Cleveland Bays

Cleveland Bays

The numbers of Cleveland Bay horses are dropping rapidly; it is one of the rarest breeds in Britain and currently has a critical rating on the Rare Breeds Survival List.

The Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS) maintains registers for both pure and part bred Cleveland Bays (CB). To show in CB classes your horse must have been entered into one of the registers.

Breed Standard

A pure bred CB can range from 15.2 upwards, has long strong neck, sloping shoulders, long deep body with powerful hindquarters and a good depth of bone. Its colouring is Bay with black points, lower legs mane & tail, a small white star is allowed. All feet should be strong and 'blue' in colour.

Part bred CB's have no colour or height restriction but must be registered with at least one-quarter traceable CB bloodlines.

Classes run for Cleveland Bays

Ridden - The CBHS offer both pure and part bred ridden classes, although these will be combined with a rosette to the highest placed Pure bred if numbers are low.

In hand - There are normally four classes "Mares 4 years or over with or without a foal at foot." "Colt or filly foal." "Colt, filly or gelding 2 or 3 years." " Colt, filly or gelding yearling". Stallions have their own annual show, the King George V Cup held once a year to select the Premium stallion for the year.

Turnout

Ridden - Under CBHS rules you should show your CB as a hunter i.e. plaited, double bridle, tweed jacket and shirt and tie. Generally classes are judge ridden with a CBHS approved ride judge.

In hand - Again the horse/youngster should be shown as a hunter i.e. in hand or a double bridle and the animal should be plaited.

Other classes CB owners can look out for to enter include Hunter, Rare Breed, Pure Bred and Part Bred classes.