21
some distinctive name is given to each class of horse so long will a diversity of
opinion exist as to whether all or any northern horses are fit for Native
Cavalry.
It is a difficult matter for me to attempt, in a report of this description, any-
thing beyond roughly giving the limits of the various tracts of country from
which horses suitable for Native Cavalry are to be obtained, and to divide the so-
called northern horse into four distinct classes, i.e., Cabulis, Khorásans, Turko-
mans, and country-breds:—
1st Cabulis.—A line drawn from Herat to Cabul and Cabul to Kandahar
and from Kandahar to Herat will form a triangle. This triangle embraces
the greater portion of the country in which these horses are bred. They
are coarse, common and under-bred, with short thick necks, the worst of
shoulders and physically incapable of galloping any distance, much less 15
miles an hour. They are usually grey in colour, seldom exceed 14-2 in
height, and are used in their own country for carrying heavy packs—work
for which from their conformation they are eminently suited. They are
ill-tempered and sluggish, and when brought into the plains of India suffer
from chronic skin disease and are unable to stand the heat. Taken all round
it would be difficult to find a horse more unsuitable as a trooper. The
majority find their way to fairs in the North-West and few of this class are
met with in Beluchistán and Sind. Those in Bengal Cavalry Regiments are
disliked by the men, and justly condemned by the officers, as they are not
troopers in any sense of the word.
The managers of the various tramways avoid them, as experience has
proved that they are as unsuitable for this work as they are for troopers.
2nd Khorásans.—I have given this name to these horses in preference
to calling them Persians, as the majority which come to India are bred in
that tract of country known as Khorásan, extending as far north as Meshed
in the west and Maimina in the east and along the Persian territory border-
ing on Afghanistán. The best are obtainable on the Karaghan plains between
Teheran and Ispahan, their superiority being due to a large admixture of
Arab blood. They are expensive and difficult to obtain, and the dealers can
make no profit on these horses when sold at Native Cavalry remount prices.
The majority are bought by Persian Cavalry soldiers direct from the breed-
ers at two years of age. They break and ride them for two years and then
sell again. The Khorásan horse which comes to India is mostly obtained
direct from the breeder who owns two or three mares which are allowed to
roam about and gain their own livelihood, as there is an unlimited supply of
grass during the greater portion of the year, and lucern also grows luxuriant-
ly on these plains.
A certain amount of care is exercised in their breeding. Stud fees
varying from 5 to 20 rupees, but owing to the system of allowing 2 year
olds to run with their dams, many must be the produce of immature stallions.
They are taken up and ridden at two years of age and brought for sale to
Meshed and the adjoining towns. Those intended for the Bombay market
are marched viâ Sultanabad, Zalalabad, Jafrabad and Ahabad to Bunder
Abas, where they are shipped. The total duty viâ Bunder Abas amounts
to Rs. 38.
Those for the fairs in Sind are marched viâ Herat, Kandahar and
Islamabad, the following duty being charged at the various places in route :—
The price of the horse being known at Meshed, 5 per cent. is charged : on
arrival at Herat, Rs. 7 per horse is paid : on the road between Herat and
Kandahar the horses are valued by dealers in Government employ and 2½
per cent. is charged : on arrival at Kandahar the same process is gone through
and 18 per cent. is charged, and a final duty of Rs. 2 per horse has been levied
at Islamabad since 1895. They are then collected in the Quetta-Peshin
valley, fed on green kaseel and got into condition for sale. They are quick,
active horses, showing a certain amount of quality with a good rein and
shoulders, and vary from 14-2 to 15-2 in height. Some few are inclined to
be long in the back with upright joints on which work very quickly tells—
B 449—6