Horse
Pronunciation:
Stan'-derd-bred
Breed Description:
The Standardbred breed of horse is an American breed of haness horse developed originally for fast transport, but which today is used predominantly for harness racing. The Standardbred is a light, fine horse, with a high head carriage, strong shoulders, and light hindquarters. Standardbreds are the fastest harness horses, racing over a standard one mile distance in times under 2 minutes (the record is 1:46.1 by Cambest).
Standardbreds race in one of two gaits, pacing or trotting, and the races for these are separate as pacers tend to be faster. Trotters have a diagonal gait: the right front and left rear will move forward at the same time with the left front and right rear moving back at the same time.Pacers move the legs on the same side of the body at the same time: the right front and right rear move forward at the same time with left front and left rear moving back at the same time, called a 'lateral' gait. Pacers have earned the nickname 'sidewheelers' because of the way they rock from side to side as they pace. Standardbreds tend to inherit their gait form their parents; although pacing was originally a trained gait, today fols of pacing families will pace naturally.
Temperament:
The Standardbred breed of horse has a varied temperament, but like most racing breeds the Standardbred can be spirited and highly strung especially when highly fit for racing.
Height:
The Standardbred breed of horse stands 15 to 16 hands.
Weight:
The Standardbred breed of horse weighs 800 to 1000 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Standardbred breed of horse is a racing horse, and while they do not tend to suffer the same impact injuries of thoroughbreds, lower leg tendon and ligament injuries are not uncommon.
Living Conditions:
The Standardbred breed of horse is a racing horse and needs to be stabled in all but the mildest conditions.
Exercise:
The Standardbred breed of horse requires regular hard work to maintain its fitness and temperament.
Life Expectancy:
The Standardbred breed of horse lives into its mid to late twenties.
Grooming:
The Standardbred breed of horse has a fine coat but a long mane and tail and benefits from regular grooming.
Origin:
The Standardbred breed of horse traces its ancestry to the Thoroughbred stallion Messenger, foaled in England in 1780, and later exported to the United States. Messenger was the great-grandsire of Hambletonian 10, the foundation sire for all Standardbreds. The early Standardbreds in the late 19th century were all trotters, and earned their name because each horse was required to reach a certain standard time for the mile distance in order to be registered as part of the new breed. The mile is still the standard distance covered in nearly every harness race.
Standardbred racing has grown in popularity because it is generally much less expensive to buy and race horses than Thoroughbred racing. It is not uncommon for owners to also race and train their own horses, and races are held not only at major tracks for large purses, but also at county fairs across America. Standardbred racing is also growing in other countries, especially Australia and the UK.
