THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CLEVELAND BAY OWNERSHIP

Because of the rarity of the breed, we believe that every owner of a Cleveland Bay is charged with helping ensure the continued existence of this fantastic horse.  Bella Vista has taken a pledge that all Cleveland babies will be registered with the CBHS to ensure that the studbook and census records are maintained with the most correct data possible.   We registered 4 foals from 2024 with CBHS, 3 foals from 2023, and 4 foals from 2022. We strive to place Clevelands into homes where they are well-suited and where new owners can use the horse in a way that advances the breed.  We prefer that pure fillies go into homes where they can be bred and contribute at least several foals to the breed.  We are INCREDIBLY supportive of prospective homes where horses will be ridden, driven, shown, and out in the public.  We are very active in the Cleveland Bay Mid-Atlantic Show Series which holds Cleveland Bay in-hand and ridden classes at three annual shows here on the East Coast as well as sponsors trail rides and Cleveland Bay foxhunts.  

 

Bellavista Amazing (Maisie, on right) and her daughter, Bellavista Elizabeth (Libby, on left) at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show, June 2024! Libby is a Cleveland Bay Sporthorse sired by the Oldenberg Manhattan. Both competed in both in-hand and ridden divisions.

 

Pures versus SPORTHORSEs

A pure Cleveland Bay is one that was created by two pure 100% Cleveland Bay parents and should be listed in the CBHS Studbook. All Bella Vista purebreds are registered by us as breeders.  Purebred Cleveland Bays have a passport and transfer of ownership is tracked by the CBHS.  

 

A Cleveland Bay sporthorse (or part-bred Cleveland Bay) is a horse that is part Cleveland, but one or both of its parents are not of 100% Cleveland Bay heritage.  Bella Vista is a big advocate of combining Cleveland Bay blood with that of thoroughbreds and warmbloods to create incredible athletes that can be competitive at higher levels. On an annual basis, Bella Vista breeds some sporthorse foals as well as pure foals. Sporthorses can be as important an advocate for the breed as are the pures. Particularly if partbreds go on to compete or show in higher levels where the audiences are less likely to have seen Clevelands before, they can be ambassadors of the breed that can create inquiries previously out of reach.  

 

Bellavista Illumination (Thea) at age 4. Thea is out of TB A Charming Pose and sired by our deceased stallion, Foxhollow Navigator. Thea competed in the 2024 Bred to Event Series and was the second place winner and competed primarily against professionally produced event horses.

 

WE FACE SOME HEADWINDS…

  • Fewer people own their own farms. The impact is that it reduces breeding (all breeds, not just Cleveland Bays). Small and rare breeds aren’t able to generate sustainable number of young horses each year to allow the breed to survive. The Cleveland Bay will cease to exist - the question is when.

  • With fewer small farms, fewer people are buying foals. As breeders retain foals for longer periods (most people want a three to five-year old horses that’s ready to ride), these youngsters take up resources and space that reduce ongoing annual breeding. During our first eight years of breeding, more than 50% of our youngstock sold at weaning or in the next six months. That percentage is now closer to 25% despite the growing reputation our breeding program has. As we keep horses longer, prices have to go up to compensate for it as well as it reduces the capital we have to invest in annual ongoing breeding.

  • The Cleveland Bay breed can easily be attributed to horses that are simply bay in color and of substance. Before you buy a horse that is purported to be a Cleveland Bay, confirm it’s breeding. Horses registered with the CBHS UK are accompanied by a passport (pure and partbred) and horses tracked by the Cleveland Bay Society of North America are tracked by a census and parentage is examined before inclusion. Buy from a REPUTABLE person!