28
Veterinary-Lieutenant Cranford, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Dapartment,
South Punjab, supervised and controlled the large staff of veterinary assist-
ants placed at his disposal.
Bannu Horse
Show.
132. This show was held from 26th to 28th February 1894.
133. Some years since I formed a very favourable opinion of this as a
horse-breeding district, and am glad to find that it is now coming to the front.
134. One thousand three hundred and twenty-four horses were present
against 1,150 last year, whilst 799 competed for prizes against 485 in 1893.
135. The Deputy Commissioner (Mr. H. A. Anderson), to whose exertions
we may greatly attribute the success obtained, reports as follows in the 3rd
annual show held at Bannu:—
The fair was very largely attended by people from almost all parts of the district, and
Waziris from independent territory also came in large numbers,
Malik Yar Mahomed Khan, Rais of Kalabagh, continues to take great interest in the
fair and brought in 100 animals to the show. The Waziris brought in 300 animals as against
105 only in previous year. I hope this number will still further rise considerably next year.
Of the animals exhibited, the branded mares in foal formed a very large and, perhaps,
the best class.
The branded mares with foals at foot formed a beautiful class. Fillies out of branded
mares also formed a very useful class and gave evidence of the benefits conferred by the Gov-
ernment Horse-Breeding Department.
All the other classes of animals were also very good, the Waziri horses being remark-
able for their bone.
136. During the show the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Derajat and Baluchistan, was able to brand 215 mares against 31 branded at the
last show.
137. The Deputy Commissioner concludes his report with the following
remarks:—
The fair is a most popular institution in the district and is year by year becoming
more popular. The show of brood-mares was excellent, and the increasing number of mares
brought to be branded indicates how the owners are learning to appreciate the advantage of
securing good stallions to cover their mares. The Judges were particularly struck with the
quality and bone of the Waziri horses, which were exhibited in large numbers this year; and
every effort should be made to attract them to the fair by offering special prizes. We have
now more branded mares in the district than can be served by the existing number of Govern-
ment stallions (five) and I am applying for some additional stallions. Mr. Maxwell has kindly
promised to assist me in obtaining them.
138. Four remounts for Native Cavalry and one for Police were bought.
I hope to see the purchases largely increased during the next few years.
139. I consider that this show promises to develop into one of the best
in the Punjab and certainly deserves liberal treatment in the way of prizes. I
am greatly guided in the formation of this opinion by the steady increase in
the number of mares covered:—
1891-92
1892-93
1893-94
... ...
...
...
...
...
95
115
228
Delhi Horse
Show.
140. This show was held from 1st to 7th March 1894.
There was a great falling off in numbers attending the show, viz., from 541
in 1893 to 330 in 1894. With reference to this point, the Deputy Commis-
sioner reports:—
The fair was successful in drawing together a good number of animals owned by breed-
ers and private individuals. No dealers were present with batches. This class was attracted
to Aligarh, an old-established fair, held on almost the same dates. Thus the Delhi show
proved a purely local one for the district and neighbourhood, and in this sense proved highly
satisfactory. Of 330 animals exhibited, only 19 were owned by non-agriculturists. This
accounts for the falling off in numbers as compared with 541 of the previous year, when pro-
fessional dealers, with large strings of foreign horses, were present to swell the returns.