AS the breeding season gets underway, concerns over the future of the Cleveland Bay have prompted an appeal by its Society to encourage all pure bred mare owners to breed only to pure-bred stallions.

The Cleveland Bay features on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's 'Critical' list. In 2001, only 39 foals were registered with only 14 of these being fillies.

Numbers prior to 2000 had been approaching 80 per year on average but the sudden decline has been a major cause for concern.

Registrations in 2002 were again well below the average. Some of this may be attributable to the F&M epidemic when mares were not travelled to stallions.

Worldwide there are only 400 pure-bred mares of breeding age but over half of these have never bred a pure Cleveland Bay foal.

The owners of all pure bred mares are the target of the Cleveland Society's campaign.

"We do not face the future with optimism," says President Charles Medforth. "I would like to see every member with a mare trying to breed a pure bred foal.

To encourage the breeding and registering of pure bred foals the CBHS in conjunction with the Horse Race Betting Levy Board have increased the premium to £200 for each pure bred foal registered.

For more information on the Cleveland Bay Horse contact the Society on 01904 489731