10

                          III.—HORSE FAIRS AND SHOWS.

Review on each fair and
show held.

38. Table XV is an abstract showing the number of stock exhibited, the
number of remounts purchased, and the number of
prizes awarded at several horse-shows held in the year
1895-96. A short review on each is given below.

Ahmednagar.

39. Commenced on the 25th November 1895. The total number of entries
amounted to 926 against 878 last year. The show
was a decided success.

Classes.—Brood mares, yearlings and 2-year old fillies exceptionally good.

Remounts.—A small and bad class. I am of opinion that the conditions
of the Deccan are such that it will never produce mature remounts. The very
large number of young stock exhibited (219) in the yearling class by Govern-
ment sires is a proof that the Deccan rayat breeds horses, but has neither the
means nor appliances to keep them after a certain age, as few 3-year olds are
exhibited, and they are not to be found in the districts. Under these conditions
it is suggested that Government may be pleased to consider whether it would
not be advantageous to empower the Remount Agent to buy the stock of
known dams and sires at an earlier age than is at present permitted. Experi-
ence has proved that the sooner young stock are admitted into the Rearing
Depôt the more likely are they to grow and become good and useful remounts.
It was particularly noticeable that the stock of ponies of which the Deccan was
completely denuded by the late Afghan war is rapidly being replaced, as there
was a large number of good sturdy little brood mares 3 or 4 years old got by
and in foal to Government sires and bred in the immediate neighbourhood exhi-
bited at the show. The Remount Agent purchased 10 head of young stock for
the Rearing Depôt and describes them as the best batch yet obtained in the
Deccan. He also states that they compare favourably with those bred in other
parts of India, but the prices are considerably higher.

Mule-breeding.—Although the mares exceeded in number any previously
exhibited, mule-breeding makes no progress in the Deccan, and I am of opinion
that it should be abandoned, as the result does not compensate Government for
the outlay.

The total number of young stock (38) which changed hands during the
show is satisfactory. I trust that the success of the show will finally decide the
question as to the advantages of permanently fixing upon Ahmednagar as the
most suitable centre for holding the Deccan show.

Shikárpur.

40. Held at Shikárpur and commenced on 13th January 1896. The total
number exhibited amounted to 876 against 1,389 at
Jacobabad last year.

Brood Mares.—The number exhibited was disappointing. A few, however,
were particularly good and the majority capable of producing stock which will
grow into useful remounts.

Young Stock—Was very good, the fillies exceptionally so.

Remounts.—The northern horses exhibited were not as good or as nu-
merous as last year at Jacobabad. The 3-year olds got by Government sires
were particularly good, and the batch obtained by the District Superintendent of
Police, Shikárpur, was considerably above the average of Police remounts.
150 remounts were purchased for Government purposes, 48 of which were by
Government sires. Eight head of young stock were purchased for the Nagar
Rearing Depôt. This is the first batch that has been sent to this depôt, and it is
most satisfactory to report that without a single exception they have done and
thriven remarkably well, proving that stock brought from Sind adapt themselves
to the soil and climate of the Deccan, and that it does not check or interfere with
their growth in any way, but on the contrary the change appears to be bene-
ficial.

Mules.—The mares for mule-breeding and the mules exhibited were a good
lot. The number shown does not in any way represent the amount of mule