69
moment there is 13, and thorough-bred mares 28. I was not very much struck
with the looks and condition of the stallions.
Among the celebrated stallions of Kisber, past and present, may be men-
tioned Buccaneer (sire of Kisber), Cambuscan (sire of Kincsem), Ostrager, Bois
Roussel, Doncaster, Craig Millar, Galaor, Gunnersbury, and Sweet-bread. The
five last-named are there now. Galaor was purchased in France last year, and
I hear nothing but disapproval of the purchase in sporting circles. I cannot
say I liked the horse myself.
The price of service of Doncaster and Craig Millar is £40.
The stallions of Kisber are in such constant demand by native breeders
that but few applications from abroad can be entertained.
The present and past list of mares of this farm includes the names of
Mineral, Beeswing, Gratitude, Deception, Firefly, Honeybee, Empress, Altona,
Cataclism, Leclaire, Gaydene, Risk, &c.
The thorough-breds raised here are sold at auctions as yearlings to native
breeders or owners of race-horses. Buyers are under obligation to keep all
thorough-breds purchased in the country at the conclusion of their racing career.
From 16 to 18 yearlings are sold every year at an average of about £240,
but in some cases prices have reached £1,200.
The Government buys back many thorough-bred stallions bred at Kisber
when they have done racing, using them for breeding purposes in the farms and
depôts.
The half-bred stock of Kisber numbers 100 mares, most of whom have a
strain of thorough-bred English blood for one or more generations. These
produce fine harness horses, and they say turn out first-class hunters for officers,
although for riding I have found most of these horses deficient in shoulder.
The stallions bred at this farm are placed at the disposal of the breeders
of five counties.
The half-bred here averages from 16 hands to 16 hands 3 inches in height.
During the past 10 years more than 221 thorough-bred yearlings have been
sold from Kisber, and 264 thorough-bred stallions have been employed at the
depôts during the covering season.
The following averages have been realised by sale of yearlings in recent
years:—
In 1838, 13 yearlings were sold at average of ... ...
„ 1889, 12
„ 1890, 17
„ 1891, 9
„
„
„
„
„
„
„ ... ...
„ ... ...
„ ... ...
£
292
298
330
244
2. Babona.
This stud farm of 10,000 acres, and possessing 450 horses, is also in the
district of Komarom, at a short distance from Kisber, and is maintained for
raising thorough-bred and half-bred Arabs. It was founded in 1789 with
Oriental (i.e., Hungarian), Transylvanian, and Bessarabian mares, and since its
commencement the stallions have all been of Eastern origin.
From the year 1816 only thorough-bred and half-bred Arabs have been
raised here, during which time more than 20 importations of fresh blood have
been made.
Babona has now 26 thorough-bred and 100 half bred mares, for the
service of which are kept the thorough-bred stallions O. Bajan and Gaylon,
and the half-bred stallions Zarif and Shagya. It is most important in a
country where most of the stock is of Eastern origin to keep up the pure Arab
breed, and it is thought that the race is more surely improved by stallions of
the same origin, especially in those districts with a sandy soil, scant pasturage,
and great variation of temperature.
The limit in number of thorough-bred mares covered by thorough-bred
stallions is 15, the others being covered by half-breds.
The object of this stud is to raise half-bred Arabs of medium height, vary-
ing between 15 and 16 hands. The stallions raised at Babona are mostly em-
18