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as they do small mares, it is pleasant to note that their produce at this Show
were found to be sufficiently large and good to brand, and one was purchased
for Native Cavalry.
341. Forty mares were branded during the Show, many of which were
most excellent fillies by Government sires; such fillies cannot fail to produce
good stock.
342. The arrangements at this Show were as usual excellent, and great
credit is due to Rai Maya Dass to whose exertions the success of this Show is in
a great measure due. His personal influence with breeders and the sound principles
he inculcates are telling very visibly on this Show, and to this the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, attributes the quality and stamp of horse stock
attending the Jellalabad Horse Show.
Jhang Horse
Show.
343. It will be remembered that two or three years ago it was found that
this Show would have to be abandoned, as up to 1895 but little interest was taken
in it. Thanks, however, to the exertions of Captains Douglas and Burlton, the
two Deputy Commissioners, it has again revived, and by the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, regularly touring through the district, I trust that this
interest will be maintained.
344. The Show held on this occasion was equal to its predecessor in numbers
but the exhibits are said to have possessed more quality. On this point the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, states:—
I was pleased to see a distinct advance in the quality of the animals competing, that is to say, in the young
stock classes.
345. Everything points to a revival of interest in this district; for example, 14
branded fillies competed against 7 last year; most of these being by Arab sires;
this is an excellent basis on which to work. Again, 25 mares were branded during
the Show.
Interest is also being evinced in breeding from small mares covered by
District Board ponies. Sixteen of these competed for the prizes offered by the district.
346. The Judging Committee again remark on the absence of Remount
Officers, but they are wrong in one statement, viz: that this is the third successive
year at which not a single remount has been purchased, for last year and also
in 1896 some were bought.
347. The Committee conclude their report as follows:—
The arrangements for the Show are all that could be desired, and the Judging Committee observe that every
encouragement possible is being extended towards fostering the horse-breeding industry in this district which appears
to be naturally suited for these operations and was of old known as such.
Jhelum Horse
Show.
348. Why this Show has never been a success I cannot understand. It is
situated in one of the best breeding centres close to Gujrat and some of the tehsils
of Rawalpindi, and still it never seems to be popular.
349. The Show held during the year under review was even more disappoint-
ing than last year. The animals were of a bad stamp, poor in condition, and far
from what one might hope for in one of the best horse-breeding districts in North.
Punjab. Only 219 animals competed against 304 last year, and most of these came
from the neighbouring district of Gujrat. So bad in fact was this Show that it was
found impossible to award the whole of the prizes, Rs. 90 being saved from the
Imperial grant and Rs. 125 from the District Board grant. No silver medal was
awarded.
350. The most encouraging feature of the Show was that 5 remounts, all of
4 years of age, were obtained by the 18th Bengal Lancers.
351. One of the reasons to which failure is attributed by the Deputy Com-
missioner and the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, is the date on
which the Show is held. It has, since its revival, been held in October, and it is
urged that the zemindars, being busy with the kharif, have not time to bring in
their mares and stock. The Deputy Commissioner has therefore asked for a date
in March to be fixed; this I fear is impossible, as every day in that month is filled
with Horse Fairs and Shows. I shall, however, be able to allot a few days at the
end of February which I trust will prove convenient, and which I hope will lead
to an improvement in this Show. Unless such does actually take place, it will be
my duty to recommend the discontinuance of prizes at this Show.