Standardbred harness racing horses are so called
because in the early years of the Trotting Registry,
the standardbred stud book established in the United States in 1879 by the
National Association of
Trotting Horse Breeders, only horses who could race a mile in a standard time or
better, or whose
get (offspring) could race a mile in standard time or better, were entered in
the book.
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 or pace a mile within the
standard 2 minute, 30 second time.
Today, many Standardbreds race much faster than this original standard, with
several pacing the mile
within 1 minute, 50 seconds. Trotters (see below) are generally a few seconds
slower than pacers.
Slightly different bloodlines are found in trotters versus pacers, though both
comprise the breed and
can trace their heritage back to Hambletonian.
Standardbreds have shorter legs than the American thoroughbred race
horses and longer bodies. Often
their hindquarters are several inches taller than their withers, which provides
them with the power and
thrust necessary to trot or pace at high speeds. They also are of more placid
dispositions, as suits horses
whose races involve more strategy and more re-acceleration than do thoroughbred
races. Standardbreds
are very people-oriented, easy-to-train horses.
They are generally a bit stockier than their Thoroughbred cousins,
but have refined, solid legs and
powerful shoulders and hindquarters. The breed is built very square, not as
refined as the Thoroughbred,
but are very sound and sturdy. Standardbreds have a wide range of height: from
14.1-17hh, and generally
come in bay or brown, although other colors are seen.
