it was considered that the main purpose of the scheme was 

 subverted at the outset. 



The infinitely more important branch, the Horse- 

 Breeding Department, with its larger aims, was subordinated 

 to the Remount Department, whose purpose was the 

 immediate provision of horses for the Army ; and as a natural 

 result, the objects of the latter become paramount. The 

 Remount agents and committees made it their business to buy 

 as cheaply as they could ; it was their duty to do so ; but this 

 policy of cheapening a commodity it was particularly desired 

 to improve was, on the face of it, a fatal mistake ; it discouraged 

 native breeders instead of encouraging them. 



At the meeting held at Simla on August 30, 1889, to 

 which reference has been made on page 55, the Director of 

 Land Records for the Punjaub said that the method of pur- 

 chasing horses pursued by the Indian Government had a bad 

 effect ; that native owners of good large mares fit to produce 

 Remounts had begun to sell these animals, and were purchasing 

 pony mares to produce ponies and mules. We have seen on 

 what very different lines the German Government goes to 

 work. 



Our national love of sport makes its effect felt in India as 

 it does in England, and the effect is not a good one. There is 

 in India always a ready market and a high price awaiting the 

 animal suitable for racing or for polo ; and thus the breeder's 

 ambition is to produce such a horse or pony, and to ignore the 

 animal suitable for military use. Opinions are divided con- 

 cerning the effect the temptation to produce a racing or polo 

 pony has upon horse-breeding as an industry in Northern 

 India ; but such authorities as Colonel Hallen and General 

 Luck regard it as a factor which must be reckoned with. 



In this connection, one great difficulty that makes for 

 failure of the most wisely directed endeavour must be borne in 

 mind. The three hundred stallions employed by the Indian 

 Government are scattered over thinly populated regions, and 

 in charge of natives ; and it seems to be generally admitted 



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