4
the General Superintendent, Horse-breeding Department, an opportunity of
reversing his policy, and I can only regret that he did not then accept it. Up
to that date, this class of stallion had increased the size of the mares, although
I am not of opinion that they gave them bone; had thoroughbred or Arab
blood been introduced at this period, a better stamp of young stock would now
have been obtainable; but the time has now come when I must speak plainly
for, in my opinion, all districts which have had a continuous strain of Norfolk
Trotter blood must be supplied with stallions of purer breed. I am sorry to
differ with one who had the interest of horse-breeding so deeply at heart as
Veterinary Colonel Hallen had, but in the interests of Government, and in the
interests of the breeders, whose interests I am bound to safeguard, I am
compelled to state that I feel greatly hampered by the number of this class of
stallion at present on our strength. Of a total of 340 stallions, including the
unacclimatized horses at the Depôt, we have 54 Norfolk Trotters, 59
Hackneys, and 2 Roadsters, making a total of 115 or about 34 per cent. These
must gradually be got rid of, and I shall not recommend them to be replaced.
Sixteen of these will be over 15 years of age next year, and their services might,
with advantage, be dispensed with.
25. I have now been in charge of this Department for three years, and
although I have always held that the policy of long continued strains of
coarse blood were inadvisable for India, still, I have refrained from expressing
any very decided views on the subject, but even if I were in favour of a con-
tinuance of this policy, I would be compelled to give way before the over-
whelming evidence which is brought before me against it. The Remount
Agents inform me that the young stock by the Hackney stallion is excellent
in appearance to about two years of age, but that after that they do not
develop. Native Cavalry Officers inform me that they do not care to buy the
produce of this class of stallions, as they find that it cannot keep in the ranks
at a smart gallop, neither can it stand a hard day's work; but, in addition to
this, the breeders now refuse to use them; their refusal is not based on any
prejudice, for when first imported, and in fact for many years after, they liked
their appearance. It is based, not only on the fact that Remount Officers do
not care for their produce, but also on that of their having proved that they
are not suitable for their work, either for riding, tent-pegging, or racing. It
is well known that in many of our best breeding districts, the amusements in-
dulged in by the breeders are either tent-pegging or racing, and as the breeders
have so frequently put it to me:—What use is the produce of this class of
horse to us?
26. Veterinary Colonel Hallen, in replying to above quoted letter from
the Government of India, Military Department, states that after reviewing
certain statistics, and after his inspection of 285 head of stock, a greater per-
centage of stock by half-bred English and Norfolk Trotters were suitable for
Horse and Field Artillery than that by thoroughbred English sires. He then
proceeds to state:—
"The above figures indicate that the half-bred English and Norkfolk Trotter are able to provide more Horse
and Field Artillery Remounts than the Thoroughbred English. It would therefore seem desirable to continue
the supply of the half-bred English and Norfolk Trotter class of sire if the Government be desirous of obtain-
ing country-bred Artillery horses."
27. I have long held, and am still of opinion that we cannot breed Artil-
lery horses in this country; for this class of horse we must be dependent on
Australia. What we can do, and if we succeed in doing it well, I consider
that we shall have succeeded in fulfilling our raison d'etre as a Department,
is to furnish remounts for our British Regiments of Light Cavalry, for our
Native Cavalry, and our Imperial Service Troops, and with this object before
us we must obtain more thoroughbred sires, either English or Australians, and
more Arabs.
28. In conclusion, I would add that although I have stated that I hope
the batch of hackneys received in India during the past year will be the last,
still, I must not be understood to mean that we shall never want any more,
as I feel that any new districts that may be developed will require their ser-
vices. My idea of development in this country, is as follows. Take the pure
indigenous mare; she should first be crossed with Arab sires to counteract