CLEVELAND BAY HORSE BREED STANDARDS &
JUDGING SHEETS
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CLEVELAND BAY HORSE PUREBRED STANDARDS
RECOMMENDED BY THE CLEVELAND BAY HORSE SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA
(BOLD INDICATES PUREBRED STANDARD FROM THE CLEVELAND BAY HORSE SOCIETY STUDBOOK, VOL 1, PUBLISHED IN 1884)
HEIGHT
16.0 hh to 16.2 hh height outside this range is acceptable if height, weight and bone are in balance. Historically 16.1 to 16.2 1/2 hands.
BODY
The body is wide and deep. The back is not too long, and is strong with muscular loins. The shoulders are sloping, deep and muscular. The quarters are level, powerful, long, and oval with the tail springing well from the quarters. Good sloping shoulder, a short back, powerful loins, long quarters.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
Denotes activity and strength, combined in manner not seen in any other breed.
ACTION
Action must be true, straight, and free. Not remarkably high but is the kind of action for getting over the ground.
COLOR
Cleveland Bays are bay with black points*. (Occasionally grey hairs in mane and tail are known to occur). Bay, light or dark, black legs clear of hair, black zebra like stripes on the arm and hock are sometimes seen. Known as black points and are supposed to denote especial of breeding. White to include a small star* and few white hairs in the heel allowed.
SERVICEABLE QUALITIES
Adapted for plough, a heavy conveyance, slow saddle work-what Americans call “a general utility horse". For artillery purposes: docility, strength, and endurance admirably qualify breed. These qualities remain useful for many of today’s needs.
HEAD, EYES, and EARS
-- The head characteristic of the breed is bold and not too small. It is be well carried on a long, muscular neck. (Roman nose is common). Rather plain than otherwise, on the large side but is well carried. Ears tend to be large and fine. Eyes are large, well set and kindly in expression.
LIMBS
-- Arms and gaskins are muscular. The knees and hocks are large and well closed with normally a minimum of nine (9) inch bone** on a 16.0 hands mature male (usually over six years old) less on a mature female. Outside this range is acceptable if height, weight, and bone is proportional. The pasterns are strong, sloping and not too long. The legs at the knee, hock, and below would feel very firm, solid, and strong, and are clear of superfluous hair.
FEET/HOOVES
One of the most important features of the breed; the feet must be of the best and blue in color. Feet that are shallow or narrow are undesirable. "NO FOOT - NO HORSE”.
Standards describe an ideal mature male purebred with females generally smaller. Color is the hallmark of the breed: but, color should never be judged above conformation and movement.
Cleveland Bay Horse Society Vol 1 (1884) descriptions are included to demonstrate original historic published standards.
*Size of “star” has never been officially defined and open to interpretation. White marking (ankle and below, snips, and roaning outside the forehead) are atypical but has been seen in purebreds. Black points are defined as black tail, mane, points of ears, and ALL black below knees and hocks.
Breed origins are not completely known and some outside blood was introduced in the 19th and early 20th Century (ie. Yorkshire Coach Horse and Yorkshire Bay).
CLEVELAND BAY HORSE PARTBRED STANDARDS
The designation of Cleveland Bay partbreds was not coined until the late 1970s when the Cleveland Bay Horse Society began recognizing and documenting CB crosses. Today Cleveland Bay Partbreds, also known as Cleveland Bay Sport horses with 1/8th
CB blood or more, are accepted by all Cleveland Bay registries and organizations. Specific conformation descriptions of the ideal partbred/ sport horse hasn't been described until the past few years (CBHS Australasia).
When judging partbred/sport horses, ALL colors and markings are acceptable. Body type or conformation should strive to conform to the purebred standard with final emphasis on a sound, athletic animal with a pleasant disposition and movement, again with height, bone, and weight in balance.
The Cleveland Bay horse is a wonderful breed. We hope you enjoy purebred Cleveland Bay and/or partbred Cleveland Bay/sport horses that you choose to ride, drive, or breed. Please direct any questions to the Cleveland Bay Horse Society of North America, info@clevelandbay.org .
