12
79. Mares and mule-breeding.—The mares were fair considering that the
industry has only just been started.
80. Mules.—A small but fair class; only two purchased by dealers.
81. Remounts.—A fair class. The young stock purchased for the Remount
Rearing Depôt were very good. The number of animals that changed hands
amounted to 47 for the rearing depôt, 75 remounts and 5 private individuals,
making a grand total of 127. All those purchased for the rearing depôt were
the produce of Government sires, but owing to the Show reports being inac-
curately filled up, it is not known whether any of the remounts were sired by
Government horses. There is a most satisfactory increase in the number of
young stock purchased at this Show, and I have every reason to believe that Sind
and Beluchistan will, in a short time, produce considerably over a hundred head
fit for this purpose annually.
Ahmedabad.
82. The Horse Show was abolished this year owing to an outbreak of
"Anthrax" in the district.
Bhávnagar.
83. Commenced on the 20th of March 1894. The total number of animals
exhibited amounted to 419 against 290 shown in 1891,
the date of the last Show held.
84. Classes—Brood Mares.—A fair class but light in bone.
85. Young stock—Colts and Fillies.—The former were poor, but many of
the latter showed great merit, especially those exhibited by the Darbár.
86. Mules.—A thoroughly tested donkey stallion has been purchased through
this Department by His Highness the Mahárája, and a commencement will be
made this year.
87. Stallions.—Several country-bred stallions were exhibited which in the
opinion of the judges were unsuitable. The Darbár stallions, on the contrary,
were very good.
88. The Show, taking throughout in point of numbers and quality of ani-
mals exhibited, was a distinct success, and it is on these lines that I would sug-
gest all Shows be held in Káthiáwár.
Summary.
89. The total number of animals present at all Horse Shows was 3,544
against 3,350 last year. The total expenses incurred on
account of these Shows amounted to Rs. 19,392-0-0
of which Rs. 7,650-10-2 were spent for other expenses, and Rs. 11,742-1-9 were
awarded as prizes. Government contributed only Rs. 4,600. In summing-up
the reports of the various Horse Shows, I would urge upon Government the
necessity of impressing upon purchasing officers to pay most careful attention to
the following point:—
"When purchasing remounts or young stock, to report accurately whether they are
the produce of Government sires or not."
Numbers of instances have come under my notice this year where Form D of
the Horse Show report has been inaccurately filled in. If the covering or
produce certificate is lost or illegible, the tendency is to put the sire down as
unknown or country-bred although the testimony of the owner and the make
and shape of the horse distinctly negatives the idea. This method from
a purchasing officer's point of view is perfectly correct, nevertheless inaccurate
as I feel sure, that there are a number of horses, enter the ranks every year
sired by Government stallions of which we have no record. It is with a view of
recording more accurate statistics that a parchment certificate with all the
necessary information both in English and Vernacular has been adopted, and
Form D issued to every purchasing officer who attends a Show. I trust that
every endeavour will be made in future to assist the Horse Show authorities and
this Department in correctly filling in this form, as it is through the purchasig
officer alone that this most important information is
obtainable.