72 THE BREEDS OF LIV E-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,! 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 isa 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. 
