CLEVELAND BAYS AND YORKSHIRE. COACH HORSES, 



CHAPTER III. 



CLEVELAND BAYS AND YORKSHIRE COACH 

 HORSES. 



THE Cleveland Bay is one of the oldest breeds of English 

 horses, though the name by which it is now known is of 

 comparatively recent origin. The Chapman or pack horse, 

 which is the older name, and by which, until quite^recently, 

 the breed was known in the more remote of the Yorkshire 

 dales, which became its principal home, points not only to the 

 antiquity of the breed, but to its great utility during the earlier 

 years of our country's history. The breed flourished exceed- 

 ingly when the roads in more remote parts of the kingdom 

 were little better than tracks, and when the business of the 

 country was principally carried on by its means. Active and 

 powerful, Cleveland Bays were then used as working horses 

 on the farm as well as to convey corn and other marketable 

 produce to the various towns, and their masters to " kirk, or 

 market, feast or fair." In hilly Devonshire and in the north 

 of Yorkshire they flourished the longest, and now it is in 

 North Yorkshire and the neighbouring districts alone that 

 there is anything to be found approaching in type to the 

 ancient pack or Chapman horse. Many are the theories 

 which have been promulgated concerning the origin of the 

 Cleveland Bay, for it will be found more convenient to adopt 

 the modern name. Amongst others which have been received 

 and transmitted in a remarkable manner is that which I be- 

 lieve originated with Professor Low. If he did not originate 



