As its name suggests, the Cleveland Bay emanates from the Cleveland area of North East England. Without doubt it is Britains oldest breed of horse and has been fixed in type much longer than the Society’s foundation date suggests.
The church played a very large role in their breeding. Throughout the middle ages the Monastic houses in the North East were the principal breeders of horses. Pack horses were needed for the trading of goods between the various Abbeys and Monasteries.
Most certainly the ancestors of todays Cleveland Bays, particularly on the female side, were such pack horses bred in the Yorkshire Dales. Locally they were known as Chapman horses, the name being derived from the name given to packmen and itinerant pedlars of those days ie “Chapmen”.
There was an influx of barb horses into the port of Whitby. These were used on Chapman mares.
Before the end of the 17th Century the main ingredient of the Cleveland Bay, the Chapman, and the Barb had come together to mould the type of powerful horse whose popularity as a pack/harness horse was beginning to spread beyond the North East.
The next century saw an increase in weight and size of these horses – better feeding being one of the reasons. The result was a quality versatile horse which found many uses away from the Monasteries as agricultural horses drawing carts and waggons of various types.
A demand for faster carriage horses resulted in some breeders crossing their Clevelands with strong Thoroughbreds.
Their off-spring were known as the Yorkshire Coach Horse a tall elegant carriage horse, much in demand by the rich and royal.
The late 18th Century was the golden age of carriage driving. Yorkshire Coach Horses were exported all over the world to provide matched pairs and teams.
During the height of the London season, hundreds of pairs of Yorkshire Coach Horses could be seen in Hyde Park every afternoon.
To this day one may still detect the two types of Cleveland – the smaller, resembling the Chapman, and the taller resembling the Yorkshire Coach Horses. Both nevertheless retain the bone and substance of their ancestors.
The coming of the motor car and tractor put an end to the need for Cleveland Bays. They went into decline. Many were sold abroad.
A few dedicated breeders in the North East kept the breed alive.
QUALITIES
The Pure-Bred Cleveland Bay is a very intelligent horse with a sensible temperament. They possess a strong character which, if mishandled can be spoiled.
They have plenty of bone and substance, are hardy, long lived and have tremendous stamina.
Characteristically the breed is very bold and honest. They are always bay in colour their action is level, free and long striding.
They are an established breed and so breed true to type. 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 native stock.
May 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.
VERSATILITY
Perhaps the Cleveland’s greatest advantage is its versatility.
Early Clevelands were versatile pack and harness horses. The present day Cleveland is equally versatile in relation to the modern equine disciplines.
This has been proved by a Pure Bred Stallion who has been performance tested by the National Stallion Association. The test includes dressage, show jumping, and cross country phases.
As carriage and driving horses they remain unsurpassed. For this purpose a good number are kept at the Royal Mews. Teams of Clevelands can be seen competing in FEI driving trials. Many are driven as singles and in pairs purely for pleasure.
They make ideal heavy weight hunters for the field, and can be exhibited in the show ring either as in-hand, ridden or working hunters.
As sound active horses with substance, stamina and a good temperament they make excellent police horses.
The ability to break a Cleveland Bay to saddle and harness makes this breed invaluable to all round enthusiast to whom one horse can be all things!
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