Editing Cleveland Bay (section)

==Characteristics==

[[File:Cleveland Bay hw crop.jpg|thumb|Cleveland Bays]]
The Cleveland Bay generally stands between {{hands|16|and|16.2}}, and is always [[bay (horse)|bay]] in colour. Bright bay horses (bays with a more reddish tint than normal) are the most preferred by breeders, followed by ordinary bay, dark bay and then light bay.{{Sfn|Dent|1978|pp=18–19}} This preference for brighter shades of bay was originally stated in the official breed standard, although this stipulation has since been removed.<ref name=Brit>{{cite web|url=http://www.clevelandbay.com/history.htm|title=Cleveland Bay History|publisher=Cleveland Bay Horse Society|access-date=2009-03-17| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516114022/http://www.clevelandbay.com/history.htm| archive-date = May 16, 2008}}</ref> In some bloodlines of the breed, light, grayish hairs in the mane and tail are known as a characteristic of pure blood. [[White markings]], except for a small star on the forehead, render the horse inadmissible to the [[stud book]]. Horses are expected to have complete [[point coloration|black points]], including completely black lower legs. Legs that are red below the knees and hocks are considered faulty in colour, although they do not disqualify a horse from registration.{{Sfn|Dent|1978|pp=18–19}} 

The occasional red legs that appear in the breed are thought to come from [[chestnut (coat)|chestnut]] Thoroughbred stallions that were crossed into Cleveland Bay and [[#YCH|Yorkshire Coach Horse]] bloodlines at some points in the history of both breeds.{{Sfn|Dent|1978|p=50}} The uniformity in colour is encouraged as it makes creating matching driving teams and pairs very easy.{{Sfn|Hendricks|1995|pp=131–132}} When the breed was first developed, the horses almost always had a countershaded dorsal stripe, but these disappeared with the [[outcrossing]]s of the 18th century.{{Sfn|Hayes|1976|p=254}}

The breed has a large head, slightly convex profile, and a long, well-muscled neck. The [[withers]] are well muscled, which often makes them less pronounced, the chest is broad and deep, the shoulders are muscular and sloping, and the [[Rump (animal)|croup]] slightly sloping. The legs are short in relation to the body, but strong and well muscled.{{Sfn|Bongianni|1988|p=Entry 13}} The legs have little or no [[feathering (horse)|feather]], as the breed was developed partially for working in the heavy clay soils of its native country, where heavy feather led to increased disease prevalence.{{Sfn|Dent|1978|p=26}} They are hardy and long-lived horses, and docile in temperament.{{Sfn|Bongianni|1988|p=Entry 13}} In the early twentieth century, when a breed standard was issued by the British Cleveland Bay Society for use in judging shows, a section was added on the [[horse gait|movement]] of the horses, describing the desired action, especially at the [[trot]]. This was included in part because military potential was still considered a factor in evaluating harness horses and a good trot was necessary for an [[artillery]] horse. It was also evaluated because breeds with large action at the trot often also have a potential for [[jumping (horse)|jumping]]. The combination of desired characteristics means that the breed is useful for breeding [[show jumping|show jumpers]], [[three day eventing|eventers]] and [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]]rs (the latter especially when crossed with Thoroughbreds).{{Sfn|Dent|1978|pp=18–19}}

Part-bred horses can be registered under certain conditions. A horse with at least one grandparent may be registered in the UK stud-book.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509161834/http://www.clevelandbay.com/rules_and_regulations.htm Rules and Regulations]. Cleveland Bay Horse Society. Archived 9 May 2008.</ref> The Australasian society refers to part-breds as Sporthorses; they require at least 25% Cleveland Bay blood.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clevelandbays.com.au/files/CBHSAQuickGuideToRegistrationOfHorses.pdf|access-date=2009-06-10|title=Quick Guide to Registration of Horses|publisher=Cleveland Bay Horse Society of Australasia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706103006/http://www.clevelandbays.com.au/files/CBHSAQuickGuideToRegistrationOfHorses.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-06}}</ref>