Wikipedia:Today's featured article/August 4, 2015
The Cleveland Bay is a breed of horse that originated in England during the 17th century, named for its consistent bay colouring and the Cleveland district of Yorkshire. It is a strong, well-muscled horse breed, the oldest established breed in England, and the only non-draught horse developed in Great Britain. The ancestors of the breed were developed during the Middle Ages for use as pack horses. These were crossbred with Andalusian and Barb blood, and later with Arabians and Thoroughbreds, to create the Cleveland Bay of today. Over the years, the breed became lighter in frame as they were used more as carriage and riding horses. They have been patronised by members of the royal family throughout their history, and some are still used to pull carriages in royal processions. Today they are used for farm work, driving, and under-saddle work, but are particularly popular for fox hunting and show jumping. The Cleveland Bay is a rare breed, and both the UK-based Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the US-based Livestock Conservancy consider the population to be at critical limits for extinction. (Full article...)