Standardbred

The Standardbred is an American horse breed developed for harness racing, a sport in which the horse pulls a lightweight two-wheeled cart known as a sulky rather than carrying a rider. Two distinct gaits are raced: the trot, a diagonal two-beat gait, and the pace, a lateral two-beat gait. A horse is classed as either a trotter or a pacer according to the gait it races in.

Standardbreds are large horses, standing roughly 14 to 17 hands, with a sturdy, muscular build suited to sustained effort rather than short bursts of speed. The breed's name comes from the speed standard horses once had to meet before they could be registered: a fixed time over the mile.

Away from the track, Standardbreds take on a second career as riding and driving horses once their racing days are over. Their calm, even temperament and willingness to learn suit them to pleasure riding, trail work and family use. Many are rehomed through adoption schemes once they retire from competition.

Who this breed suits

The Standardbred suits owners after a steady, level-headed horse for driving or pleasure riding. Its calm disposition makes it forgiving of a less experienced handler, while the athletic build appeals to riders interested in competitive driving, a discipline that falls under the South African Equestrian Federation (SAEF). Retired racers are often available cheaply through adoption, though they may need retraining before they're comfortable being ridden under saddle.

The Standardbred traces back to the eastern United States in the late 1700s and through the 1800s, a period when interest in road and trotting horses was growing fast. The breed's foundation sire was Hambletonian 10, foaled in 1849, a stallion whose descendants went on to dominate American harness racing. Nearly every Standardbred alive today traces back to this one horse through the male line.

Thoroughbred, Morgan, Canadian Pacer and Norfolk Trotter bloodlines all fed into the early breed. Breeders selected for speed at the trot and pace under harness rather than at the gallop, producing horses able to hold a fast, steady two-beat gait over a measured distance.

The breed's name comes from the speed standard set for registration. A horse had to trot or pace a mile within a set time, originally close to the 2:30 mark for the mile, before it could qualify. The National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders set up the registry in 1879, formalising the breed.

Over the course of the 20th century the Standardbred became the standard harness racing horse across North America, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe. Selective breeding brought race times down steadily, and the breed remains dominant in harness racing today.

The Standardbred has a solid, muscular frame built for power and stamina under harness. The body is typically longer than it is tall, with strong, sloping shoulders and well-developed hindquarters that drive the trotting and pacing gaits. The head is plain and honest in expression, set on a medium-length neck. The legs are clean and durable, and the overall look favours function over refinement.

Coat and colours

Bay is the most common colour, followed by brown, black and chestnut. Grey and roan occur but less often. White markings on the face and legs are accepted and common. The coat is short and smooth, and needs little specialised care beyond routine grooming.

The Standardbred is widely regarded as one of the calmest and most even-tempered horse breeds around. Generations of selective breeding for racing under harness, where horses work close together at speed, have produced animals that stay composed in busy, noisy surroundings. This steadiness carries over into everyday handling and makes the breed forgiving of a handler's mistakes.

Standardbreds are sociable and bond readily with people. They're comfortable around strangers when handled regularly, and generally settle well with other horses in a herd. The breed's hardworking nature means it tends to apply itself willingly to a task rather than resist it.

This combination of patience and athletic ability suits the breed to a wide range of second careers, including trail riding, pleasure driving and competitive sport. The calm disposition also makes Standardbreds a common choice for therapeutic riding programmes and for novice owners moving up from their first pony or horse.

Grooming

• Brush the coat several times a week to remove dirt and loose hair, and check the skin for cuts or swelling while you're at it.
• Pick out the hooves daily and have a farrier trim or shoe every six to eight weeks.
• Clean the eyes, nostrils and dock area as needed during grooming.
• Bath occasionally in warm weather; the short coat dries quickly.
• Step up brushing during the spring and autumn shed.

Exercise

• Provide daily turnout in a paddock or camp for free movement.
• Work the horse regularly under harness or saddle to keep it fit.
• Build a retired racer's ridden fitness up gradually if retraining it for a new discipline.
• Vary activity with trail outings and driving to keep the horse interested.

Environment

Standardbreds adapt to a range of climates and are hardy by nature. They need access to a field or paddock, clean water at all times, and a stable or run-in shelter to escape extreme heat, cold and wet weather. The breed does well living out with adequate shelter rather than needing constant stabling.

The foundation of a Standardbred's diet is forage. Good-quality grass or hay should make up the bulk of daily intake, fed at roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of bodyweight per day. Horses in light work or retirement may need little beyond forage, while those in regular training or racing need extra energy from concentrates such as grains or formulated feeds. Always make feed changes gradually, over a week or more, to protect the gut.

Treats and supplements

Small amounts of carrot or apple are safe as an occasional treat. Provide a salt or mineral lick free choice. Supplements for joints, hooves or electrolytes can help working or older horses, but use them on veterinary advice rather than as a matter of course. Clean, fresh water must be available at all times.

The Standardbred is considered a robust and durable breed, helped by a broad gene pool and generations of selection for working soundness. Typical lifespan is 25 to 30 years with good care. Most health concerns relate to the wear of racing and to issues common to all horses, rather than to inherited breed disorders. Many problems can be prevented with attentive, routine management.

Preventive care

• Book annual veterinary exams and keep vaccinations up to date.
• Keep to a deworming programme guided by faecal egg counts.
• Have the teeth checked and rasped yearly.
• Keep up regular farrier visits for balanced, healthy hooves.
• Feed little and often, with plenty of forage, to protect the gut.

The Standardbred is one of the most trainable horse breeds around, the result of generations bred to work calmly and cooperate under harness. The breed picks up new routines quickly and tends to stay relaxed under pressure, which makes early handling and retraining straightforward. Horses coming off the track are already used to harness, traffic, crowds and travel, giving them a strong foundation for a second career in driving or riding.

Basics

1. Build trust with calm, consistent groundwork before mounted or driven work.
2. Teach leading, tying and standing still for grooming and the farrier.
3. For ridden retraining, introduce the saddle, bridle and rider's weight in stages.
4. Help pacers and trotters develop a balanced canter under saddle over time.
5. Reinforce voice cues and steady responses to rein and leg aids.
6. Build up duration and difficulty gradually to keep the horse confident.

Standardbreds reach sexual maturity by about 18 months, though mares are usually not put in foal until they're at least three years old and physically mature. Breeding is closely managed within the registry, with detailed bloodline records kept, since nearly all modern horses trace back to the foundation sire Hambletonian 10. Gait type, trotting or pacing, is strongly influenced by genetics and is a key factor in choosing a pairing.

Gestation lasts roughly 11 months, and mares almost always carry a single foal. Foals stand and nurse within hours of birth. They're typically weaned at around four to six months, then raised on forage and managed turnout to build sound bone and muscle before training starts. Young horses are often introduced to harness and basic schooling as yearlings, with serious race conditioning starting at two years old.

Artificial insemination is widely used in Standardbred breeding, unlike some other racing breeds. Careful management of mares, stallions and young stock supports the breed's reputation for soundness and longevity.