How to Do Equestrian Harness Racing

Racing Throughbreds, both steeplechasing and on the flat, has always been considered the sport of kings because it was a sport that attracted aristocracy. In direct contrast, harness racing is often called the sport of the people. Harness racing can trace its origins to the America's back roads and county fairs. After a long day working in the fields farmers would unhook their work horses from the plows and hook them to lighter wagons and race on another. The fastest horses were then taken to the county fairs where they raced against one another in more formal races. As time passed, farmers and horsemen all over the country began breeding for lighter horses with an exceptionally fast trot. The breed of horse used in harness racing is called a Standardbred. Every registered Standardbred can trace it linage directly back to the stallion Messenger.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

How to Do Equestrian Harness Racing

1. Understand the difference between a thoroughbred (used in flat racing, and steeplechasing) and a Standardbred. The average Standardbred is short, standing between 15 and 16 hands (a hand is four inches). They generally have a longish back, solid legs, and have a heavy head with a roman nose. In contrast the average thoroughbred can be anywhere from 15-17 hands tall, they have short bodies, delicate legs, and their build is more refined then the coarse Standardbred. Thoroughbreds are blessed with fine refined heads. While thoroughbreds have a reputation of being flighty and spook easily, the average Standardbred has a laid backed and loving disposition. Standardbreds are typically bay or brown although you will occasionally see one that is chestnut and the great Greyhound was easily identified by his pale gray coat.
2. Understand and becoming proficient in determining the difference between a pacer and a trotter. A trotter's legs move in diagonal pairs; when a pacer is racing, both of the legs on each side of the horse move in unison. Pacers are usually faster than trotters. Races are separated not just by age but also by the horses' gait.
3. Unlike Thoroughbred racing, in harness racing the owner of the Standardbred is often the trainer and the driver. The Jockey Club prohibits Thoroughbred owners from riding their horses during sanctioned races. The average Standardbred driver also owns many of the horses that they drive. This means that you will have to go to yearling Standardbred sales and know how to purchase a quality yearling that will be ready to race the next spring.
4. Once you have purchased a horse that you think has potential you need to bring it home and start breaking it to harness. The best way to introduce a young horse to the harness is to do it slowly. Let your youngster sniff and look at each piece of the harness before you buckle it into place. Once the harness is on, make sure that everything is securely buckled and allow your horse to wear it for several hours.
5. After your horse is comfortable with wearing the harness, you will need to teach it drive. The best way to do this is to have one person lead the horse while you walk behind it; make sure that you are far enough back that you won't get kicked. This process is called line driving.
6. As soon as your youngster is line driving, you will have to hook it up to the jogging cart. Since youngsters are often agitated when they realize that they are being chased by the cart you should have someone stand at their head to calm them and tell them that everything will be okay.
7. As soon as your Standardbred is comfortable with the jog cart, you will need to start driving it around the track.
8. While you are teaching your Standardbred to drive and race, you should start ordering the things that you will need in order to start racing. You will need to buy a racing sulky, which is smaller and lighter then the jogging cart you are using to train your horse. You will also need to buy yourself a set of racing silks; you will wear the same racing silks every time you race a harness horse. You will also need to purchase a light weight racing harness.
9. Before you will be allowed to race your Standardbred, you will have to apply for a racing license. You will submit your application to the United States Trotting Association.
10. Before you take your Standardbred to its first race, make sure that it is up to date on all of its vaccinations and health checks and that all of your paperwork is properly filed.

Tips & Warnings

• Horses are flight animals. You never know when something is going to scare them. You should always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet whenever you are working around them.