Cleveland Bay Breed Standard

Breed Standard

Height
16.0hh to 16.2hh, but height should not disqualify an otherwise good sort

Colour
Cleveland Bays must be bay with black points, i.e. black legs, black, mane and black tail. Grey hairs in the mane and tail do not disqualify. These have been long recognized as a feature in certain strains of pure Cleveland blood. White is not admissible beyond a very small white star. Legs which are bay or red below the knees and hocks do not disqualify, but are faulty as colour.

Body
The body should be wide and deep. The back should not be too long and should be strong with muscular loins. The shoulder should be sloping, deep and muscular. The quarters should be level, powerful, long and oval, the tail springing well from the quarters

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Head & Neck
The head characteristics of the breed should be bold and not too small. It should be well carried on a long lean neck. Eyes should be large, well set and kindly in expression. Ears tend to be large and fine.

The Limbs
Arms and thighs and second thighs should be muscular. The knees and hocks should be large and well closed. There should be 9″ upwards of good flat bone below the knee measured at the narrowest point on a tight tape. The pasterns should be strong and sloping and not too long. The legs should be clear of superfluous hair and as clean and hard as possible. One of the most important features of the breed; the feet must be of the best and blue in colour. Feet that are shallow or narrow are undesirable.

Action
Action must be true, straight and free. High action is not characteristic of the breed. The Cleveland which moves well and which is full of courage will move freely from the shoulder and will flex his knees and hocks sufficiently. The action required is free all round, gets over the ground and fits the wear-and-tear qualities of the breed.