48
239. The attendance this year is said to have been the smallest since the
famine years of 1878.79, but from last year's report I find that 10,912 were
present, whilst this year the returns show 11,246.
240. Although the numbers may have been less, still a large number of
remounts were purchased for Native Cavalry, Imperial Service Troops, and
Police, and the quality of those bought was decidedly above the average. One
batch especially was noticeable, viz., that bought by Captain Weller, 14th
Bengal Lancers. This officer purchased 38, and a better lot of remounts I never
saw put together. At his request I measured the shank of all such that
appeared to be wanting in bone, and found that they averaged 8 inches below
the knee; this is very satisfactory, as it proves that an improvement is taking
place in this direction. In all, 157 remounts were bought, and five head of
young stock were obtained by the Remount Agent.
241. There is, however, one very disconcerting feature in the North -
Western Provinces which was generally remarked this year; this was the
number of young mares that were sold instead of being branded as usual;
this is, of course, due to the prevailing scarcity, but I fear that this must tell
against horse breeding in the future. I am, however, glad to state that this
was more noticeable in this Province than in the Punjab or in Baluchistan.
On this point, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North-
-estern Provinces and Oudh, states:—
"During my tour in the districts previous to Batesar, I was unable to brand the number of mares that I
did in previous years, and those brought for my inspection were on the whole an inferior lot; but at the fair
I noticed that a number of the young mares, that in other years would have been brought for branding, were
for sale; this, of course, being an advantage for the purchasing officers, and to a very large extent accounts
for the large number of remounts purchased, considering the diminution in the numbers at the fair; but
unfortunately it is done at the expense of horse breeding, and it is hoped that as the prices of grain and
fodder decrease, the zemindars will have their young mares branded instead of selling them."
242. One fact worthy of note was that 157 camels were purchased for
exportation to Australia. The average price was R92.
Captain Weller states with reference to the class of remounts bought at
this fair:—
"Remounts very superior, more blood and good whole colors obtainable. The improvement in class of
remount is very marked, most of them showing effect of thoroughbred and Arab blood."
Lieutenant Loch, 3rd Bengal Cavalry, notes:—
"A very good lot of horses of 14-2 and 14-3. A very large number of 4-year old mares for sale. In
many cases, in which horses appear light below the knee, the bone measures well, being good and flat."
On the whole, Batesar Fair must be considered to have met the require-
ments of the Remount officers.
Bulandshahr
Horse Show.
243. This show scored heavily by the abolition of that of Aligarh.
The number of horse stock that attended was larger than in any previous
year, the number being 1,126; of these, 651 were the property of zemindars.
Although the increase in the numbers attending was certainly in a measure
due to the abolition of the Aligarh Show, still we must not lose sight of the
fact that the revival in the interest taken in horse breeding in this district,
which was noticed in last year's review on this show, has been maintained.
244. Five hundred and eighty-two competed for prizes against 539 last
year, and with reference to the stock generally, the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, states:—
"The quality of the mares and young stock appears to be improving yearly, but amongst the young
stock there was a large number that still showed too much of the Norfolk Trotter blood. The classes which
showed the most excellence, were the branded mares and fillies, the one and two-year old fillies, and the
foals."
245. Two other points of interest were the increase in the number of
mares with foal at foot, and the increase in the number of one-year old geld-
ings; 55 competing in this class against 21 last year.
246. Fifty-two remounts were purchased against 39 last year. This increase
is all the more noticeable as many regiments were prevented from attending
owing to the publication in Meerut District Orders, in error, that the show
world not be held.