The Horse-hreeding Industry in Yorkshire. IIH 



CV)acliing stallions, while only a few Clevelands have latterly 

 been sold to foreign buyers. The Yorkshire Coach Horse Society 

 has during the last few years annually issued on an average 

 some ten export certificates for registered stallions, and from 

 two to six certificates for mares. The countries which chiefly 

 buy them are the Argentine, Chili, the United States, and 

 Canada ; Russia and South Africa have also taken a few 

 at intervals. Besides these registered stallions and brood mares, 

 exported for breeding purposes, a certain number of non- 

 registered and part-bred young mares of both breeds continue 

 to be bought by Continental dealers and importers, primarily 

 for carriage work, though ultimately they are used at the stud. 

 At one time Mr. Stericker sold Coaching stallions to the late 

 King Humljert of Italy, but the Italian demand has ceased. 

 King Humliert was a great admirer of these Yorkshire breeds, 

 and liought upwards of a hundred carriage geldings, mostly 

 Coach Horses, but also some Clevelands, for his State carriages. 



The " Great Yorkshire " is the most important show fixture 

 in the county for Cleveland Bays and Coach Horses, while 

 other leading venues where the breeds muster well are the 

 Northallerton, Stokesley, Easingwold, and Malton Shows. 

 Coaching horses in particular are usually to the fore at the last 

 two, though the Malton Show does not, nowadays, draw any- 

 thing like such a numerous entry as it did in former times 

 when Coach Horse breeding in this district was more flourishing. 

 Good Cleveland Bay classes are also usually seen at the Cleve- 

 land Show, at Egton Horse Show, and at the local Whitby 

 fixture. The more important shows for horses in the East 

 Riding are Driffield, though this is not so good as it was, 

 Bridlington, and Beverley ; while in the West Riding, the 

 Wharfedale Society's Show at Otley is i-eckoned one of the 

 leading functions by horse-breeders. 



Very different from what is the case with the light horse 

 l)reeds, the rise of the Shire horse in Yorkshire dates from 

 comparatively recent times. Although the breed was, of course, 

 introduced from Derbyshire, Notts., and Lincolnshire, and 

 crossed with the native cart-horse stock at a considerably earlier 

 l)eriod, and had previously gained a foothold, especiallj' in the 

 West Riding, it was not until about the year 1878 or later that 

 Shire breeding became really fashionable in the county and 

 devel()})ed into the important industry it has now become. Its 

 rapid expansion at that time was l)rought about largely in 

 response to the inci-easing demand for Shire draught horses of 

 heav}' tyi)e in the industrial centres — a demand which ensured 

 a remunei'ative and cei'tain market. But the great impetus 

 given to Shire horse l)reeding generally throughout the country, 

 consequent u])on the fo)'mation of the Shii-e Hoi'se Society, 



VOL. 72. I 



