THE CLEVELAND BAY 87 



The early purpose of the Cleveland Bay is universally recog- 

 nized as agricultural or general utility. In 1823 a writer in the 

 Farmer s Magazine made this statement : 



The original breed of the country was neither blood nor black, that is, a 

 distinct race from the English blood horse, and equally distinct from the 

 black or cart breed of the country. It was the basis of the breed of the old 

 London coach horse when heavier cattle were used for these conveyances ; 

 and after it became the fashion to adopt a lighter horse for carriages, this 

 valuable breed was allowed to become almost extinct until their excellence 

 for agricultural purposes was noticed by some practical farmers in the north 

 of England, who for several years have been exerting themselves to revive 

 the breed. 



The purity of the Cleveland Bay as a breed has been the sub- 

 ject of much controversy. For nearly a century supply and 

 demand has affected the welfare of this horse. The preceding 

 reference, written in 1 8 23, indicates that. In 1 849 George Legard, 

 in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, contributed still 

 other evidence in the same line : 



Formerly a large, powerfully boned animal was required for carriage 

 purposes. The fashion of the present day has, however, changed in this 

 particular, and now it is necessary that the London carriage horses should 

 be at least three parts Thoroughbred. Consequently all traces of the orig- 

 inal pure coaching breed, or Cleveland Bay, as it was termed, are nearly 

 obliterated. 



Marshall, himself a native of Yorkshire and a famous agri- 

 cultural writer of a century ago, deplored the use of the Thor- 

 oughbred as spoiling the Cleveland. The breed was of great 

 endurance, and the mares bred to Thoroughbreds produced 

 Hunters of superior merit and power. 



When the fields of Yorkshire became more subject to tillage, 

 and when the mines and city drayage began to require heavy 

 horses, then the lighter Cleveland type became unpopular, and the 

 cart horse, the Clydesdale and Shire, came into prominence. The 

 heavy horse brought the most money, and so the Cleveland Bay 

 fell into disfavor and was neglected. 



From 185 1 to 1867 the breed was in considerable favor, after 

 which came a decline in its popularity. In 1884 the Cleveland 

 Bay Horse Society was organized in Yorkshire, to promote its 



