Height
Average height of 16 hh.

Colour
Bay only.

Build
The back must not be too long, but strong with muscular loins. The hindquarters should be powerful, level, with the tail springing well from them. The amount of bone should be 9 to 10.5 inches, measured below the knee.

Movement
Their action is level, free and long striding.

History
The Cleveland Bay horse originates from the Cleveland district of North Yorkshire.
Since medieval times, known locally as Chapman horses, they established a reputation as being the ultimate all round horse; excellent farm horse, in harness and under saddle. A popular mount for travelling salesmen; also a pack horse, carryng iron ore out of the mines of the North York Moors.
Often used for transportation of goods by tradesmen; also an exceptional hunter.
Being only Bay in colour, these horses once had primitive markings including a black dorsal stripe, and zebra stripes on the upper leg. Nowadays these markings appear only very rarely.

By the 18th century, the demand for faster carriage horses saw many Cleveland Bays being crossed with Thoroughbreds and Barbs to produce high quality carriage horses, these were known as Yorkshire Coach horses. This meant the purity of the Cleveland bays became threatened; so in 1884 the Cleveland Bay Horse Society was formed to protect the purity of the breed.
This remains the societies aim today.

Today, the Cleveland Bay Horse still retains two types within the breed; the smaller type resembling the Chapman, while the taller, resembling the Yorkshire Coach Horse. They still retain the bone, substance and qualities of their ancestors. The Cleveland Bay makes an excellent all round horse, able to compete in many spheres with great success; jumping, dressage, showing and driving, teams of Clevelands can often be seen competing in FEI driving trials.

Known for having such even calm temperaments, the Cleveland Bay Horse makes excellent Police Horse. The Cleveland Bay's qualities are much sought after, because their qualities make them an ideal out cross. Many countries worldwide have imported Cleveland Bays to improve their native stock as far back as the mid 1800s. Cleveland Bays feature in the pedigrees of many European Warmblood breeds.

Breed Society
Cleveland Bay Horse Society
http://www.clevelandbay.com

Southern Cleveland Bay Breeders club
http://www.geocities.com/scbbc_uk/

Cleveland Bay Horse Society of North America
http://www.clevelandbay.org/

Cleveland Bay Horse Society of Australasia
http://www.clevelandbays.com.au/

Did you know?
The RBST currently recognises Cleveland Bay's status as 'Critical'.

Her Majesty The Queen is Patron of the Cleveland Bay Society.

The Guinness Book of Records lists the oldest living horse, 'Old Billy', aged 62.
He is believed to be a Cleveland Bay Cross.

Buffalo Bill raised the profile of the breed by using Cleveland Stallions to pull concord coaches in his travelling Wild West Circus.

Time line
1884 - Cleveland Bay Horse Society Founded and first stud book published.

1885 - Cleveland Bay Horse Society of North America was founded.

1938 - Yorkshire Coach Horse Society amalgamates with Cleveland Bay Society.

1975 - Australasian Cleveland Bay Society was formed.

1980 - Southern Cleveland Bay Breeders Club formed.