72 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



No specific reference to the Cleveland breed is made by 

 any of the earlest writers. The first distinct reference to 

 the Cleveland seems to be that made by George Culley, 

 in his " Observations on Live Stock, " published in 1801. 

 In this reference, Culley originates the theory that the 

 Cleveland Bay horse is the result of the mixture of the 

 Thoroughbred with the cart horse, a theory which some 

 writers combat so far as to say that neither the Thorough- 

 bred nor a heavy strain like the old cart horse had any- 

 thing to do with the formation of the breed. One author- 

 ity, 1 who takes unusual pains to substantiate the war 

 horse theory of Cleveland Bay origin, goes to consider- 

 able length to disprove the introduction of either cart or 

 Thoroughbred blood, and this he has failed to accomplish, 

 as he has been forced to acknowledge that " Probability 

 points to a Thoroughbred Traveler as having had some- 

 thing to do with imparting fresh quality and courage to 

 the Cleveland Bay." The straight croup or level hind- 

 quarter is a decided Thoroughbred characteristic, and it 

 is a trait that most other breeds of light horses tend 

 towards when much Thoroughbred blood is used, as has 

 been found in the instance of both the Hackney and the 

 French Coach horses. It is a matter of record, too, that 

 Dunsley's Dart, one of the three sires that seem to have 

 had most to do in establishing the Cleveland as a breed, 

 goes back to the Darley Arabian, and the preface to the 

 Yorkshire coach studbook so states. The old Cleveland 

 Bay, the horse that was so popular in early days for 

 heavy coaches and for matched teams for the London 

 market, may not have had very much Thoroughbred 

 blood in it, considering the amount that has been used 

 later. 



1 Light Horses : Breeds and Management. 



