- Standardbred horse
Infobox Horse
name= Standardbred
image_caption=The Standardbred is best known as a harness racing breed.
features = Well-muscled, long body, slightly heavier than a Thoroughbred, solid legs and powerful shoulders and hindquarters. Able to trot or pace at speed for racing.
altname= Trotter
Pacer
nickname=
country= USA
group1=
std1=
note=|Standardbreds are a breed of
horse best known for their ability to race inharness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at agallop . Developed inNorth America , the breed is now recognized worldwide for itsharness racing ability. They are solid, well-built horses with good dispositions that are also used under saddle for a variety of equestrian activities, particularly in theMidwest and easternUnited States .Breed History
In the 17th century, the first trotting races were held in the Americas, usually in fields on horses under saddle. However, by the mid-18th century, trotting races were held on official courses, with the horses in
harness . Breeds that have contributed foundation stock to the Standardbred breed included theNarragansett Pacer and theCanadian Pacer , EnglishThoroughbred s,Norfolk Trotter , the Hackney, and the Morgan. Breeders selected bloodlines that would produce the fastest horses, with one of the most notable sires being the gray EnglishThoroughbred stallion Messenger, who was exported to the United States in1788 . He produced both runners and trotters.Messenger's descendant, the legendaryHambletonian 10 , also known as Rydysk's Hambletonian, was born in 1849. He was sold, his owners thinking he was worthless, but later became one of the most prolific sires of Standardbreds, today with nearly every trotter or pacer tracing its lineage back to him.The name "Standardbred" was first used in 1879, due to the fact that, in order to be registered, every Standardbred had to be able to trot a mile within the "standard" of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Today, many Standardbreds race much faster than this original standard, with several pacing the mile within 1 minute, 50 seconds, and trotters only a few seconds slower than pacers. Slightly different bloodlines are found in trotters than pacers, though both can trace their heritage back to Hambletonian.
The stud book was formed in 1939, with the formation of the United States Trotting Horse Association.
Breed Characteristics
Standardbreds tend to be more muscled and longer bodied than the American
Thoroughbred . They also are of more placid dispositions, as suits horses whose races involve more strategy and more changes of speed than doThoroughbred races. Standardbreds are considered people-oriented, easy-to-train horses.They are generally a bit heavier in build than their Thoroughbred cousins, but have refined, solid legs and powerful shoulders and hindquarters. Standardbreds have a wide range of height, from 14.1 to 17 hands (57"-66"), and most often are bay or the darker variation of bay called "brown," although other colors such as chestnut and black are not uncommon. Gray and roan are also found. The
tobiano pattern is seen in some New Zealand-bred horses.There are two basic types, trotters and pacers. As the name suggests, the trotter's preferred racing gait is the trot, where the horses' legs move in diagonal pairs, when the right foreleg moves forward so does the left hind leg, and vice versa. The pace is a two beat lateral gait; Pacers' forelegs move in unison with the hind legs on the same side.
However, the breed also is able to perform all other
horse gait s, including thecanter , and pacers can be retrained to trot.Uses
Standardbreds are known for their skill in harness racing, being the fastest trotting horses in the world. Because of their speed, Standardbreds are often used to upgrade other breeds of harness racers around the world, such as the
Orlov Trotter andFrench Trotter .In
Australia ,Canada ,New Zealand , theUnited Kingdom , and theUnited States , races are held for both trotters and pacers. In continentalEurope , all harness races are conducted between trotters. Major races for North American trotters include the Peter Haughton Memorial for 2-year-olds, and theWorld Trotting Derby ,Yonkers Trot ,Hambletonian , andKentucky Futurity for 3-year-olds. The Hambletonian is sometimes referred to as the "Kentucky Derby of Harness Racing." The Trotting Triple Crown is made up of theYonkers Trot ,Hambletonian , andKentucky Futurity .Some of the major pacing races in North America include the Woodrow Wilson and Metro Stake for 2-year-olds, and the Little Brown Jug,
Meadowlands Pace ,North America Cup and theAdios Pace for 3-year-olds. The Little Brown Jug, theMessenger Stakes , and theCane Pace comprise the Pacing Triple Crown.Standardbreds are also used in
horse show s and for pleasure riding. They are also popular as light buggy horses for theAmish people, who eschew motorized vehicles. Many retired Standardbreds find a second career off the track with the help of various dedicated organizations, such as the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization.The breed is quite good at jumping, making them suitable for the
sport horse disciplines ofhunt seat ,show jumping ,show hunter andeventing . The breed is also seen indressage , and their excellent temperaments make them goodtrail riding andranch horses. In addition, because of the genetics of the breed, they can also be encouraged and trained to perform smoothambling gaits, such as the rack and the stepping pace.References
External links
* [http://www.4thehorses.com/ American Standardbred Adoption Program]
* [http://www.ustrotting.com/ United States Trotting Association]
* [http://www.ustrotting.com/sep/sep.cfm/ USTA versatility program]
* [http://www.harness.org.au/ Australia Harness Racing]
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