117
Owing, however, to the scarcity which prevailed, I could not recommend
expenditure in this direction, but the Chief Secretary informs me that he hopes
to be able to employ one more horse and donkey stallion during 1897-98.
631. It was not to be expected that many mares and young stock would
be collected for my inspection, as such scarcity of fodder prevailed; still 45
mares were present and nearly all were in foal to State stallions. Thirty head
of young stock also attended, 27 of which were by State stallions, and I was
pleased to notice the general improvement of the young stock when compared
to the dams.
632. The State is doing remarkably good work by improving the indige-
nous breed of horses and thus adding to the horse-supply of India.
633. In connection with the horse and mule-breeding operations carried on
in this State, a Horse Show was held in February 1897, at which Rs. 565 was
awarded as prizes. This show will be found under the "Review of Horse
Fairs and Shows in India."
634. Returns for the whole year have just been received in time to enable
me to incorporate them in this year's review. They show 325 mares to have
been covered by the horse stallions and 319 by the donkeys; they also show, as
far as can be ascertained, that the results of last year's coverings were 87 foals
by horse, and 54 by donkey stallions. This is very satisfactory.
Patiala.
635. Horse-breeding, on any recognized system, does not make the pro-
gress in this State that it does in others. This I attribute entirely to the fact
that, except in the Home Stud, which is under the management of a late Over-
seer of this Department, no one appears to be responsible for other arrange-
ments; and even let us take the Home Stud, it can never prove a financial suc-
cess, for its management is not carried on with that view.
636. I purpose giving, in extenso, a letter addressed to the Mir Munshi,
Patiala State, after my last visit, embodying, as it does, the advice I was able
to offer; from this letter it will be seen that with 9 horse and 2 donkey stal-
lions employed, only 50 mares of any value are employed.
The following is the letter above alluded to :—
"On the conclusion of my visit to the State of Patiala, I beg to offer the following remarks for the inform-
ation of His Highness the Maharaja :—
"Stallions—employed at the Stud, are—
4 horse stallions;
5 pony
„
2 donkey „
this shows a reduction of one stallion on the strength of last year. I regret to find that during the current
year, the State has lost the Thoroughbred stallion 'Simon-de-Montfort;' this is a distinct loss, as he was a horse
that got excellent stock. This reduces the Thoroughbred stallions to two, viz., 'Recall,' Thoroughbred Austra-
lian, 11 years of age, and 'Ringmaster,' also Thoroughbred Australian, aged 14. The question of replacing
'Simon-de-Montfort' will have to be considered next year if it is not possible to do so this year, especially as
the two Thoroughbreds are advancing in years.
"Coverings.—By these 9 horse and pony stallions, the following number of mares have been covered since 1st
April 1896:—
Mares belonging to the Stud . .
„
to Zemindars . .
. .
. .
. .
.
.
.
. 62
. 73
— 135
this gives an average of 15 mares covered in seven months, per stallion employed. I would beg to draw atten-
tion to the remarks made in paragraph 2 of my letter No. 7—100-M., dated 2nd January 1896, in which I
pointed out that the stallion power was too great for the number of mares, and also to paragraph 5, in which I
made certain recommendations which would lead to the more profitable employment of a certain number of the
stallions.
" Mares.—There are 77 on the strength, of which about 50 may be said to be useful for horse and pony breed-
ing; but there are about 14 that are useless, being either old or barren: the remainder are, very properly, used
for mule breeding.
Young stock.—At present there are 90 head of young stock in the stables and the Run; their ages being as
follows:—
Yearlings
2 years old
3 years old
. .
. .
. .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . 45
. . 25
. . 20
— 90
this gives an average of 4 on last year. There are also 15 mules.
"A certain number of the young stock would make good remounts, and as, in my opinion, all Studs should
be managed on a commercial and sound financial basis, I would recommend:—
(a) That all useless mares alluded to in paraghaph 2 should be got rid of as soon as possible.