6
Adverting to Mr. White's suggestion "that one and the same Committee of selected
officers be appointed to judge at all the horse fairs in the provinces, their reports would
then possess considerable value to Government, as they would have opportunities of
comparison which they do not enjoy at present." I have suggested on more than one
occasion to the Government of India that a committee of officers and gentlemen selected
for their well known sound judgment of horse stock generally, and not of one breed of
class of stock, should be chosen and appointed as judges to attend at all horse fairs and
shows where Imperial prizes are offered and distributed. The verdict of such a Com-
mittee would be of great value, as it would enable the Government to obtain a sound opinion
as to the comparative merits of the several classes of horse stock found in the different
horse-breeding districts of India. This subject I will again refer to in the summary at the
end of this report.
Muzaffarnagar
Horse Show.
This show began on the 23rd and ended on the 28th of March 1893.
Seven hundred and ninety-four head of stock were present against 739 in 1892,
showing an increase of 55.
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, in his report on the show, notes:
"A special Judging Committee selected from officers of the Meerut garrison attended.
I am much pleased to find that Government has decided to send independent Committees
of military officers to the shows, and trust that next year similar Committees may be
detailed to attend the Aligarh and Bulandshahr Shows. I would, however, recommend
that a Veterinary Officer be sent as a fourth member. As it is, I have on these occasions
to judge for soundness, and would much prefer to have an independent professional man
to do so."
The prizes were distributed by the Collector on the last day of the show, and in
addressing the Native gentlemen and zemindars in Darbar, he explained the advantages
of employing brood mares and other horse stock in agriculture, and announced that
district stallions were shortly to be provided for unbranded mares, and that good effects
would be produced on horse stock of the district by the infusion of Arab blood thus
rendered available.
Bridles were awarded to successful competitors as follows:—
Kawal Singh of Saupla.
Taija of Dalheri.
Udda of Poogana.
Kutabjung of Kandhla.
In the report by Veterinary-Major Rayment, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, on the different classes of stock exhibited at the show, he pronounces as " very
good " classes 1, 2, 7, and pony mares for mule-breeding; and under the head " good "
fillies 2 and 3 years old; but remounts under 3, yearlings, fillies, and the rest of the
classes as " fair," save mules which are recorded as '' bad. "
With regard to the classes of remounts obtained at the show, Major Gordon, 6th
Bengal Cavalry, states his opinion that they were " indifferent and few in numbers, but
cheap." Captain Westlake, Army Remount Agent, is of opinion that the remounts
obtained were " equal to former years ;" adding that " the fair was not a success as far
as I was concerned. Most of the young stock were below the age authorized to be pur-
chased by Remount Agents, and the numbers bought are consequently few, below the
average of former years;" and suggests for improvements in connection with the fair
that Government should be moved to prevent or discourage young stock coming to the
fairs with a view to sale below 1½ years of age. A large number of this class was
observed, and the Remount Department is likely to suffer in consequence in previous
years " (sic).
Major Gordon considers that " a larger extent of ground should be allotted to the fair
horses should be picketted in lines and not scattered as at present. Sanitation rather
faulty."
The Collector of Muzaffarnagar, in his report to the North-West Government, states :
" Including the remounts purchased for Government purposes, 200 horses of sorts are
computed to have been sold at prices ranging from Rs. 650 to 50. Kabuli dealers also
brought in a number of horses lor sale, and disposed of a good many of them."
Amritsar (Bysakhi)
Fair.
Veterinary-Lieutenant
F. B. Drage, Officiating Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, North Punjab, attended this fair from the 18th to the 26th October, and states:
" As this is the first horse show I have attended, I am unable to give any comparisen bet-
ween it and other shows held either at Amritsar or other places.