Going against the grain - who doesn't like CB's!??

S

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No wanting to be mean - but they have never been a bread that has attracted me, or that seem to do well at anything.... although I'll be happy to be proved wrong ladies!! What is so great about them??
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Blimey your soooo dead when SSM sees this!! *****runs for cover*****...........****Creep out to add**** CBs have never been my cup of tea, but probably because the 2 x CB mares I knew were both really nappy...........Mind you, was never keen on coloureds either, till I ended up with one!!!
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not really had much contact with them myself - my dad had one which was "the worst horse he's ever had" which has kinda put me off! Went to try one (of two horses) and it was a bit ermm, boring and ugly??!! ****ducks****
 
Yea I know what you mean, also of those you have seen though, and I haven't seen many successful CB's!

I'm an Irish horse fan myself. have met a lot and haven't found a bad one yet!
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I have only known one, a gelding my friend bought a few years ago with a plan to event. He was great across country but showjumping was always a demolition job, he just didn't seem to get it. Sweet horse though, and would go on to be a fine hunter.
 
LOL I think there is probably more horses out there who are either CB or part CB (but not admitting to it) than you realise!!!........police/cavalry horses for example. I also hate to admit it, but it is quite a versitile breed which will compete in all spheres from driving, to dressage or showjumping. I also believe many of the european warmbloods, Holsteins, Hanoverians and Oldenburgs have been influenced by Cleveland blood..................God what's happening I don't even like CBs...........I'll be singing the praises of Arabs next!!!
 
What's a CB
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No, kidding. (Put the knife away SSM
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)I actually like them but then I grew up near a stud full of them in Devon. They always seemed huge but very gentle and placid, the owner used to lead me around on a horse called Fisherman, the stallion. He drove them and bred lots of out crosses, and they did everything. I later worked at a Country Park where all the trekking horses were Highland/CB crosses, mainly duns (with proper dorsal stripes
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) and they were excellent horses for the job.

To ride they aren't my cup of tea, but that's because I get vertigo on anything larger than 15.2, and I prefer smaller more compact horses.
 
A bit narrow minded to base your opinion on one animal or one instance. Try reading about them, like all mamals they have their own character, & not all are going to have the temperment of the breed & not all are going to like jumping (probably after being put off by bad riding!!)
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I had one on loan for a bit - he was a stunning looking horse but very temperamental, could be very stubborn at times and also particularly thick. He was a dreadful hack as he constantly spooked, to the point he had his eyes checked by the vet, but nothing odd was found with them. He wouldn't load, didn't like water (soon cured him of that!) and wouldn't lunge (until he met me.....). He had various other annoying foibles too. He did jump reasonably well though.

Unfortunately I think a lot of his faults were caused by his owners who never really did much with him and always let him get his own way. he was nwever disciplined - not good when he thought he could use his size and weight against you.

So to be fair I wouldn't tar the whole breed with the same brush as he is the only CB I have had experience with. Having said that, for looks alone, I wouldn't say no to a half and half with TB or a part bred CB, if I was ever offered one!
 
I think the problem is that they are not very common so most people have very limited experience of them - if you've come across one or two, it's probably pot luck if they're a good sort or not & you base your decision on that. Whereas discuss TB's or Irish for example, people's experiences are broader & therefore in a better place to judge.

I don't like Arabs but if I'm honest, my experience of them is very limited & therefore it's probably a pretty ill thought out sweeping statement not based on much evidence at all.
 
They do have a tendancy to be very thick and often stubborn.
Make good hunters though, prob because they never realise what the game is a about!!

There are some decent CBs out eventing, the Pembridge line seems to have found some brains!!
 
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No wanting to be mean - but they have never been a bread that has attracted me, or that seem to do well at anything.... although I'll be happy to be proved wrong ladies!! What is so great about them??

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I can only speak from my limited experience of my part-bred CB, and a pure bred which is currently one of her field mates. I've had TBs, TB x's in the past, and Meg is honestly the most talented, and sanest horse I've had the pleasure of owning.

Yes, she is plain looking, and is never going to win a showing class, but we're hoping to take her to Advanced Medium dressage level. She's only been jumping a few months, and is already flying over 2'9" (which is higher than her stumpy legs ) and there's no reason why she wouldn't be capable of RC ODE as she is so unspooky and confident. She is also a fantastic, and safe hack alone or in company.

Yes, she can be stubborn, and it's took 2 years to persuade her to work round and forward, but that is also due to the training (or lack of) she'd had before I got her. Once she's accepted something, and been persuaded there is no choice about it, then she doesn't forget it.

And best of all, she's sooooo friendly, not just to people, but other horses as well. She's never kicked out, hardly ever squeals at other horses, and befriends every other horse or donkey we meet out hacking. My friend's two yr old nephew has led her to the field, and I can trust her to walk quietly next to us.

And most of what I've described above is probably just as applicable to any other breed you can think of. At the end of the day they are all just horses, and as horse-lovers we should be appreciating all types for their individual characters, not picking on the heavier and rarer breeds
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I don't!
I've worked in the industry so it's been my misfortune (SSM would say good fortune) to ride quite a few.
One used to nap so violently sideways that he would fall over, luckily never splatted me.
Another used to spin 180 degrees in canter to unseat the rider...it was owned and ridden by a very experienced rider but was a s**t, used to spin its bum to you in the box too.
And thick! I put one in its stable over lunchtime...came back out to find horse and box drenched in blood. What had happened? He had bitten his own tongue....!
So, basically, you couldn't pay me enough money to own one!
Sorry, SSM and other fans but we're all entitled to our opinions based on our experience!
S
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I would like to argue that they are very bright, they know how to play their handlers if they can.

In have ridden several in my youth - gave me my passion for the breed - and now having owned two - they are the gentlest, kindest most honest horses I have ever had the pleasure of handling.

Donkey maybe extremley laid back, but will hunt all day and look after me completly - I have never ever felt unsafe on her - how many people can truly say that about their horses.
 
I have been lucky enough to ride lec's CB x TB and I absolutely instantly fell in love with him - I would love a day hunting on him because he is soooo comfy, VERY responsive and loves to jump.
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And my mare is a CB in diguise
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Any horse that can pretend to be lazy is rather intelligent IMHO...

ETS: we have a 3 year old by Pembridge Minstral out of a TB mare on my yard, and she is one of the smartest horses I have ever met - she is going places, mark my words!
 
Ooooww She sounds very nice!!!

I challenge anyone to meet my girl and not be swayed - she is a gentle social animal that adores people around her!!!
 
The one that Emily Galbraith won the Young Riders on at Bramham is part CB, and my old boy, William Hill, won the £1,000 Advanced Master Class at Belton in 2000.
 
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I would like to argue that they are very bright, they know how to play their handlers if they can.

Right, so how does biting your own tongue to spill your own blood all around your normal stable, within your normal routine 'play a handler'?

I have to agree, CB's are special, very very special.
For a while it looked like they would be extinct (hurrah) but sadly people keep breeding them.
Ah well.
S
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(And now I'm going to take cover from SSM)
 
I love Cleveland Bays and TB/CBs. I much prefer them to Irish Draughts, they can be thick and common too, and to all the various invented warmblood derivatives bred only to get money out of suckers who have all fallen for the propaganda.
 
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And my mare is a CB in diguise
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Any horse that can pretend to be lazy is rather intelligent IMHO...

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Even mine that are only 1/8 CB are like that! I used to think William (who's 1/4 CB) was ill as he'd stand by the trailer looking like he was about to pop his clogs, and then miraculously perk up when we went into the arena and there were people watching!
 
I've come across a few part-bred CB's in my life and without exception they've been difficult, stubborn and awkward critters. That may or may not be representative of the breed but I've heard other people say the same to the extent that I wouldn't buy one myself. They look beautiful though and I'm sure there's plenty of good ones out there but they're definitely not for me.
 
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They do have a tendancy to be very thick and often stubborn.
Make good hunters though, prob because they never realise what the game is a about!!

There are some decent CBs out eventing, the Pembridge line seems to have found some brains!!

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You just made me laugh! I have no experience of CBs so can't comment but I have often thought the same about a few Irish Dafts (yes I meant to put Dafts!) and ISHs that have been my way....
 
I don't see what all the fuss is about either but then Ive never owned or ridden a CB, maybe thats the problem! I knew of one at a yard where I used to work and TBH I never thought it was anything special, was just a nice average bay thing!
 
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