67
better than to give the following copious extracts from the most interesting
report received from the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department:—
"The following is a detail of the classification:—
Mares four years old and upwards, served by Government
stallions within twelve months of Show, or with foal at
foot by Government stallions
.
.
.
.
.
All mares four years old fit for breeding purposes
.
Fillies three years old and under four
.
.
.
.
Fillies two years old and under three
.
.
.
.
Yearling colts
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Yearling fillies .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Foals, colts
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Foals, fillies .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Horses 14 hands and over, four years and over .
.
.
Geldings .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ponies, 13-3 and under .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Mares covered by donkey stallions within twelve months
or with foal at foot .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Mules
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Donkeys . . . . . . . . . . .
1898.
85
349
57
68
8
21
8
...
81
6
70
12
28
35
823
1899.
111
485
29
41
28
28
36
31
299
6
56
40
26
102
1,318
"This Show, although a success as regards numbers compared with last and previous years, contained a
large amount of absolute rubbish. Nevertheless, at the time of judging when the ring had been thoroughly
weeded out, I was surprised to see the numbers of useful animals there were. Fortunately this was most
marked in the brood mare classes, and I am quite of opinion that with a more judicious use of the Imperial
stallions, Talhar will in due time produce horse stock equal to any in Sind.
"The total number of exhibits amounted to 1,318 against 823 last year. I am of opinion that the large
increase in the numbers was due to the interest taken in the Show by Mr. Steele, the Collector of Hyderabad, and
the exertions of Mr. Page, the Assistant Collector of the Division, who kindly acted as Honorary Secretary to
the Show.
"One hundred and eleven branded mares competed in Class I, but only 20 of these had covering certificates.
These, as at Moro, were awarded prizes first, afterwards those with foal at foot and those palpably in foal.
"Four hundred and eighty-five unbranded mares were shown in Class II. Ninety-one of these were branded
after classification, and all these were awarded prizes. These men have practically no objection to the brand
but so long as classes for unbranded mares exist, they naturally do not care whether their mares are branded or
not. The young stock generally were weedy, light of bone, showing great want of liberty and freedom.
"As no produce certificates were available, it was impossible to say what they were sired by, but from the
little use made of the Imperial stallions the general appearance of the youngsters, with the large percentage of
pie-bald, skewbald, and all odd colours, I imagine there was little but the indigenous stock of the country
present.
"Here, again, as at Moro, the tremendous loss of horse power was most noticeable, owing to the practically
total absence of castrations.
" In Class VII, 299 rampant stallions were entered (as against eight in the gelding class), not five per cent of
which were any use from a remount point of view. In order to control these brutes, it is the custom to hobble
together the two near or two off legs, as the case may be. This makes these horses deficient in muscle and
action (of the right sort), and they all move along like a lot of crabs. Until giving these brutes prizes at
Shows is absolutely stopped and until the class is practically wiped out by castration, the development of horse
breeding must necessarily be slow and unsatisfactory.
"The mares covered by donkey stallions were a very fair lot. Forty were shown and I think mule breeding
in the district is promising. The majority of the mules shown were old animals, but five, all young ones, were
awarded prizes.
"Generally speaking, the stamp and quality of all classes of animals exhibited at this Show leave a good
deal to be desired. Fortunately, the chief exceptions were among the brood mares, a good many of which are
very useful to begin horse breeding with. I say to begin with, as from the odd colours, lightness of bone,
narrow chests, and bent hind legs, I am of opinion that one has little else to work with here than the indi-
genous stock of the country.
"Nevertheless, I think there is good material to work with and the general prospects of the locality
encouraging."
"I am unable to give information under this head, viz., 'class of sires producing the most number of
prize winners', as none of the breeders had produce certificates with them. Had these been available, they
would not have given much information, as with the class of mare chiefly covered, no stallion would have been
likely to produce satisfactory foals.
"For the improvement of the Show and for the development of horse and mule breeding in the district,
I beg to submit the following recommendations:—
"1. I consider the prospectus of the Show should be the same as already recommended for Jacobabad and
Moro, the chief objects of which are to do away with the classes for unbranded mares, aged stallions and aged
mules.
" Previous to this year, the stallions have been in the charge of zominders, and this arrangement has, I think,
proved most unsatisfactory.
"The stabling used for them has been bad and insufficient, and the stallions, almost without an exception,
have been kept tied up with head and heel ropes and seldom exercised.
"The syces appeared to be the veriest coolies, and in this connection the pay of these men will have to be
considered, as it is found impossible to get good syces on the present scale of eight and nine rupees, while ordinarily
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