Yorkshire Coach Horse

The Yorkshire Coach Horse is an extinct horse breed once native to England. It was a large, strong, bay or brown horse with dark legs, mane and tail. It was said to be "a longer-legged carriage horse with unmatched ability for a combination of speed, style, and power"[1] and "a tall, elegant carriage horse".[2]

With the introduction of macadamized roads, the Cleveland Bay horse was considered not fast enough,[3] and as a result, some Cleveland Bays were bred to Thoroughbred horses to produce the Yorkshire Coach Horse.[4] In 1886 a Yorkshire Coach Horse Stud Book was introduced, which contained horses that were three-quarters Cleveland Bay and one-quarter Thoroughbred.[5][6]

The Yorkshire Coach Horse was much in demand by the rich and royal. The late 18th century was the golden age of carriage driving. Yorkshire Coach Horses were exported all over the world to provide matched pairs and teams.[7] During the height of the London season, it is said that hundreds of pairs of Yorkshire Coach Horses could be seen in Hyde Park every afternoon.[8]

The Stud Book was closed in 1936 with the decline of the coaching era. Since the foundation breeds of the Yorkshire Coach Horse still exist, it would be possible to restart this breed, but unlikely.[9]

References

  1. ^ Detailed information about specific breeds of horses. Georgian Index.
  2. ^ History. Archived May 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Cleveland Bay Horse Society.
  3. ^ Hayes, M Horace (2002). Points of the Horse. New Jersey: Georgias Press. p. 255. ISBN 978-1-59333-000-2.
  4. ^ Hendricks, Bonnie (1995). International encyclopedia of horse breeds. Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-8061-3884-8.
  5. ^ Fawcus, Henry (1911). "The Horse Breeding Industry of Yorkshire". The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. London: Royal Agricultural Society of England. 2 (47): 164. OCLC 852184224.
  6. ^ "The Yorkshire Bay Coach-Horse". The York Herald. No. 10, 807. 18 January 1886. p. 6. OCLC 1001164406.
  7. ^ Ryder, Tom (March 2008). "The Stallion Importers". The Carriage. Lexington: Carriage Association of America. 46 (2): 93–94. ISSN 0008-6916.
  8. ^ "A sad lot for Bill as stable doors close". The Yorkshire Post. 23 May 2005. ProQuest 335232957.
  9. ^ Hartley-Edwards, Elwyn (2002). Ultimate Horse. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 110. ISBN 9780789489289.
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