Royal duty for Queen’s extinction threatened Cleveland

The Queen is patron of the Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS) and these horses are traditionally used to pull the royal carriage at events such as weddings, state occasions and the Royal Ascot race meeting.

Two breeds of horses are used at the Royal Mews; Windsor Greys and Bays (the majority of which are Cleveland Bays).

This historic breed is in serious danger of dying out and is on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s critical list.

Five horse-drawn carriages will be used in the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace on Friday with the bride and bridegroom travelling in the 1902 state landau or glass coach.

Norma Wilson of the CBHS said: “We are thrilled that the breed will be seen the world over, in such a high profile position.”

Huddersfield-based Robert Whitaker is one of four British riders chosen to ride in the Belgium Nations Cup which takes place on Friday.

He will ride the 10-year-old bay stallion, USA Today, who is jointly owned by Mandy Hall and Robert’s mother, Clare Whitaker.

The other team members are Buce Menzies, riding Sultan V; Laura Renwick riding Oz de Breve and Britain’s No 1 rider, Guy Williams, riding Depardieu Vant.

For more equestrian news from Jill Armstrong and pages of ponies for sale, don’t miss Country Week inside Saturday’s Yorkshire Post.