Harness A Retired Standardbred Racing Horse To Your Life

Standardbreds are a relatively new breed, dating background to its competitors or else it will be disqualified
just over 200 years, but it is a true American breedfrom the race.
that began from crossing Morgan Horses and EnglishTrotters move with a diagonal gait; the left front and
Thoroughbreds. The origins of the Standardbred traceright rear legs move in unison, as do the right front and
back to an English Thoroughbred stallion namedleft rear when it is their turn. This gait requires a highly
Messenger that was foaled in 1780's. Messenger wasskilled trainer to get a trotter to move perfectly at high
not only a Darley Arabian descendent, but he was thespeeds, even though the trotting gait is natural to the
great-grandsire of a horse named Hambletonian 10,equine world.
back to whom every Standardbred can trace itsPacers move both legs on one side of their body in
heritage.tandem: left front and rear, and then right front and
The name "Standardbred" refers to the early trottersrear, and they often called side-wheelers. Pacers
that were bred to reach a certain standard for trottingaccount for about 80 percent of contestants in
the distance of a mile in order to be registered as partharness racing and it is the faster of the two gaits.
of the new breed. Pacers would not come into thePacers are aided in maintaining their high speed gait by
picture until much later, but to this day, the mile is still theplastic loops called hobbles, which keep their legs
standard distance covered in nearly every harnessmoving in synchronization.
race. In 1871, the American Trotting Register wasNorth America's top trotting races that make up the
founded and in 1879, the racing standard wasTrotting Triple Crown are the Yonkers Trot, the
determined. Over a distance of 1 mile, trotters were toHambletonian, and the Kentucky Futurity for
clock in at 2 minutes 30 seconds and pacers at 23-year-olds. For pacers, the Pacing Triple Crown is
minutes 25 seconds and it is these standards thatmade from the Little Brown Jug, the Messenger Stake
gave the breed its name. That also means that theand the Cane Pace.
average speed of these races is approximately 30Standardbreds are primarily used for racing, since they
miles per hour.are the fastest trotting horses in the world. But
So you can see that this horse is bred for speed notStandardbreds that have been retired from the track
for conformation, and now the Standardbred is widelymake excellent all-around horses. Unfortunately, most
considered to be the fastest harness racing horse inhorses that have been retired from racing are sold at
the world. There is no typical look to the Standardbredauctions, usually to meat buyers, even though many of
and individual Standardbreds have been mistaken forthese horses are perfectly sound and healthy and
Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, Morgans, Arabians,could live for many more years if they only had a
Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walkers, etc. So, as yousuitable, loving home.
can see, there is a look and style for every taste, butMore and more people are enjoying retired racing
generally they have the physique of a ThoroughbredStandardbreds for pleasure riding, jumping, ranch work,
but with a heavier Morgan body. They stand betweencompetitive trail and endurance riding, even Western
14.1 and16 hands and weigh between 800 and 1,000and English flat classes, barrel racing, etc. With time
pounds. A Standardbred must be registered with theand patience, the retired Standardbred horse can learn
United States Trotting Association (USTA) before it isnew skills. Their attitude and temperament make them
allowed to either race or breed before the horsevery willing partners in any equine discipline that is
becomes two years old on the universal birthday ofdesired. New experiences are accepted with interest
January 1.and enthusiasm and they "bomb-proof", not skittish, in
The majority of Standardbred racing is harness racingterms of bravery. They are kind, gentle, and love to be
that takes place with a driver holding the reins from hishandled and having had personal attention every day
seat in a sulky racing cart. Racing under saddle was afor most of their racing lives, Standardbreds adore
type of Standardbred racing that was popular early inattention and return the affection readily.
the breed's development, and has become popularThese horses are genuinely loved and respected and
once again in the United States.their care has been meticulous throughout their racing
Most Standardbreds start racing as 2- or 3-year-olds.life. Their diets, health, and exercise are all carefully
Standardbreds are either pacing bred or trotting bred;monitored; they've had warm baths, relaxing
pacers never trot in a race, and vice versa. Trottersmassages, warm blankets, clean and well-bedded
race only trotters and pacers race only pacers.stalls provided seven days a week. To describe
However, pacing does not dominate the rest of theirpurchasing a retired Standardbred as "saving him from
daily activities. Standardbreds trot, and pace, from birththe track" is doing the breed and harness racing a
and will do either one on their own when left tograve injustice, when you know what the horse's life
themselves. Standardbred racing is based on onlywas really like. So treat yourself to a very special
these two gaits. Any trotter or pacer who breaks theirhorse, and enjoy the experience while offering the
gait and goes into a canter or a gallop during a raceretired Standardbred a new beginning at perhaps a bit
must be pulled back to its correct gait and also loseslower life's pace.