Horse Breeds - The Cleveland BayThe Cleveland Bay - the oldest and purest of the British Horse Breeds. Find out what makes them something extra special in the horse world and what is being done to preserve this noble breed.
HEIGHT 16hh - 16.2hh (163 - 168cm at the shoulder) APPEARANCE This horse breed is very striking and distinctive in appearance. They have a large, strong frame with a well muscled neck, broad chest and strong hindquarters. Cleveland Bay's typically have a very deep girth and very little feather on their legs.
The clue is in the name - their colour "Bay" "bay" is the trademark of the breed. They are always a striking bright bay in colour with black "points" (black mane and tail and black legs up to the knee / hock). No white markings are allowed on pure breds with the exception of a white star on the forehead. The colour means that they are easy to match for driving pairs. TEMPERAMENT Cleveland Bays are docile in nature. They combine size and strength with sensibility and intelligence. Courageous and surefooted enables them to adapt to all different types of terrain.
Cleveland Bays, as a native breed, are very hardy and are great workhorses. They are versatile and equally capable of dressage as a full day's hunting. They also excel at Carriage Driving and were used extensively by HRH Prince Phillip in carriage driving competitions. They still pull the Queen's processional carriages today. Cleveland Bay bloodlines have been used to enhance many other breeds such as the Thoroughbred and Hanoverian, contributing their strength and stamina and straightforward temperament. HISTORY OF THE CLEVELAND BAY The Cleveland Bay was first established in the Cleveland area of Yorkshire. It is said that the original stock was bred from horses left over by the Romans in the Middle Ages. Their early years were spent as pack horses used mainly by the Church to ferry goods across the country from one monastery to another. Later they became popular with farmers as their surefootedness enabled them to cope with all different terrain. During the First World War they were even used to haul weaponry on the battlefield. Sadly however, as more and more people switched from carriages to cars, the Cleveland Bay became less popular and by the early 1960s there were only 4 stallions registered for breeding. The Royal Family saved the breed from disappearing completely in its homeland when Queen Elizabeth II bought a stallion that was being sold overseas and used it to continue the breed. They remain an endangered species today although their popularity is rising once again. The pure lines of this magnificent horse breed are being carefully and lovingly preserved by a responsible breeding programme. DID YOU KNOW THAT? Cleveland Bays are not fully mature until they reach 7 years of age. They are one of the longest living horses of modern times often reaching well into their 30s!
|
