64
Ulwar Horse
Show.
382. Last year a Horse Show was held in this State for the first time and
the review was included under the heading of "Native States;" as, however,
it is now quite a recognised market, I feel that it is better that it should take
its place amongst the other Horse Fairs and Shows held in India.
383. The number attending this Show was smaller than last year, there
being 713 horses of all kinds against 1,193 in 1894-95, but, on this point,
Veterinary Captain Hagger reports as follows:—
"But, though smaller in number the horses showed no falling off in quality, rather the contrary, as I con-
sider that the horses offered for sale this year were not only as good, but better in quality than those seen in
last year's fair; this was certainly so in the case of remounts, and as prices ruled moderate, a large number of
useful horses were bought."
384. From rolls received, it will be seen that 79 were obtained, of which
3 were ponies for the Gwalior Imperial Service Transport Corps. This com-
pares most favourably with last year when the fair was larger and only 74
were obtained.
385. The show held in connection with the fair is becoming very popu-
lar. Three hundred and fifty-three animals competed against 269 last year.
The Durbar is most generous in allotting R1,500 to be awarded as prizes.
386. This fair is really becoming a large horse market, and as such it
will serve a most useful purpose, but I hope to find the zemindars or breeders
of the State taking more interest in future; it was entirely due to their
absence that the numbers were so small this year, and as good stallions are now
posted at many centres in the State, I hope to see horse-breeding take deep
root.
387. The Principal, Ajmere Veterinary School, who attended this fair on
behalf of the Civil Veterinary Department, brings to notice the valuable
services of Rai Bahadur Bal Mokund Dass, who, as Secretary of both Fair and
Judging Committee, afforded him the greatest assistance.
TIRHOOT.
Sonepore Horse
Fair.
388. This fair was held from the 18th to 26th November 1896. The
numbers of horses and ponies that are present annually can only be looked upon
as being approximately correct, but there must have been a great falling off this
year, as in 1894-95, 9,200 are shown as having been present, in 1895-96, 4,600,
whilst this year the number given is only 2,700.
These come from two different sources:—
1st.—Dealers take horses down from Saharunpore, Meerut, Kurnal,
Gurgaon, etc.; these are all bred in our horse-breeding districts
in Upper India, and the best of these find a ready sale in Tirhoot
and Calcutta. Large numbers of these are to be found in the
Calcutta stables during the season.
2nd.—The Bhojpuri dealers scour the North-Western Provinces and
Punjab, during the cold weather; they do not buy the best of
our young stock, but pick up any that are left at the end of the
fairs, and that can be bought at very low figures. It is very
common to see batches of between 100 to 200 being taken down
to Bengal; these are of all ages, from 6 months upwards. The
best of these, however, do not find their way to Sonepore, as I
am informed that the large stables of Calcutta send their
representatives to Arrah and elsewhere in August, and select
those likely to suit, and for which they know they will obtain
ready sale; it is therefore only the residuum that finds its way
to Sonepore.
This will account for the fact that the only Remount Officer found it
difficult to procure suitable animals.
389. The 3rd Bengal Cavalry purchased seven remounts, at an average price
of R296. The Remount Department used to send a Remount Agent to pur-
chase at this fair, but has not done so for the past two years, and I consider it
by far the best policy to leave purely dealers' fairs entirely alone, and to
encourage the purchase of young stock direct from the breeders.