History and Origin of the Breed
by Jane Scott, Secretary CBHSNA
English Heritage
The Cleveland Bay originated in Britain, in the Cleveland  area of Northern
Yorkshire, and is the oldest of the indigenous breed of English horses. Yorkshire is known
as the source of two breeds, the Thoroughbred and the Cleveland Bay. The Cleveland Bay
breed is thought to have evolved from crossing native bay colored mares with Oriental
stallions during the 17th century. Shaped by a harsh environment, a horse of durability,
longevity and quiet disposition resulted. These characteristics, combined with the
uniformity of bay color, size, and substance, developed a versatile breed used as hunt
horse, coach or packhorse, and as an agricultural worker. Originally known as the Chapman
horse, after the salesmen who exclusively used Cleveland Bays, the breed excelled as an
all-arounder. During the peak of the breed's popularity in the late 1880s, the Cleveland
Bay Horse Society of Great Britain published the first volume of its Stud Book, which
contained stallions and mares selected for the purity of blood.
During the 19th century, some Cleveland Bays were bred to Thoroughbreds, which produced
the Yorkshire Coach Horse, a carriage horse with unmatched ability for speed, style, and
power. With the advent of the mechanical age, the numbers of Cleveland Bay and Yorkshire
Coach horses rapidly declined. They were further decimated by use as artillery horses
during World War I. The Cleveland Bay survived in the region of it's birthplace during
these difficult times, but in the 1960's only five or six mature stallions were known. Due
to the foresight and determination of the Yorkshire admirers, the breed has survived and
numbers have grown. The Queen of England became the Patron of the breed, and her Royal
Mews continues the tradition of using Cleveland Bays and cross-breeds in ceremonial
duties.
The Cleveland Bay has successfully been cross-bred to  Thoroughbred types to produce outstanding
performance horses in dressage, driving, and jumping. It is through these quality animals
that breed recognition is becoming known. With the increase of numbers of Cleveland Bay
purebreds, some are competing along with breeding duties. Although listed as an endangered
breed with less than 500 world wide, Cleveland Bay lovers from Britain, North America,
Japan, New Zealand and Australia are dedicated to the conservation of this unique horse.
American Versatility
The first Cleveland Bay stallions were imported to Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts
in the early 1800's. The 1884 Upperville Colt and Horse Show in Virginia was created to
showcase Col. Dulany's imported stallion, Scrivington, and his offspring. Later William
Cody, America's Buffalo Bill, chose the Cleveland Bay for his Wild West show. Western States utilized
the stallions in their breeding of range horses, noting their staying quality, easy
maintenance, and a match for the biggest of steers.
The Cleveland Bay Horse Society of North America was founded in 1885, with 2000
stallions and mares registered by 1907. Imported as superb coach horses, the breed
interest waned during mechanization, but was briefly revived in the 1930's when Alexander
Mackay-Smith imported founding stock for hunters. Presently, there are about 50 purebred
Cleveland Bays in the United States and Canada, with many Cleveland Bay Part-breds
competing in all disciplines of horsemanship.
Breed
Characteristics
Height: 16.0 hh to 16.2 hh, but height
should not disqualify an otherwise good sort.
Color: Cleveland Bays must be bay with
black points, i.e.  black legs, black mane and black tail. Grey hairs in mane and tail do not
disqualify. These have long been recognised as a feature in certain strains of pure
Cleveland blood. White is not admissible beyond a very small white star. Legs which are
bay or red below the knees and hocks do not disqualify, but are faulty as to color.
Body: The body should be wide and deep.
The back should not be too long, and should be strong with muscular loins. The shoulders
should be sloping, deep and muscular. The quarters should be level, powerful, long and
oval, the tail springing well from the quarters.
Head and Neck: The head characteristics
of the breed should be bold and not too small. It should be well carried on a long lean
neck.
Eyes: Eyes should be large, well set
and kindly in expression.
Ears: Ears tend to be large and fine.
Limbs: Arms and thighs and second
thighs should be muscular. The knees and hocks should be large and well closed. There
should be 9" upwards of good flat bone below the knee measured at the narrowest point
on a tight tape. The pasterns should be strong and sloping and not too long. The legs
should be clear of superfluous hair and as clean and hard as possible.
Feet: One of the most important
features of the breed; the feet must be of the best and blue in color. Feet that are
shallow or narrow are undesirable.
Action: Action must be true, straight
and free. High action is not characteristic of the breed. The Cleveland which moves well
and which is full of courage will move move freely from the shoulder, and will flex his
knees and hocks sufficiently. The action required is free all round, gets over the ground
and fits the wear-and-tear qualities of the breed.
Breed
Organizations
The Cleveland Bay purebred and part-bred registry is  maintained and
supervised by the Cleveland Bay Society of Great Britain. Only pure-bred Cleveland Bays
sired by a stallion awarded the Certificate for Pure Breeding are eligible for registry.
Inspection and approval of stallions and mares by the British Cleveland Society is done
every three years or as warranted.
For More Information, Contact:
The Cleveland Bay Horse Society of North America
P.O. Box 221
South Windham, CT 06266
Email: wheelgat@c-zone.net
Web Site: www.c-zone.net/wheelgat/cb1.html
The Cleveland Bay Horse Society
York Livestock Centre
Murton, York
North Yorkshire
YO1 3UF
Information supplied by
Cleveland Bay Horse Society of North America
|
