54
Dera Ghazi
Khan Horse
Show.
291. This show was held on the 11th, 12th, and 13th March 1897, and
if considered in point of actual numbers attending, must be looked upon as
having been a failure, but as such I do not consider it, for it brought together
the cream of the Dera Ghazi Khan stock, and when this is said it means a
lot.
292. The numbers shown in the returns are 1,231 against 5,155 last year,
but, as the Deputy Commissioner very justly remarks, last year His Honour
the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab was present, and every one flocked to
Head-quarters.
293. The number competing for prizes was 559 against 723 last year;
this falling off was entirely due to scarcity. Some of the Tumandars informed
me that the horses exhibited had cost them R1 a day to get into condition for
the show.
294. It would be impossible to wish for a better lot of brood stock, of
which 104 competed; and one of the most pleasing features of the show was,
that a much larger number of branded fillies competed this year than last, and
that the Superintendent was able to brand 76 mares at the show, demonstra-
ting that, notwithstanding scarcity, the breeders had no intention of selling
their brood stock.
295. Only 5 head of young stock was purchased by the Remount Depart-
ment. This, however, can be no indication of the number available, as this
Department reduced their purchases this year. Thirty remounts were purchased
by Native Cavalry against 33 last year. It must be remembered that Dera
Ghazi Khan is only a show, and as such, must be looked upon as a producing
centre from which the larger horse markets are supplied. At Amritsar, some
of the best remounts come from this district, in fact at the last Bysakhi Fair
held there, a whole batch, numbering 30, was brought from Dera Ghazi
Khan.
296. With reference to horse breeding in this district, the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, remarks:—
"It is by far the best horse breeding district in the South Punjab Circle, in fact, as Captain Powney
Thompson remarked to me, ' horse breeding is so well established that it goes on greased wheels.' It possesses a
well known and distinct breed of small, active, wiry horses, and the people are good horsemen and fond of
racing. Many of the Tumandars and breeders at the show, in fact I may say all of them, asked me to take away
the Norfolk Trotter sires, as they found their produce too slow and soft, and to send them Thoroughbred stallions
instead. The Deputy Commissioner informed me that they dislike the Norfolk Trotter so much, that they
will not look at a stallion with a short tail."
297. This is no new complaint; in some districts Norfolk Trotters and
Hackneys have been popular, in Dera Ghazi Khan, never; the Tumandars
have never liked them. I was, in a measure, able to meet their wishes, as
"Royal Cob," a Norfolk Trotter, was suffering from ruptured penis, and had
to be destroyed, and " Freedom," a half-bred, had to be removed to the depôt
for treatment; neither of these classes will be replaced by sires of their class.
The following are at present in the district:—
Thoroughbred English . . .
Thoroughbred Australian
Arabs
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Stud-bred
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Norfolk Trotter
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Hackney .
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. 3
. 3
. 6
. 1
. 1
. 1
and in October, these will be supplemented by "Realm," Thoroughbred
Australian, and "Thessalian," Thoroughbred English.
298. The District Board has been doing good work of late with three pony
stallions that have covered 75 mares each. More could well be used, but money
is not available; they, however, have lately bought a grand Arab pony named
"Mushroom" that should get excellent stock.
Dinanagar Horse
Show.
299. This is only a local gathering held in the Gurdaspur District
annually, at which the brood mares and young stock compete for the small
amount which is awarded to them as prizes by District Boards. On this
occasion the sum of R416 was allotted for this purpose.