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In 1879, the term Standardbred was created to distinguish those trotting horses who met a certain "standard" for the one-mile distance. Of those being raced, one horse type in particular stood out from the crowd. It was a great time in history: the United States was a young developing nation, and with it, a new breed of horse was developing: the Morgan, so named after its founding breeder Justin Morgan. The Morgan horse is renowned for its strength, speed, beauty and willing disposition. But it wasn't the fastest trotting horse. In an effort to create a faster horse, Thoroughbred blood was introduced to Morgan blood. The resulting horse set record after record on the race track in harness (flat saddle racing was illegal at the time), literally setting the standard by which all other horses were judged. This horse became what is known today as the Standardbred.
Through careful breeding, a breed standard was established and the Standardbred horse was born. It is described as having a well proportioned head that is refined and chiseled with a straight profile. It's a medium built horse ranging in size from 14.2 to 17.2 hands (a hand is 4 inches, horses are measured in hands from the ground to their withers) and between 900 and 1200 pounds. Its body is compact with a short back, long sloping shoulders and long, high croup with a noticeably longer undercarriage. Colors are bay, brown, black, chestnut, and occasionally gray, without spots or patches. Muscling is heavy and long which allows for the Standarbred's characteristic long, fluid stride. Strong, straight, well muscled legs are also an important part of Standardbred horses' conformation.
It was this horse's remarkable stride that earned it the respect of breeders and race fans. Standarbreds characteristically have a huge stride when compared to other light saddle horses. It was one gait in particular though that made them famous, the "pace". When a typical horse trots, it moves its legs in diagonal pairs (left fore, and right hind legs move forward, then right fore and left hind). The pacer moves its legs in lateral pairs (left fore and left hind both move forward at the same time, then right fore and right hind). By pacing, a horse exerts less effort than it does when trotting. This allows the horse to accelerate faster, reach a higher overall speed, and maintain that speed for a longer distance. Keeping all that in mind, it's easy to see why the Standardbred became an instant harness racing success. Although the Standardbred is known for it's trotting and pacing gaits, it also possesses a well balanced three beat canter.
It has only been in recent years that people have realized the value of Standarbreds off the race track. The long years of breeding for strong, well balanced gaits has resulted in an athletic, nimble and strong saddle horses. Standarbreds excel in many of today's Western and English riding disciplines such as jumping, dressage, eventing, reining, cutting, Western and English Pleasure and many more. Most importantly, the Standarbred's steady and willing personality makes him and excellent trail and family mount.
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