THE BREEDING STUD OF AN INDIAN PRINCE. 
395 
of tlie last Hackney show in The Field the following remarks occur : 
“ The Hackney Horse Society has this year instituted classes for geld¬ 
ings. . . . truth compels one to say that they are a sorry lot. 
the proportion of stud horses of the Hackney breed is, beyond all ques¬ 
tion, far in excess of all requirements, and if three-quarters the number 
were f added to the list ^ to-morrow, no great harm would be done.” 
When it is considered that the best stud horses are kept at home, and 
that the Continental buyers, America and Australia, eagerly compete 
for the next best, there is much reason to fear that most of those pur¬ 
chased by others, are among the lot condemned by The Field as useless 
for breeding purposes. And a trotter stallion of the second class is but 
a moderate animal, while one of a lower degree is generally a bad one. 
I would strongly advise any persons breeding in India, to follow the 
example of the Bhavnagar stud rather than embark on the experiment 
of trying the trotting horse. No doubt, if they could secure the ser¬ 
vices of “Danegelt” or “ Ganymede,” or Hackneys of the very first 
class, the result would be good, but as that is impossible, they had 
much better use English and Arab sires. And though I do not think 
that country-breds will ever be produced of sufficient weight and 
strength for artillery or heavy cavalry, I believe, that for all general 
purposes—military and civil—they will be found, not only suitable, but 
superior to every other breed. 
I do not think that, in the Bombay Presidency at anyrate, it is under¬ 
stood what kind of mare produces the animal best adapted for the ser¬ 
vices, nor with what sire she should be crossed. Now, though it is not 
to be expected that breeders will not exercise their own discretion in the 
matter of breeding, I think many would be glad if the experience 
gained could be, from time to time, circulated for information. There 
seems to be now no officer able to give authentic information as to the 
results arrived at. I observe, in the Report on the Army Remounts, 
that the Director expresses a strong opinion that clear instructions should 
be given to officers of the Department on general matters connected 
with it “on account of their limited tenure of appointment;” it seems 
to me that in these instructions might be included a precis of the know¬ 
ledge and experience stored in the Government records of horse- 
breeding, for the benefit of breeders and others anxious for information. 
It may be answered that this is the business of the Civil Veterinary 
Department ; in my opinion, it is the business of everyone who is 
responsible for, or interested in, the supply of horses in India. 
Note .—There are, in addition to the native regiments, three regiments of 
1 British Cavalry, mounted on Arabs and country-breds ; of these I have only 
seen the 7th Hussars, whose horses consist of 367 Persians, 46 country-breds, 
98 Arabs, and 21 of other breeds; the Persians are considered the best, next in 
5 estimation are the country-breds, and the Arabs are last in the order of merit. 
But I saw no country-breds of the class of those bred at the Bhavnagar stud. 
