The Standardbred has always been bred to a performance standard. This makes them

tough, strong, fast, calm and willing, but the appearance can vary quite a lot. While

there is a "Standardbred look", some have been mistaken for Thoroughbreds and

stockhorses. Standardbreds vary in size from 14 to over 17 hh (most fall between 15 and

16 hh) and come in all colours, though mainly brown, bay and chestnut. 

Over time, a few specific conformation points have appeared - the things that make for

speed in a harness horse. Compared with its ancestor, the Thoroughbred, the

Standardbred has stronger, shorter legs, a narrower chest, long sloping shoulders, long

underline and a strong back. And let's not forget the healthier feet!

For showing purposes, however, a more detailed basic breed standard has grown into

being. which you can see in our Standard of Excellence .


Gaits


The rhythmic characteristic movement of a horse's feet and legs in motion is called its

gait. The natural gaits of all horses are the walk, trot, canter and gallop. Some breeds

have special gaits, such as the 'snake trot' of the Akhal-Téké, the Tölt of the Icelander

and the pace of the Standardbreds. A natural gait is one that is performed by natural

influence and without training. The pacing gait is natural only in some Standardbreds.
 


The walk is a natural relaxed four beat stride. The footfalls are left hind, left fore, right

hind, right fore - four distinct and regular beats. Even at the walk the Standardbred will

generally show a naturally long, ground covering stride.

The trot is the more natural of the racing gaits. It is a rapid, two beat diagonal gait. The

forefoot on one side and the opposite hind foot take off and strike the ground at the

same time. The horse works from one pair of diagonals to the other pair for maximum

efficiency of stride and thus maximum speed. It is essential that the trotter be balanced

evenly on both diagonals. The weight of the horse is distributed first by one diagonal and

then the opposite diagonal, then all four feet are off the ground at the same time for an

instant. The longer the stride of a trotter, the longer the time all four feet are off the

ground. The trot should be square, balanced and springy with length and quickness to

the stride.


The pace, also a racing gait, is a fast, two beat gait. The front and hind feet on the same

side are moved forward and back together at the same time. When the stride is fully

extended, all four feet are off the ground for an instant. The base of support of the

horse's weight is always the two lateral legs. As in the trotter, the efficiency of the horse's

gait is greatly enhanced by the horse being balanced on its laterals. Proper balancing and

an efficient stride will lead to maximum speed.



Although the Standardbred is best known as a trotter or pacer, is still retains the natural

ability to canter. It is up to the trainer of a race horse to ensure that only the selected

racing gate (trot or pace) is used by the horse when in work. This training leads many

people to believe incorrectly that the Standardbred does not canter. The canter is a three

beat gait known as the lope by Western-style riders. The horse moves in bounds with

either the right foreleg or left foreleg leading. If it begins on the left hind the sequence is;

left hind, left fore and right hind touching the ground simultaneously, right fore, followed

by an interval when all four feet are off the ground. The sequence is a ‘Lead lead to the

right'. On a circle to the right, the horse ‘leads' with the inside foreleg, i.e. the right fore.

On a circle to the left, when the sequence is reversed, it ‘leads' with the left foreleg. A

horse cantering a right handed circle on the left lead, or vice versa, is said to be on the

‘wrong lead' or moving with a ‘false lead'. However, in the advanced balancing exercise of

counter-canter, the horse is required to canter on a false lead.



A gallop is a four beat gait - essentially an unrestrained canter. The stride is longer and

the moment of suspension is much longer. The sequence of footfalls varies according to

speed.


A successful Standardbred must have speed, stamina and gait. A fully developed gait is a

key to success of the other characteristics. The greater the efficiency of stride, the easier it

is for a horse to achieve its maximum speed and the less tiring it is on the legs at a

greater distance. This results in more stamina. If the horse's stride is less efficient, it tires

more quickly and is difficult to keep sound. A trainer's first priority is to develop a young

horse's gait immediately after the horse is broken. Speed cannot be attained until balance

is achieved to maintain a steady gait.


Due to the intensive gait training a Standardbred undergoes as a racehorse, proper

attention must be paid to developing previously unused gaits when undertaking

retraining for a retirement career.