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Umballa is entirely due, his successor, Captain Parsons, I am glad to say, takes the
greatest interest in the industry. This officer, while Deputy Commissioner in Hissar,
did more to forward the interests of horse-breeding in that district in a year than had
been done in the whole of my former experience of the district, so I can speak from per-
sonal knowledge.
"In addition to the stock out of branded mares by Imperial stallions, a large number
of colts and fillies by district stallions competed for prizes awarded from Local Funds.
A large proportion of these were, of course, too young to form a reliable opinion on their
merits, but a large number were most promising. I noticed with regret that many of
the dams and stock looked thin and unthrifty, having been evidently insufficiently fed.
This, of course, is fatal. To produce good horses, good and plentiful diet is a sine quá
non. These remarks apply more particularly to the colts, which were much worse than
the fillies. I was much pleased to notice amongst the stock purchased for the Kurnal
Depôt one by 'Teeture' Arab, a district stallion.
"The Judging Committee was composed entirely of officers from the Umballa garri-
son. The thanks of the Department are due to the president and members for the great
interest and trouble they took throughout the three days during which the judging lasted."
Prizes were awarded in Darbar on the evening of the 13th. Colonel J. J. H. Grey,
C.S.I., Commissioner, was present, and Mrs. Grey was kind enough to present the prizes.
In addition to the many prizes, the Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department,
offered two watches as prizes—
(a) The one for a winner of a race to be ridden by Tahsildars and Naib Tahsildars
on their own mares. This was won by Syad Ahmad Hussain, Tahsildar of
Ruper.
(b) The other for the best returns of branded and unbranded mares within the
district of Umballa, which was won by Balam Khand, Qanunga of Pipli
Tehsil.
Bridles were awarded to the undermentioned prize winners:—
Kishna of Manli.
Shan Singh of Gobindgarh.
Futta of Maminda.
Mohar Singh of Shibumajra.
Sports of all kinds followed the awarding of the prizes, and a very large concourse
of people from the Cantonment of Umballa and the Umballa District generally were present
and witnessed the sports, which passed off most successfully. I was present throughout
the show, and I can fully endorse the statement above recorded by Veterinary-Major Ray-
ment that the show in every way was a marked success, and it will be gratifying to Mr.
Gladstone, the late Deputy Commissioner, who inaugurated the exhibition, that his successor,
Captain Parsons, is desirous to make it not only an annual exhibition of superior horse
stock, but also a good market for the breeders to dispose of their produce. The thanks
of the Civil Veterinary Department are truly due to both these officers for their thorough
co-operation in furthering and developing horse and mule-breeding interests.
Pokhur Fair.
This horse show was held on the 3rd November 1892.
The Assistant Agent to the Governor-General in Rajputana has reported on the fair
as follows:—
"The subjoined table shows the number of horses, mares, colts, and fillies brought to
the fair during the five years (1881 to 1890 and 1892), the number registered as sold, and
the average prices realized:—
Year.
1887 ... ... ...
1888 ... ... ...
1889 ... ... ...
1890 ... ... ...
1892 ... ... ...
Number in the fair.
432
1,063
1,119
1,126
672
Number registered
as sold.
135
540
593
480
516
Average prices.
Highest 375
Lowest 6
Highest 1,000
Lowest 3
Highest 800
Lowest 45
Highest 1070
Lowest 3
Highest 930
Lowest 5
74
81
109
98
124