-
tendent, Civil Veterinary Department, remarks:—
"Unfortunately we have been too long with the Norfolk Trotter and there were several at work during
the last year. I regret to say there are still too many in the Rawalpindi district."
295. I am not prepared to recommend the wholesale reduction of the
Hackney strain at once; this would involve too great an expenditure. What
I can do is to watch carefully their stock, and on all occasions when I find
that it is deficient in quality, I order the stallion to be castrated and sold.
296. A great feature of this Show was the stock got by the District Board
ponies. Thirty-seven mares were covered by them and 40 head of young stock,