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| Cleveland Bay Horses - An Article By Michelle Williams |
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Cleveland Bays are the oldest pure breed of Warmblood horse in the
world. Their history goes back over 400 years!
The Cleveland Bay owes its beginnings to the Church in some
respects as the Monastic houses were well known for breeding horses
of good bone and substance as pack horses for taking their goods
between Abbeys and Monasteries.
The Cleveland Bays were originally the ‘Chapman’s Horse’ – A
‘Chapman’ being the travelling salesman of the day back in the 17th
Century. They were a horse with clean limbs (no feathering that you
see on the draught breeds), ample bone, and had the ability to plough
the fields all day, take the family to town in the buggy over rough roads
and terrain, carry the farmer to church or to town with all his goods for
market, or go hunting all day – a real “jack of all trades”.
world. Their history goes back over 400 years!
The Cleveland Bay owes its beginnings to the Church in some
respects as the Monastic houses were well known for breeding horses
of good bone and substance as pack horses for taking their goods
between Abbeys and Monasteries.
The Cleveland Bays were originally the ‘Chapman’s Horse’ – A
‘Chapman’ being the travelling salesman of the day back in the 17th
Century. They were a horse with clean limbs (no feathering that you
see on the draught breeds), ample bone, and had the ability to plough
the fields all day, take the family to town in the buggy over rough roads
and terrain, carry the farmer to church or to town with all his goods for
market, or go hunting all day – a real “jack of all trades”.
The breed, as its name suggests, is believed to have
been derived from the Cleveland/Yorkshire area in
England’s north, however the Chapmen were not
exclusive to that area – with travelling salesmen being
just that – they travelled all over! It is believed that
there was some Barb blood brought in and used over
the Chapman mares, which created what we know
today as the Cleveland Bay.
What became known as the Yorkshire Coach Horse
was a ¾ Cleveland Bay ¼ Thoroughbred – bred
specifically for, as its name suggests, Carriage work.
Faster, taller, more elegant horses were much sought
after by Royalty and the ‘upper classes’ – the
Yorkshire Coach Horse fit the bill perfectly. In the late
18th Century, Yorkshire Coach Horses were exported
all over the world to provide ‘matched pairs’ and teams.
With the invention of the motorcar and tractor, the
need for the Cleveland Bay came to an end and saw a
lot of horses exported to other countries. A handful of
dedicated breeders in the North of England thankfully
kept breeding them.
They are an established breed and so breed true to
type and of course colour. Their characteristics and
traits are passed on to their progeny. This makes
them an ideal out-cross.
America, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand and
many other countries have imported Cleveland Bays to
improve their stock. In the 1880s Cleveland Bays were
brought to Australia, at the same time, Buffalo Bill was
using them in his Wild West Show in America.
Many European Warmbloods, particularly the
Gelderlander, Oldenburg, Holstein, and Hanoverian
been derived from the Cleveland/Yorkshire area in
England’s north, however the Chapmen were not
exclusive to that area – with travelling salesmen being
just that – they travelled all over! It is believed that
there was some Barb blood brought in and used over
the Chapman mares, which created what we know
today as the Cleveland Bay.
What became known as the Yorkshire Coach Horse
was a ¾ Cleveland Bay ¼ Thoroughbred – bred
specifically for, as its name suggests, Carriage work.
Faster, taller, more elegant horses were much sought
after by Royalty and the ‘upper classes’ – the
Yorkshire Coach Horse fit the bill perfectly. In the late
18th Century, Yorkshire Coach Horses were exported
all over the world to provide ‘matched pairs’ and teams.
With the invention of the motorcar and tractor, the
need for the Cleveland Bay came to an end and saw a
lot of horses exported to other countries. A handful of
dedicated breeders in the North of England thankfully
kept breeding them.
They are an established breed and so breed true to
type and of course colour. Their characteristics and
traits are passed on to their progeny. This makes
them an ideal out-cross.
America, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand and
many other countries have imported Cleveland Bays to
improve their stock. In the 1880s Cleveland Bays were
brought to Australia, at the same time, Buffalo Bill was
using them in his Wild West Show in America.
Many European Warmbloods, particularly the
Gelderlander, Oldenburg, Holstein, and Hanoverian
owe much to the Cleveland Bay influence. Some European and Baltic draught horses such as the Russian Vladimir and Danish
Schienswig have the benefit of Cleveland blood. Breeds such as the Clydesdale, Welsh Cob and Standardbred even have the
Cleveland Bay to thank for part of their makeup!
Cleveland Bays are on the Critical list with only a small amount of purebreds in existence – the official number is not clear,
however it is believed that there is only an estimated 500 or so in the entire world.
Queen Elizabeth II is a breeder of Cleveland Bay Horses, and when numbers were very low (at that time there were only 4
purebred Cleveland Bay Stallions left in the UK) she purchased a young stallion named Mulgrave Supreme – who was
supposed to go to America, however Her Majesty stepped in. Her Majesty is the Patron of the Cleveland Bay Horse Society in
the UK and without her support over the years, the Cleveland Bay may not have built back up to the numbers it has now.
Schienswig have the benefit of Cleveland blood. Breeds such as the Clydesdale, Welsh Cob and Standardbred even have the
Cleveland Bay to thank for part of their makeup!
Cleveland Bays are on the Critical list with only a small amount of purebreds in existence – the official number is not clear,
however it is believed that there is only an estimated 500 or so in the entire world.
Queen Elizabeth II is a breeder of Cleveland Bay Horses, and when numbers were very low (at that time there were only 4
purebred Cleveland Bay Stallions left in the UK) she purchased a young stallion named Mulgrave Supreme – who was
supposed to go to America, however Her Majesty stepped in. Her Majesty is the Patron of the Cleveland Bay Horse Society in
the UK and without her support over the years, the Cleveland Bay may not have built back up to the numbers it has now.
You will find Cleveland Bays and Cleveland Bay Sporthorses (which is what
Partbred Cleveland Bays are known as) doing a bit of everything and
succeeding in the Olympic Disciplines of Dressage, Showjumping and
Eventing, as well as being fantastic horses for Showing – in hand and under
saddle, Hunting, Stock Work, Adult Rider and Pony Clubs, and even in the
Police Force! In the past Cleveland Bays have been used in Cavalry Horse
breeding and work as well.
The CB is a brilliant all round horse, which can turn its hoof to anything you,
ask of it. They are known for their even temperament, good sound legs and
strong well shaped hooves and can quite often get away without the need for
shoeing even on harder ground. They are easy to train – which also means
that they can pick up a bad habit just as easily as a good one – so you need
to teach them the right way to do something from the beginning. Having said
that – they are fairly easy to teach the right way if they have a habit you wish
to break, just keep repeating the ‘right’ thing and they will pick it up pretty
quickly.
Purebred Cleveland Bays should always be bay in colour, though there are
the occasional chestnut one pop up if the genetics allow. They have little to
no white markings, however a bit of ticking through the coat is common in
some bloodlines. Partbred Cleveland Bays can be of any colour.
Some famous Cleveland Bays are:
Old Billy – The worlds oldest horse who lived to 62 years of age. He was
part Cleveland Bay.
Mazetto – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who was bred in New Zealand,
competed for the NZ Olympic Team in Atlanta, and is now living in the USA
and evented at the Rolex Kentucky 3DE in 2008.
Sarnia Park Flaunt – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who is showjumping in
Western Australia, and was the EFA WA Showjumper of the year in 2007 and
2009.
Powder Monkey – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who competed in the
Olympics in Dressage some years ago.
Bob Edwards Team – A team of Cleveland Bay Sporthorses who went from
Australia (Toowoomba, QLD) to compete at the World Equestrian Games in
2006 – the team was then sold to a German Driver.
Octavius of Neika/ Yarra Valley Octavius – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse
who is a Grand Prix Dressage horse here in Australia.
Austral Park Spellbound – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse doing well in
Dressage – Prix St Georges in Australias eastern states.
DP Finean – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse doing well in Dressage in Western
Australia at top level.
Betty Blockbuster – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who was a well-known
Showjumper here in Australia.
Crown Alliance – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who is an eventer in the UK
and Europe.
Fanny Drape – Around 1869 at Middlesborough Show (UK) this Partbred
Cleveland Bay jumped 7ft 6 inches – a smidge under 2.3m! – while her
handler ran underneath the jump!
Peter Simple – who was out of a Partbred Cleveland Bay Mare, ran the
Grand National in England carrying 12 stone – 76.2kg. His jockey could not
hold him, was discarded, caught him, remounted and still came THIRD within
6 lengths of the winner!
North Flight – Competed in the Tokyo Olympics.
Arun Tor – A very successful Dressage horse in the UK, and was on the
1996 British Olympic Team, however he did not compete.
Some links that you may find useful:
www.clevelandbays.com.au - The Cleveland Bay Horse Society of
Australasia
www.clevelandbay.com - The Cleveland Bay Horse Society (UK)
www.clevelandbay.org - The Cleveland Bay Horse Society of North
America
http://thinkingabouthorses.blogspot.com/2010/12/cleveland-bay.html
http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/clevelandbay.html
http://www.horsetradition.com/idakotaoneclevelandbay.html
http://www.georgianindex.net/horse_and_carriage/carriage-breeds.html
http://www.horseytalk.net/HorseyInterviews/Margaret_ColinGreen.html
http://www.bayhavenfarm.com/Bay_Haven_Farm,
_LLC/About_the_Cleveland_Bay_Breed.html
http://www.horsebreedersmagazine.com/#/history-of-the-cleveland-
bay/4536795973
http://www.southernclevelandbayclub.co.uk/#
Partbred Cleveland Bays are known as) doing a bit of everything and
succeeding in the Olympic Disciplines of Dressage, Showjumping and
Eventing, as well as being fantastic horses for Showing – in hand and under
saddle, Hunting, Stock Work, Adult Rider and Pony Clubs, and even in the
Police Force! In the past Cleveland Bays have been used in Cavalry Horse
breeding and work as well.
The CB is a brilliant all round horse, which can turn its hoof to anything you,
ask of it. They are known for their even temperament, good sound legs and
strong well shaped hooves and can quite often get away without the need for
shoeing even on harder ground. They are easy to train – which also means
that they can pick up a bad habit just as easily as a good one – so you need
to teach them the right way to do something from the beginning. Having said
that – they are fairly easy to teach the right way if they have a habit you wish
to break, just keep repeating the ‘right’ thing and they will pick it up pretty
quickly.
Purebred Cleveland Bays should always be bay in colour, though there are
the occasional chestnut one pop up if the genetics allow. They have little to
no white markings, however a bit of ticking through the coat is common in
some bloodlines. Partbred Cleveland Bays can be of any colour.
Some famous Cleveland Bays are:
Old Billy – The worlds oldest horse who lived to 62 years of age. He was
part Cleveland Bay.
Mazetto – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who was bred in New Zealand,
competed for the NZ Olympic Team in Atlanta, and is now living in the USA
and evented at the Rolex Kentucky 3DE in 2008.
Sarnia Park Flaunt – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who is showjumping in
Western Australia, and was the EFA WA Showjumper of the year in 2007 and
2009.
Powder Monkey – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who competed in the
Olympics in Dressage some years ago.
Bob Edwards Team – A team of Cleveland Bay Sporthorses who went from
Australia (Toowoomba, QLD) to compete at the World Equestrian Games in
2006 – the team was then sold to a German Driver.
Octavius of Neika/ Yarra Valley Octavius – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse
who is a Grand Prix Dressage horse here in Australia.
Austral Park Spellbound – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse doing well in
Dressage – Prix St Georges in Australias eastern states.
DP Finean – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse doing well in Dressage in Western
Australia at top level.
Betty Blockbuster – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who was a well-known
Showjumper here in Australia.
Crown Alliance – A Cleveland Bay Sporthorse who is an eventer in the UK
and Europe.
Fanny Drape – Around 1869 at Middlesborough Show (UK) this Partbred
Cleveland Bay jumped 7ft 6 inches – a smidge under 2.3m! – while her
handler ran underneath the jump!
Peter Simple – who was out of a Partbred Cleveland Bay Mare, ran the
Grand National in England carrying 12 stone – 76.2kg. His jockey could not
hold him, was discarded, caught him, remounted and still came THIRD within
6 lengths of the winner!
North Flight – Competed in the Tokyo Olympics.
Arun Tor – A very successful Dressage horse in the UK, and was on the
1996 British Olympic Team, however he did not compete.
Some links that you may find useful:
www.clevelandbays.com.au - The Cleveland Bay Horse Society of
Australasia
www.clevelandbay.com - The Cleveland Bay Horse Society (UK)
www.clevelandbay.org - The Cleveland Bay Horse Society of North
America
http://thinkingabouthorses.blogspot.com/2010/12/cleveland-bay.html
http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/clevelandbay.html
http://www.horsetradition.com/idakotaoneclevelandbay.html
http://www.georgianindex.net/horse_and_carriage/carriage-breeds.html
http://www.horseytalk.net/HorseyInterviews/Margaret_ColinGreen.html
http://www.bayhavenfarm.com/Bay_Haven_Farm,
_LLC/About_the_Cleveland_Bay_Breed.html
http://www.horsebreedersmagazine.com/#/history-of-the-cleveland-
bay/4536795973
http://www.southernclevelandbayclub.co.uk/#
