SAVING THE CLEVELAND BAY
by: Heather Alford
My quest began in January of 2001. My goal? To find a stallion from which one could breed the ultimate sport horse. I needed a stallion to event on that would also serve as an excellent cross with the many Thoroughbred and Arabian mares in the area. I wanted a cross that would produce horses capable of performing at the advanced levels of eventing and stay sound. So began the decision-making process.
Early on, I decided against the typical German warmbloods. They perform well in dressage and jumping as separate events but I feel they generally don't have the stamina, speed, and heart for the cross-country course. Indeed, I also didn't want more of what is already here in the Northwest.
This being the age of technology, I turned to the Internet to help locate rare breeds of horses. The Internet search engines turned up with the Cleveland Bay (and a host of other breeds that I quickly ruled out due to size, temperament and other characteristics).
Years ago I had considered breeding my mare to a Cleveland Bay stallion but sold her instead; I hadn't given the breed a passing thought since that time, since they're not a breed you see very often. My research turned up some very interesting facts. Cleveland Bays are listed as a critically endangered species; with only about 500 purebreds in the world and only 50 to 100 in North America. They originated in the Cleveland area of North East England (not in Cleveland, Ohioas I had long assumed.)
Historically
Cleveland Bays were imported to America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. By 1907 there were over 2,000 purebreds registered in the United States. William F. Cody (aka: Buffalo Bill) imported quite a few Cleveland Bays and had six purebred stallions pulling a stagecoach in some of his performances (which would have been an impressive sight!). In the Depression, the breed numbers declined. Some horses were freed to fend for themselves and others just seemingly disappeared. In researching other American breeds, like the Morgan, foundation Quarter Horses, Standardbreds and others, some Cleveland Bay purebreds or part-breds are listed in the pedigrees. The United States Calvary also used Cleveland Bays in their breeding programs.
At the same time, English breeders began crossing the Clevelands with strong Thoroughbreds. Their tall, elegant offspring were known as Yorkshire Coach horses. These faster, lighter coach horses were popular with the people who wanted to get everywhere, faster. The Thoroughbred/Cleveland cross was also particularly successful in producing an excellent type of hunter, suitable for showing and competing in ridden and working hunter classes. A first or second outcross has produced horses capable of reaching International acclaim as show jumpers, dressage horses and all-round eventers.
The out crossing nearly destroyed the breed in both the United States and England. By the 1960's the Cleveland Bay was nearly extinct. There were only five purebred stallions remaining in England. The Cholderton Stud in England, which has been raising Cleveland Bays for over 100 years, owned two. At this point Her Majesty the Queen stepped in and bought one of the remaining stallions, Mulgrave Supreme. Mulgrave Supreme became the most influential stallion in saving the breed to this day. These five stallions formed the basis of the breeds' comeback.
In North America today, the popularity of the Cleveland Bay appears to be growing rapidly; last year alone roughly 30 colts and fillies were exported to mainly the United States, increasing the numbers here substantially. Currently there are still only about 15 stallions available for purebred breeding in North America. Most of those are on the east coast with only a handful in the western half of the United States. There were none in Oregon, Washington or Idaho.
Traits of the breed
The purebred 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, bold, honest and have tremendous stamina. They are always bay in color and their action is level, free and long striding. Typical height is from 16 to 16.2 hands, but height doesn't disqualify an otherwise correct animal. Cleveland Bays have 'blue' hooves that are tremendously stronga farriers' dream.
The Cleveland Bay is not a draft breed but a true warmblood. Unlike the other warmbloods they have no recent outcrosses. Their characteristics and traits are always passed on to their progeny, which makes them an ideal outcross. Because of their prepotency, part-breds up to one-eighth blood may be registered as a Cleveland Bay part-bred (i.e., must have a purebred Cleveland Bay great grandparent). Many other European Warmbloods, particularly the Gelderlander, Oldenburg, Holstein, and Hanoverian owe much to the Cleveland Bay influence.
Cleveland Bays perform well in most of the modern day equestrian events. Several purebred stallions in England were recently 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. Many are driven as singles and in pairs purely for pleasure. They are used in the Royal Mews for ceremonial duties and also in the demanding sport of combined driving at the International level. 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. They also make excellent police horses because of their calm and steady dispositions.
Everything I read lead me to believe the Cleveland Bay would make a good eventing stallion, with everything needed to be successful here in the Northwest.
Our Decision
I was sold on the Cleveland Bay, but the decision needed the co-approval of my husband. Armed with pictures of stallions and articles about the Cleveland Bay, I began my campaign. Fortunately, my husband was impressed and agreed with my decision. On to step two: finding a stallion suitable for our breeding program.
I began by e-mailing all of the United States contacts I could find and searching the web for Cleveland Bays for sale. I found suitable weanlings that had recently been imported, but it is too difficult to buy a weanling expecting it to turn into your dream stallion in a couple of years. I rejected this option both because it was too risky and because it meant waiting on the dream that I wanted to act on immediately.
On the Cleveland Bay Horse Society web page I found a recently-posted ad. It read as follows: "Tregoyd William, six year-old stallion, quiet temperament, broken to ride, proven fertility, unexpectantly available for sale or loan. Located in Wales. Pictures by e-mail." I sent an e-mail immediately and later that day received a picture from the Green family of the nicest looking Cleveland Bay Stallion that I had ever seen.
The Greens lived in Tregoyd (pronounced Tray Goyd) and, like most Cleveland Bay breeders, used their town name to begin the names of their horses. The Greens were selling William because he was related to the bulk of their mares. They described the 17 hand William as a "pussy cat" with "a humour all his own." I felt like I already knew William before I met him.
After over a hundred e-mails, a couple of very long international phone calls with his owners and the agent in the UK and numerous problems due to the Foot and Mouth Disease breakout, William finally ended up in quarantine on the east coast in April of 2001. He was originally due to be at quarantine at UC Davis however, the Foot and Mouth restrictions kept many airlines from flying horses during that period of time, so we made the call to just get him into the United States.
I flew back and met William in mid-May at quarantine and was in awe of this incredible horse. He was far more beautiful and kind than I ever could have hoped for, only knowing what his breeders told me and seeing pictures they sent. He thoroughly enjoyed the picture taking sessions and getting to munch on fresh grass while we were there and was visibly upset when we put him away to leave. He moved like a dream, had totally straight legs, and a kind disposition. William is now safe and sound in America living in Canby, Oregon. He is in training to become an eventer and will probably start showing in 2002.
We hope to have the first herd of purebreds in Oregon by the end of this year, when we'll import a few purebred fillies and/or mares in the fall. And so I've happily joined the ranks of those dedicated to promoting these wonderful horses and encouraging their survival and success as a breed.
For more information about Cleveland Bay horses, check out Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS) website at http://www.clevelandbay.com. They are headquartered in York, England. You can also search for the North American Cleveland Bay Horse Society which is headquartered in Connecticut, USA. Their website links to all of the breeders in the United States. William's website is http://www.williamsknollfarm.com where you can read all about the breed; William; importing from the UK; and our future plans.