38
be altered so as to admit of either owner or purchaser receiving the prize. Even if the
owner does not himself receive the prize he will indirectly benefit, as buyers would probably
offer more for a likely prize-winner.
234. With this I cannot agree. It is not the intention of Government to
award prizes with a view of lowering the price of remounts bought at shows,
which would be the case if the prizes were awarded to the purchaser. There
is no necessity for the horse to be present at the distribution of prizes, although
it is desirable that he should be. Still, if present at the time the class for re-
mounts is judged, the owner should be allowed to compete and thus be enabled
to derive the full benefit of having produced a good remount for sale.
235. There was both an increase in the number attending, viz., from 1,898
in 1893 to 2,228 on this occasion; as well as in the number which competed for
prizes, 406 having been exhibited against 27l last year.
236. The general remarks of the Committee on the various classes proves
the quality to have been quite up to the average.
237. Forty remounts were purchased by the Remount officer, and 22
were bought for Native Cavalry.
238. Taken as a whole, the remounts purchased at this fair were not well
reported upon.
239. The purchasing officer, 3rd Punjab Cavalry, reports as follows:—
Not by any means a good batch; heavy bodies and light bone below the knee being
their chief characteristics. The Norfolk Trotter blood does not seem to produce such good
remounts as the thoroughbred English and Arab used to do.
240. The Remount Agent also reports:—
Horses not equal to stock at other first-class fairs visited by me during last season.
241. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab,
reports as follows:—
This year Rs. 250 were given away as rewards to nine zemindars for keeping good
large horse runs. I would here recommend that the same amount be given another year.
I consider the greatest encouragement should be given to owners of such runs, not only with
a view of keeping them up, but also to encourage other zemindars to start similar runs.
During the three days I attended the fair I was able to brand 29 mares, nearly all of which
were not only by Government stallions, but also their dams showed crosses of English blood.
242. He concludes his report as follows :—
The thanks of this Department are due to Veterinary Lieutenant Loughlin, Army
Veterinary Department, for the indefatigable way he worked on the Judging Committee.
243. It is a matter of great satisfaction to me to know that this officer is
to be appointed to a horse-breeding district where his well-known energy will
prove of value.
Shahpur Horse
show.
244. This show was held on 5th, 6th and 7th March 1894; and although
there was some falling off in the numbers, still the general concensus of opi-
nion is that the quality of all exhibits was excellent.
245. The total number that attended was 1,333 against 1,514, whilst the
number that competed for prizes fell from 495 to 383. This is accounted for
by the bad weather which prevailed shortly before the show was held, and
also to the fact that, owing to a flood in the river Jhelum at the time of the
fair, the owners of stock in the Kushab Tehsil were unable to cross.
246. I have for many years been convinced that this district is one of the
best horse-breeding centres of Northern India, and certainly the reports received
confirm the opinion.
247. The Deputy Commissioner says in his report:—
The Remount officers seemed well pleased with their bargains and were struck with
the excellent quality of the brood-mares and foals exhibited.