Cleveland Bay: Horse Breed Profile

With its distinctive coat color and noble appearance its common to find the Cleveland Bay serving in the Royal Mews competing in a driving class or being ridden under saddle. This versatile breed has been in existence for centuries but with a decline in its numbers this breed is now highly rare. Thanks to the work of Queen Elizabeth II and other breeders the Cleveland Bays numbers are climbing and hopefully well be able to enjoy these horses for centuries to come.
Cleveland Bay History and Origins

The Cleveland Bay has a rich history and holds the distinction of being the oldest breed native to England. The breed originated in the Cleveland and North Riding of Yorkshire areas hence its name. The Chapman Horse a pack horse was crossed with Spanish horses in the mid1600s. After 1661 the Barb also contributed to the breeds development.
By the 1700s the breed type of the Cleveland Bay was established and this breed was exported through Europe and influenced many other breeds. The Cleveland Bay became a heavier wellmuscled horse favored for agricultural use. However as speed in transportation became more important Thoroughbred and Arabians were introduced to create a lighter Cleveland bay better suited as a coach horse.
In 1883 the British Cleveland Bay Horse Society was founded. During the 1800s many Cleveland Bays were exported to countries including the United States India New Zealand and Australia.
This breed influenced American horse history too. These horses were first imported to states including Maryland Virginia and Massachusetts where they gained popularity. Colonel Richard Henry Dulaney who lived in Virginia and who was so proud of his Cleveland Bay horses created the Upperville Colt Horse Show in 1884 to showcase his Cleveland Bays. In 1885 the Cleveland Horse Society of America was created and an American stud book was