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"The fillies showed an improvement in numbers and quality since last year. The class for geldings was
disappointing, the ryots evidently not having grasped the fact of the advisability of castrating their young
stock so far.
"Ten Government stallions wore at the show. They were all in very good condition and well suited to the
mares of the district."
Additional remarks by the President of the Committee:—
"There appears a marked increase in the interest taken in the pony-breeding operations by the whole of the
Subordinate Staff of the Department, which is apparently due to the energy displayed by the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, which, as President of the Judging Committee, I have much pleasure in record-
ing ; also the presence of the Collector at the show did much to further its success."
442. The Collector adds that owing to the dry season, and water and
grass being difficult to procure, fewer animals were exhibited, but that over
300 animals were brought to Tiruppur either for sale, or for the show. The
big 2-year old colt (alluded to in the report by the President of the Judging
Committee) is reported to have been sold to a ryot for R500.
443. The above report must be considered most satisfactory. Madras has
done much to put its pony-breeding on a sound basis during the past three years;
unsuitable stallions have been got rid of, and really good Arabs of about 13-2
have been obtained: these are likely to nick well with the average mares of
the districts, and I have no doubt, in time, that ponies of excellent stamp for
transport purposes will be obtainable in Coimbatore.
Berikai Pony
Show (Salem
District).
444. The Pony Show of the Salem district was this year held at Berikai,
and the change of locality appears to have been the means of inducing the
owners of more animals to come in; for, when held at Mecheri in 1895, and at
Adamancottah in 1896, the numbers, respectively, were 217 and 220, whilst on
this occasion, 323 competed.
445. One suggestion which I would make and which I shall ask the
Board of Revenue to kindly sanction is, that the class of animal competing in
each class should be stated, as with only the number of class being given, it is
impossible to know whether it refers to mares, geldings, etc., without the
Prospectus, which is not always at hand.
446. Class I.—Mares covered by Government stallions within the last
twelve months or with foal at foot.
The Judging Committee reports as follows:—
"The mares shown are generally in poor condition. There were six mares with foal at foot and many
more mares in foal to Government stallions, but the judges consider that a larger number of foals should
have been present, Two extra prizes were awarded in this class as there were so many entries."
447. The colt and filly classes are reported generally to have been poor,
but this is not to be wondered at. In my last Report, I described the class of
mare to be found in the Madras Presidency, and stated that even in the Coim-
batore district, which possesses the best class of mare, all that we could expect
to do would be to improve the breed of ponies so as to add to the transport in
this country. I am borne out in this statement by the remarks of the Judging
Committee on Class VI:—" Mares over 3 years of age that have not been
covered by Government stallions." They report as follows:—
"The type of mares was very poor and very often deformed. If these animals are a fair type of mares
in the Salem district, as there is reason to believe from experience gained from previous shows, it must take
a long time before any marked improvement is manifest."
448. I trust that the high caste, small, compact Arabs now purchased by
the Madras Government will be the means of gradually improving the stock
of the Salem district.
449. The Committee conclude their report as follows:—
"The general arrangements of the show were particularly good, the site selected being very suitable
indeed. There was a large attendance of spectators who were apparently very much interested in the pro-
ceedings. Great credit, is due to the Tahsildar of the Hosur Taluk for the manner in which the show was
generally managed. The total number of exhibits was larger than last year, and the judges are of opinion that,
on the whole, a distinct improvement on shows held in Salem district in previous years, was noticed."
Special Judg-
ing Committees.
450. Two Special Judging Committees were appointed as was done last
year, viz., one for the North-Western Provinces and the other for the Punjab;
owing, however, to the fact that two of the most important fairs were abo-
lished and that the Committee would only have been called upon to judge at
Bulandshahr and Meerut (Nauchandi), it was thought advisable to allow
local Committees to do the judging at these.