Cleveland bays are good for nothing

harveysmom

harveysmom

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This is a bit of a rant, sorry in advance
Its no wonder people think Cleveland bays are not capable of competing in todays level of competition as they very rarely get any recognition when they do well
This weeks Horse and Hound has a piece that credits Trudi Thornton as part-bred irish draught if thats correct why was this horse competing and winning at Flintham in the cleveland bay class which is only for registered horses, because in reality she is part-bred cleveland bay
Oathill take the biscuit has been mentioned in H&H several times with no mention of there being any Cleveland blood. Hovis has been very successful in the showring and at HOYS
The fashion of today prefers Irish bred horses or Warmbloods, i could get up the noses of some warmblood owners by telling them they own a part-bred cleveland bay
as not to long ago some warmbloods used Cleveland bay blood to improve their bloodlines, if they check their passports some will find CB in there as close as only four generations back.
It seems that foreigners realise how nice Cleveland bays are its just the brits that think they are on the scrap heap
 
well they aren't known for their accurate journalism so I'm not sure CBs should take it too personally ;).
 
I am sure the CB's don't take it personally I can't stand them if where the choice between a CB and no horse I would take the no horse option .
 
Goldenstar said:
I am sure the CB's don't take it personally I can't stand them if where the choice between a CB and no horse I would take the no horse option .
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I have known a few which were lovely horses - until they weren't!
It seems that they poddle along lulling the rider/handler into a false sense of security, then BANG!, with no warning at all, handler/rider is on the floor or otherwise damaged and horse is standing there looking as if butter wouldn't melt.
Although I'm not sure I'd go so far as to choose the no horse option, GS!
 
Ive seen them at Royal Ascot in the carriages, they look smart there, but I dont know of any pure CBs competing in other disciplines. It would be interesting to know if anyone knows of any
I also think 'Trudi Thornton' is by a TB out of a part CB mare..so more TB than anything
 
I love them. My youngster is one quarter CB (through her sire) and I think there's a lot of her temperament that comes from that line, as well as some physical characteristics. You do have to be aware though, as while she's incredibly intelligent and will work with you all day, she does have some fairly strong opinions on how you should be asking her to work... :)
 
Well the mare I had (pure CB) was the best riding horse I have ever owned. If my youngster - sadly not CB - turns out half as good I will be very happy. I would have bought another in a flash when I lost her, but there were none to be found. Actually, there was one, but he was snapped up before I had even followed up the advert. Only 2.5K as well, fours years old and going very nicely by all accounts. I was gutted.

Sadly they're not fashionable any more, and it is a shame. They have a lot to offer. I keep saying that if we move house in the future, I WILL find another.
 
I used to ride one for someone.

Opinionated, strong willed, agile and athletic with an impressive turn of speed, but once onside she was amazing and would do anything I asked of her. Admittedly one could tell that sometimes she thought I was a simple fool, but one that she would forgive and go with :D

I'd have another one if I were up to it.

As for the reporting, well that's journalists for you. Find an interesting angle and get some stories for their inclusion.
 
I think it's safe to say that every CB is different. Clearly no one here has had enough experience of them to judge the whole breed or there'd be some more agreement. I like them as much as I like any heavy Warmblood type. Would just as soon go for a CB as an ID. Journalists suck and people need to form opinions based less on journalism and their one relevant experience.
 
I thought they were driving horses, rather than riding horses. I had a TB x Cleveland Bay and she bucked terribly (I can't remember falling off though) which got very wearing as every time she felt grass under her feet she had to buck. But she was all gas and no guts because even out hunting she wasn't a reliable jumper and would never give the rider any help. She was nice to handle and on the roads, but I wouldn't have another!
 
Barnacle said:
I think it's safe to say that every CB is different. Clearly no one here has had enough experience of them to judge the whole breed or there'd be some more agreement. I like them as much as I like any heavy Warmblood type. Would just as soon go for a CB as an ID. Journalists suck and people need to form opinions based less on journalism and their one relevant experience.
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While I agree that it is difficult to judge each member of a breed from generalisations, I do think it odd that you should decide that people are making their decision based on one experience, I can't find where any one said that.
 
And in fairness, like any other breed there will be considerable variation between horses. You can discuss any breed you like on here and people will disagree. At least there are opinions from people who have some experience of actually dealing with CBs. Even one experience is better than none at all....
 
I had a mare by Forest Superman (CB) X TB. She was quite plain looking, but boy, she had heart! She had been a Field Master's horse before she was mine, and with me she hunted Bloodhounds, Open Team chased did BSJA as it was then, and won a Newcomers.

I guess a good horse is a good horse, whatever the breed.
 
It's a real shame to see one of our British breeds so depleted. :( They are certainly in need of some good PR.

I think it's a case of not having found their 'niche'. Look at Friesians for example. As driving became less common-place, the studbooks have adapted and the Friesian has become sportier and more rider-friendly, and is now marketed primarily as a flashy amateur dressage mount.

The CB isn't notorious for being quiet, and doesn't quite have the paces of a modern warmblood, but they certainly have their value, I guess the books just need to decide in what sphere, and really make a push.
 
Goldenstar said:
I am sure the CB's don't take it personally I can't stand them if where the choice between a CB and no horse I would take the no horse option .
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This

Have known two CB's well both were the most ungenerous horses I have ever come across. Would never consider owning one or anything with CB blood in it. Also don't like their looks either.
 
For those who don't like the look of or the temperament of the Cleveland Bay, a few of mine.

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Its not all bad news for them - Derbyshire County Show had dedicated CB classes today :)

Lovely horses Rollin
 
I know someone who breeds very lovely CBs, intelligent, but nice natured, he seems to have a knack for the nice natured types.

Based on his, I'd have one :)
 
sarahann1 said:
I know someone who breeds very lovely CBs, intelligent, but nice natured, he seems to have a knack for the nice natured types.

Based on his, I'd have one :)
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I think you have summed it up. We bought our first two mares based on the known temperament of their sires. One was purchased for my husband who did not start riding until he was 50+ and we wanted a quiet horse for him. She was not only a star in the show ring she never gave him a moment's anxiety.

Our stallion was purchased following a personal recommendation, again a lovely nature which he passes to his foals. Our latest filly is 9 weeks old, you can touch her all over and pick up her feet. She has a sweet nature.

CB's are much stronger than they appear and it is essential that they are handled and taught good manners when they are young.
 
Well - I LOVE them!

My horse of a lifetime was CB x TB and yes, he had a very strong character but he was the most amazing and loyal horse ever. He never put a hoof wrong with me (others yes, but not me!), he was a one person horse for sure. He had however been mistreated in his previous home (locked in a cow shed in the dark... as the husband (novice) found him too much and had over-horsed himself). He was an amazing jumper, had fantastic paces etc but also a wonderful hack and general riding club horse. Yes... others around me said he was dangerous... but he never actually did anything wrong! I never came off him etc. When others tried to ride him he wasnt very good for them but he was a one person horse - nothing wrong with that. I would have another part bred in a flash....

I later went on, to buy a beautiful pure bred cleveland bay who Rollin saw advertised and told me of, i knew nothing of her bloodlines and what she would be like character wise, i bought her based on 3 photos and sent a transporter to the other end of the country to collect her - she is AMAZING. her only 'fault' is she can refuse to pick her hooves up for the farrier - but only for about 1 minute when she realises that he will stay there until she picks them up so thats not really a massive issue is it.

Tbs have a reputation for being hot headed, but there are probably more out there who are level headed and wonderful horses... you really cant let one (or 2) CBs but you off the breed - their upbringing and previous owners remember will also have a lot to do with their temperaments.

I have also known a couple of other part breds, and a pure bred and all have been suitable for novices, but also excelled in the showing field etc. i still await the day i find a nasty one!
 
I love all the comments thats what gets a debate going!
My original post was about Clevelands not getting the recognition they deserve which is why some are unaware of Cleveland bays being successful in todays competitions
correct Trudi Thornton is a part-bred but it wont help a struggling breed if they dont get mentioned when a horse is successful, as for eventing Just Ironic i believe is a part-bred CB also and he competed for the first time at badminton this year ridden by an amateur
You wouldnt find a pure irish draught eventing either if he were a part-bred however at least his part irish draught breeding usually gets a mention
There is a part-bred CB spring pascal competing in grand prix dressage admittedly he is also part-bred hanovarian so that side gets all the credit for his success
As i own four pure clevelands and two part-breds i can honestly say that i have one pure that would event and as one is only a year old who knows what his future holds
there is variety within the breed so if you dont want a big heavy CB you could find a lighter sportier one
we have one CB who has grown above the height allowed for breed standard [he stands 18.2] his future is in the heavy hunter classes he was only broken in this year and is a five year old which is because they mature at a much slower rate than other breeds, this is probably why some have witnessed some spoiled horses because of them being pushed to hard as babies
There used to be an old saying that a good horse has no colour but people used to detest coloureds saying they were gypsy horses[ i know i owned one back then]
now they are very fashionable
so shouldnt a good horse have no breed? why all the prejudice against cleveland bays
 
Just ironic is only 1/4 CB though and I don't think his rider would count as an amateur! http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/just+ironic

I do wonder what they bring to the table compared to say an ID, which is much more renowned for it's good temperament, and that a direct cross of either is never going to make a top flight sports horse.
 
ester said:
Just ironic is only 1/4 CB though and I don't think his rider would count as an amateur! http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/just+ironic

I do wonder what they bring to the table compared to say an ID, which is much more renowned for it's good temperament, and that a direct cross of either is never going to make a top flight sports horse.
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Ester, the CBxTB joh of Gaunt won Burleigh three day event. Lord Fairfax sired two Olympic Show Jumpers, Madison Time and North Flight and Baydale Juryman sired a Pony Eventer who was one of the UK junior eventing team. Spring Pascall who was on the UK Junior Dressage Team for several years was a HannxCB (he had the same grandam as the mare in the Western saddle), Ferdi Eilberg's International Dressage Horse, Arun Tor was also a part bred Cleveland Bay.

I would suggest that State run studs producing thousands of warmbloods have a greater chance of producing International stars than a rare breed with fewer than 500 horses. Don't you think that the success indicates how consistently GOOD the Cleveland Bay is?
 
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