American Standardbred

American Standardbred, American trotter

The American Standardbred is a fast and durable US harness breed developed primarily for trotting and pacing races.

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Breed information

Country: United States
Height: 142–162 cm
Weight: 450–550 kg
Coat: short, smooth coat; commonly bay, black, brown or chestnut
Suitable for: harness racing, light driving, riding, leisure use and training

Tags

horse harness trotter sport endurance

Rating

Breed characteristics

Activity 9/10

Trainability 8/10

Good with children 8/10

Shedding 4/10

Guarding 3/10

Care 6/10

Description

About the breed

Overview

The American Standardbred is an athletic harness breed developed for speed. It typically has strong musculature, a deep chest, durable limbs and functional conformation. Petsi lists a height of 142–162 cm and a weight of 450–550 kg.

History

The breed formed in the United States during the nineteenth century. Its name reflects the time standard horses once had to meet for entry into the early registry.

Features

Standardbreds include trotters and pacers, and many transition successfully to riding after racing.

Temperament

Temperament and behavior

Temperament

Standardbreds are generally willing workers, comparatively calm and receptive to structured training. New aids should be introduced gradually when retraining an ex-racehorse.

Care

Care and keeping

Care

Hoof, joint, dental and body-condition monitoring is especially important. Feeding should centre on good forage and water, while concentrates are matched to workload.