50
The average price paid by this Officer was Rs. 247.
235. Captain Unwin, 1st Punjab Cavalry, purchased 17 at an average price
of Rs. 251, and reports them to have been a good class of remounts with very
little unsoundness.
236. Captain Bailey, Bhurtpore and Rampore Imperial Service Lancers,
reports that he found it difficult to obtain horses of 4 years or over of the sort
required, still as he was able to secure 30 at an average price of Rs. 251
and that of these 17 were 4 years of age and over, I think he is to be congratulated
on the success with which he met considering the small attendance.
237. Major Goad, Army Remount Department, attended, but could only
obtain 4 head of young stock. This I am not at all surprised at, as this is in no
way a breeders' Show.
238. Many Remount Officers have again brought forward the question of the
advisability of again giving prizes at the Batesar Fair. This question was fully
considered in consultation with the Local Government, and it was decided that as it
was a purely dealers' gathering there was nothing to be gained by allotting money
for this purpose. If dealers have horses for sale, they will take them to a Fair
irrespective of whether prizes are awarded or not.
Bulandshahr
Horse Show.
239. This Show, when compared with that held in 1896-97, shows a decided
falling off, still it must be remembered that last year the numbers were high owing
to the fact that the Aligarh Show was not held. But I would have liked to have
seen a better gathering at the head quarters of one of the best breeding districts in
the North-Western Provinces.
240. The following statistics will show at a glance the relative positions of
this Show and that held in 1896-97:—
Total number of animals present in 1896-97
...
„
„
„
„
in 1897-98
Falling off
Total number competing for prizes in 1896-97
„
„
„
„
in 1897-98
Falling off
Number of remounts purchased in 1896-97
„
„
„
in 1897-98
Falling off
... 1,126
... 809
... 317
... 582
... 480
. ... 102
... 52
... 22
... 30
The above figures would at the first glance, lead one to suppose that this
important breeding district was not maintaining its reputation; still, when we
analyse the statistics closely we find that the falling off was in dealers' stock and
in stock generally under 14 hands, whereas there was a sensible increase in the
number of zemindari stock over 14 hands.
241. The small number of remounts purchased, taken in connection with the
absence of the dealer class and the increase in the number of zemindari stock of
14 hands in height, goes to prove that the breeders will not, as a rule, keep their
stock to that age when they are fit for remounts. This is to be regretted; but still
it is a fact which has to be acknowledged, and it points, I think, to the advisability
of instituting as many runs as possible for young stock.
242. One reason that more remounts were not bought may, however, lie in
the fact that no British Officers of Native Cavalry Regiments attended, besides
which only two Native Officers purchased, viz: one from 2nd Regiment, Central
India Horse, who bought 13 and who reports them as an average lot and not
expensive, and one from the Ulwar Imperial Service Lancers, who purchased 5 at
an average cost of Rs. 255. These are reported as being very good.
243. Captain Gough, Army Remount Department, purchased 4 head of
young stock and complains that there was a very limited supply to select from.