12
52. The Army Remount Department purchased a greater number than last
year. The same remarks as those made last year with reference to the breeds
of remounts purchased apply to this year as quoted below:—
"It will be noticed in Appendix VII that only a comparatively small number are shown
as the produce of Government stallions, but this is not reliable. Produce certificates are
continually lost or retained by the breeder when he sells his stock. Add to this the facts
noted in paragraphs 25 and 26 of this report, and it will be easily understood how hundreds
of horses, the produce of our stallions, are yearly bought as indigenous. I am of opinion
from repeated inspections of the stock at Hapur and Kurnal that, in Bengal at all events,
very few indigenous animals are purchased for the rearing depôts."
53. I have to tender my thanks to the purchasing officers of the Army
Remount Department for having recently given liberal prices for young stock
and remounts purchased by them. This action on the part of the Remount
Department is a most practical way of fostering horse-breeding operations.
54. There has been of late years a desire on the part of Native Cavalry
to obtain remounts of a height greater than that considered sufficient by the
authorities; also to bar the purchasing of odd colored horses, such as grey,
pie-bald, &c. It is hoped that horses of 14-1, if of a proper stamp, may in
future be accepted; also that greys especially may not be refused. With
regard to grey horses having been considered objectionable, the reporting
district officer at the Pokhur Horse Fair in 1892 states as follows:—
"Of the total number of horses and mares, only 75 and 26 respectively were reported
to be fit for military purposes. Very few of these, however, were considered suitable for
Native Cavalry, as evidenced by the small number of remounts purchased, and by the fact
that none of the officers buying were able to get as many horses as they required. The Gwalior
and Indore Imperial Service Cavalry bought several horses, but they all appeared to be more
or less undersized. It seems a pity that horses of a grey color are so generally rejected by
Native Cavalry. The color is very common, and many otherwise valuable remounts are thus
lost."
Improvement
in stock.
55. I doubtless may be stated that horse stock in the breeding districts
of India has during the last 16 years much improved in stamp. Indeed, that
horses in numbers now are obtainable which in former years could but seldom
be found. During recent years the Native Cavalry have become converted
into Regular Cavalry, and no longer can the Irregular Cavalry soldier on his
small light-limbed, and often motley colored, horse be met with. I believe
I am right in stating that not infrequently the present Silladar Cavalry man
with his kit, &c., weighs 16 stones, and he has to go through a very regular
course of drill, which the old Irregular Cavalry soldier had not to do. So
Native Dragoon like has the Native Cavalry man been made that, unless he
were well mounted, he could never perform the duties now-a-days expected
from him. Therefore it may be accepted that, unless he had become well
mounted, we should not hear of his present efficiency.
56. There are European officers of this branch of the service who hold the
opinion that the present cavalry soldier is no better mounted than the old
irregular soldier was; but this opinion can only be held by men who never
had experience in the old Irregular Cavalry times.
57. Colonel J. H. Grey, C.S.I., with regard to the improvement of stock, in
a letter addressed to me, states as follows:—
"Between 1857 and 1864 I had the opportunity of observing the quality of horses in the
Native Cavalry. I served both in the Punjab and Bengal Cavalry, and in 1861-63 I had
much to do with remount business. Ever since I have left the Cavalry, I have observed
that branch with much interest, and for some years past I have marked the great improvement
in the quality of their horses since my days. In my time horses were of two classes—
"(1) The weedy Hindustani country-bred with plenty of blood, but no bone.
These possessed endurance hardly to be expected from their defective shape,
but they were quite unequal to carrying weight.
"(2) The Northern horse, either what is known as Kabuli, or the coarse, heavy-
crested, under-limbed Punjabi horse. This animal was strong enough, but
being very under-bred, it failed in endurance from want of blood.