16

Horse Runs.

192. Rs. 100 were awarded in prizes to owners of horse runs in the Rawal Pindi dis-
trict.

Class of Stal-
lion best suit-
ed.

193. The number of 1st and 2nd prizes won by 119 Norfolk Trotter and Half-bred stal-
lions was 211, by 54 Thorough-bred English 53, by 4 Australians 6, by 47 Arabs 54, by 7
Stud-breds 6, by one Turkistani nil, but won one-third prize and four others.

The proportion is as follows of the total number won:—

Norfolk Trotters

...

...

...

...

...

5.06

Thorough-bred English

...

...

...

...

...

3.35

Australians

...

...

...

...

...

...

5

Arabs

...

...

...

...

...

...

3.27

Stud-breds

...

...

...

...

...

...

1.85

Turkistanis

...

...

...

...

...

...

5

                                                    SUMMARY.

194.  At the various shows and fairs held during 1891-92, 39,948 horses attended
against 24,534 in 1890-91. In these figures the number attending Batesar, the largest
fair in the North-Western Provinces, has been omitted, no report up to date having
been received for this fair for 1891-92 from the civil authorities. The chief cause in the
falling off in numbers is due to a large extent to the bad season in the Punjab, where locusts,
drought, and failure of crops rendered fodder and grain very dear, and deterred both dealers
and zemindars from attending shows and fairs.

195.  Six thousand eight hundred and ninety-five animals competed for prizes against 6,168
last season. This must be considered satisfactory, showing, as it does, an increase of branded
mares and their stock by Government stallions.

196.  Seven hundred and seventy-one head of remount stock were purchased at the
various fairs and shows against 556 in 1890-91 This by no means indicates the total
obtained, as a large number is purchased in the district through the agency of dealers and
others. Taking into consideration also that Remount Agents have been more careful in their
selection of stock, it is pleasing to find an improvement on last year's figures.

197.  The shows held at Aligarh, Muzaffarnagar, Nauchandi (Meerut), in the North-
Western Provinces, and in the Punjab, Amritsar (Dewali), Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat,
Jallalabad, and Shahpur continue successful. At many of them a falling off in numbers
occurred owing to scarcity of fodder and dearness of grain. Umballa, Bannu, and Dera
Ismail Khan shows, only recently started, promise in the course of a few years to be
important gatherings. This is more particularly the case with Umballa. At Aligarh,
Bulandshahr, Nauchandi, Muzaffarnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Multan the branded mares
and fillies are noted "very good," at Quetta "excellent," at Sibi "very superior;" and, with
one or two exceptions, "good" at all the others. The stock, with the exception of the older
gelding classes, were approved of, fillies being as a rule better than colts. At many shows,
more especially in the Punjab, the mule classes are favourably commented on.

198.  The Inspector-General, on behalf of himself and his officers, begs to acknowledge
the deep obligation felt by the Department of Horse-Breeding to the civil officers of the
breeding districts for the invaluable aid always rendered to them in their work at all times,
and to the military officers whose services were so much appreciated on Judging Commit-
tees at the various fairs and shows.

SIMLA;

G. J. R. RAYMENT, Veterinary Captain,

The 22nd July 1892.

Officiating Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department.