Breed Standards

PDF of Breed Standard

Breed Standards

The following Standard of Points have been suggested by the Cleveland Bay Council for the guidance of persons interested in the breed and Judges of the breed.

HEIGHT

16.0 h.h. to 16.2 h.h. but height should not disqualify an otherwise good sort.


COLOUR

Cleveland Bays must be bay with black points, i.e. black legs, black mane and black tail. Grey hairs in mane and tail do not disqualify. These have been long recognised as a feature in certain strains of pure Cleveland blood. White, beyond a very small star is not permitted * Legs which are bay or red below the knees and hocks do not disqualify, but are faulty as to colour.


BODY

The body should be wide and deep. The back should not be too long, and should be strong with muscular loins. The shoulders should be sloping, deep and muscular. The quarters should be level, powerful, long and oval, the tail springing well from the quarters.


HEAD AND NECK

The head characteristic of the breed should be bold and not too small. It should be well carried on a long lean neck


EYES

Eyes should be large, well set and kindly in expression.


EARS

Tend to be large and fine.


THE LIMBS

Arms and thighs and second thighs should be muscular. The knees and hocks should be large and well closed. There should be 9" upwards of good flat bone below the knee measured at the narrowest point on a tight tape. The pasterns should be strong, sloping and not too long. The legs should be clear of superfluous hair and as clean and hard as possible.


THE FEET

One of the most important features of the breed; the feet must be of the best and blue in colour. Feet that are shallow or narrow are undesirable.


"NO FOOT - NO HORSE".


ACTION

Action must be true, straight and free. High action is not characteristic of the breed. The Cleveland which moves well and which is full of courage will move freely from the shoulder and will flex his knees and hocks sufficiently. The action required is free all round, gets over the ground, and fits the wear-and-tear qualities of the breed.


* - White exceeding a small star or any other significant mismarking such as chesnut is outside Breed standards but as from January 2005 mismarked horses can still be registered as pure to protect their genetic value to the breed however Breed Committee comments are noted on the passport and in the Stud Book.