The Cleveland Bay is a breed of horse that originated in England during the 17th century, named after 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.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Bay
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
70:
First Jewish–Roman War: The Roman army, led by the future Emperor Titus, conquered the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Temple
1790:
A newly passed tariff act in the United States established the Revenue Cutter Service, an armed maritime law enforcement service that was the forerunner of the U.S. Coast Guard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Revenue_Cutter_Service
1964:
A second U.S. Navy destroyer (USS Maddox pictured) was reportedly attacked by North Vietnamese forces in the Gulf of Tonkin, leading Congress to authorize the use of military force in Southeast Asia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident
1995:
The Croatian Army initiated Operation Storm, the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence and the largest European land battle since the Second World War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Storm
2007:
Airport police officer María del Luján Telpuk discovered a suitcase containing US$800,000 as it went through an x-ray machine in Buenos Aires, sparking an international scandal involving Venezuela and Argentina known as "Maletinazo". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_del_Luj%C3%A1n_Telpuk
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
cajole: To persuade someone to do something which they are reluctant to do, especially by flattery or promises; to coax. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cajole
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Let us reach for the world that ought to be — that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls. … We can acknowledge that oppression will always be with us, and still strive for justice. We can admit the intractability of deprivation, and still strive for dignity. Clear-eyed, we can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace. We can do that — for that is the story of human progress; that's the hope of all the world; and at this moment of challenge, that must be our work here on Earth. --Barack Obama https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Barack_Obama