Cleveland Bay Horse

The Cleveland Bay is a horse breed that owes its origin to England. It was developed in the 17th century and was named after its body color and the Cleveland district of Yorkshire. It may be interesting to note that the endurance of the Cleveland Bay horse was greatly helped by Queen Elizabeth II. It enjoys the repute of being a well-liked breed of the performance horse. There is much more to know about the Cleveland Bay horse breed. This information is effectively harmonized in the account written below.

Origin of Cleveland Bay Horse

The Cleveland Bay is most likely the oldest British horse breed. It was developed from a packhorse known as the Chapman horse. In the the1600s, a fine carriage horse was fashioned with the introduction of Andalusian and Barb blood. This new carriage horse was named the Cleveland Bay. The new breed saw a decline because of Motorized transport but when the thoroughbred blood was used for crossbreeding, exceptional heavyweight hunters and carriage horses were produced.

Physical Attributes of Cleveland Bay Horse

This horse has a large head with a convex profile and kind eyes. Its neck is longish and rests on deep-sloping muscular shoulders. It has a rather long body that is deep-girthed and with powerful hindquarters and the tail is set on fairly high. Its legs are short and hard with excellent bones and good feet.

Height of Cleveland Bay Horse

Cleveland Bay horse stands between 16 and 16.2 hands high in general.

Body Color of Cleveland Bay Horse

The body color of the Cleveland Bay horse is usually bay or bay brown. White markings are not desirable but a small star or white hair on the heels is acceptable.

The temperament of Cleveland Bay horse

Cleveland Bay horse is intelligent, active, sensible, and calm and possesses bottomless endurance.

Uses of Cleveland Bay horse

The Cleveland Bay horse is resourceful. It is widely used for farm work and driving. A present, Cleveland Bay is frequently used as a royal carriage horse. Its immense power has caused it to be used as a heavy hunter also. Cross-breeding with the thoroughbreds produced progeny that is faster and lighter but possesses heavy and strong bones. During the mid part of the 19th century, show jumping was holding roots as a sport; Cleveland Bay Horse registered its name among the preliminary stars. Thus, it would not be wrong to say that the Cleveland Bay Horse is versatile and multi-talented.

The Cleveland Bay is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of the established English breeds. In earlier times it was known as the Chapman Horse, named for the Chapman or traveling merchants. They used it as a packhorse in the 17th and 18th centuries. Improvement with Thoroughbred blood in the late 18th century led to the side shoot of the Cleveland Bay, the now nearly-extinct Yorkshire Coach Horse, which was a taller and flashier version of the Cleveland model. Today, with a dash of Thoroughbred blood added over the last two centuries, the Cleveland Bay is in worldwide demand as a ceremonial coach horse. It is also much sought after for crossing with Thoroughbreds to produce ideal hunter types.

See more: Chincoteague Pony