Cleveland Bays - Pleasure or Competition?

cblover

cblover

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Hi folks, I'm having a moment so bare with me! Some of you will know my dilema!

When you think of Cleveland Bays, either pure or part bred, do you think competition or pleasure horse? Do people have this breed purely for pleasure or are they machines bred to gallop, jump and hunt?

I have a lovely 3 yr old filly that is 50% CB, she's tri coloured and approx 15.2hh now. I just can't decide whether to keep her or not. I've made life changing decisions quicker than this one! And I'm not joking!!!

Some of my friends keep saying she's not my type as I have a heavy traditional cob too and she's awesome! I suppose the bottom line is will I be able to do her justice as I only want to hack and take part in riding club dressage etc!

In her defence, she has never offered to kick or bite and she is very loving. The difference from last year to this is amazing and she's looking really good. She still has it all to learn and can react a little when she is uncertain, but thats youngsters for you! Maybe she's destined for more than that and I'm just too old to be galloping round the countryside and I don't bounce anymore when I fall out of the side door!

I know many of you have CB's on here and I assume you all compete with them - could be wrong though!

What do you all think?
 
A good friend of mine has a cb mare who was an awesome hunter (now retired) but had SERIOUS attitude - something I've heard from a few people about cb's. But honestly, if you like the temperament yours has then keep her. I've never yet met an ambitious horse but I have known a few who were soured from the pressure of too much competition.

I hate to see owners beating themselves up for not being competitive enough for their horses when I think most horses care more about the tlc than the rosettes
 
We have a CB sports horse, 1/8 CB , 7/8 TB. The lovely Baydale Hector.

He is a pleasure horse for me to hack, hunt and generally potter around on. On the other hoof he events, SJ's and does dressage with my daughter.

Very versatile indeed.
 
Keep your horse if she's what you want...don't worry about her "missing out" at the end of the day what she doesn't know wont hurt her. If she's never been hunting then she won't miss it.
If you and your horse are enjoying what your doing then why sell her?
No horse comes in to this world thinking "i want to go to Badminton" or "I wish i could qualify to Hickstead" it's the owners that have these dreams and ambitions!!!
Your friends on the yard are probably just jealous because you have such a nice horse!!!
 
iv only ever personally known 1 CB and it was purebred, didnt like it one bit... but im not going to bash the breed in this post youll be glad to know, i thaught it was awfull, but saying that it was awfully schooled.. if you could call it that. I think you should decide by thinking how would i feel if it wasn't in your life, if you would miss her emotionally then thats a reason not to sell but if you'd really miss her as a horse and couldnt imagine ever being lucky enough to get a horse of her quality again then dont sell!! if your thinking now... well actually shes nothing special then, in your position i would sell her. I think all breeds can be good, if they have good conformation and schooling. They will clearly be good at different things though. Haflingers wont be winning the grand-national any-time soon!
 
Jazzy is part Cleveland Bay (grandsire is Alleron Beck) and I think that he could have been a competition horse, but he's been badly ridden and treated so now just is a happy hacker. He doesn't seem to be missing out (as said above, what he's never had, he never misses!). He has a good life and seems to be enjoying things.

If you like your horse, then keep her. You can always sell her on at a later date if she turns out to be not suitable, but if there is no reason at the moment then keep her and have some fun! x
 
Thanks folks, I appreciate your views. Luna is a blank canvas and that excites me, maybe one day we could breed from her too - have a nice CB stallion in mind!

I just hope she doesn't prove too sharp for me, by that I don't mean reacting to things when she is learning, I understand that will happen. And that she will bulk out and be able to carry me - I'm no size zero!!! LOL
 
aww now I love your mare think she is very pretty, and if you dont want to do anything too major on her you dont have to.

My boy before I got him was jumped til his little socks fell off, I got hold of him at 12yrs old and had him til his last breath at 21yrs and we did a couple hunter trials, he was excellent at jumping and pulled me round he loved it loads, then as he got older we calmed down a bit only doing odd jump and mainly hacking and spoiling him to bits.

He was part bred and wouldnt have changed anything at all!
 
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