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officer also records that the animals in class I A and B were not up to the average of other
shows. With the exception of one or two mares, I consider both sub-sections A and B
decidedly bad.
"Very few officers were purchasing for Native Cavalry; but the Superintendent, Karnal
Remount Depot, was able to buy a few very useful animals.
"I was able to brand 37 mares during the show days, all useful mares with quality,
but lacking in substance."
The Deputy Commissioner adds: "Nine remounts were purchased for British Cavalry
purposes, and 4 of these received prizes. Three were purchased for Native Cavalry, all of
which received prizes. I regret that for two remounts purchased no statement has been
received from the purchasing officer. He bought them apparently for the Imperial Service
Troops on the 24th March, and then left for Rawal Pindi before furnishing the necessary
statement. No mules were purchased for Government."
There is much in the statement made by Mr. Drage regarding horse dealers of Lahore
ever being on the look-out in the districts to purchase likely young stock, and doubtless the
exhibits in the young stock class at the show is always kept down by purchases made by
dealers, and the animals purchased are not brought to this show for exhibition.
Of the Rs. 1,000 sanctioned for Imperial prizes, Rs. 975 were awarded, and in addition
the sum of Rs. 102 was given in prizes as consolation to some of the poorer breeders.
Multan Horse
Show.
This horse show took place from the 12th to 14th March 1893.
The Deputy Commissioner (A. Meredith, Esq., C.S.) reports as follows: "There was
again a slight falling off in numbers both in those competing for prizes and in the total
number of animals brought to the show, the figures being respectively 261 and 782 as com-
pared with 328 and 897 of last year. But the Committee were of opinion that there has
been a marked improvement in quality and in the general turn-out and condition of the
animals exhibited. As an instance of this may be mentioned the fact that among branded
mares, the animal which won the 1st prize last year was this year placed fourth. And it
appears that several animals are brought for sale to Multan at the time of the fair which
are not entered in the show in order to escape payment of the fees which are levied
on all sales, so that it is probable that the total number of animals collected were not far
short of that of last year.
"The zemindars generally appear to take more interest in horse-breeding than for-
merly, and I have hopes that in a year or two the popularity of the show may be revived.
But it must be rememberd, as stated by my predecessor in last year's report, that in
previous years a considerable amount of pressure was brought to bear to induce owners
to send their animals, and that this is not exercised at present. Every inducement is
offered to make the show a popular one and to get the people to improve the breed of
their horses; but no compulsion used, as I am led to believe, was formerly the custom.
So that if an owner has no animal to enter for competition or for sale, he does not now
attend the show, as the bringing in a long string of animals, often from a considerable
distance, which have little chance of being sold or of winning a prize, entails a con-
siderable amount of expense.
"To show that the interest in improving the breed does not flag in this district, I may
mention that on a recent visit of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, to
Mailsi, 50 owners of mares came forward and pledged themselves to have their mares
covered by a Government stallion if one were sent there, and this has since been done.
A stallion used to be kept at Mailsi in former years, but had to be removed, as the
prescribed number of mares were not forthcoming during the year. The stallion that
has been sent is a Norfolk Trotter, and in this connection 1 wish to record my opinion, that
the produce of a country-bred mare by a Norfolk Trotter is not satisfactory. The progeny
is usually coarse and of a sluggish disposition, and the bone which has hitherto been consi-
dered a speciality of the produce of a Norfolk Trotter is of a soft and spongy nature, and not
calculated to stand hard work. The people generally prefer an Arab or English half-
bred, and I shall be glad if the Horse-Breeding Department can see their way to send
none but stallions of these classes, the Arab for preference, to this district in future."
With regard to the above remarks relative to the stated difference between a Norfolk
Trotter and English half-bred, it does not appear known to the breeders of the Multan
District that a Norfolk Trotter comes under the class English half-bred, but, as a rule, is
of a better pedigree, and promises harder and more compact bone than the ordinary so-
called English half-bred. For some years past the stallions of the Norfolk Trotter class
have been employed and much appreciated in this district, and the best of the brood mares
found in the different tahsils are, as a rule, the produce of Norfolk Trotters. At the
present time both Norfolk Trotters and Arabs are furnished to this district by the Imperial
Government, and in addition there are two other Arab stallions kept for stud purposes, the
one belonging to the District Board and the other to the Ward's Estates.