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Step 1
The Standardbred horse was bred to race at the trot. He will resemble his close cousin, the Thoroughbred, in many ways, but there are some clear differences. The most important of these being the trot. The Standardbred received his breed name from being able to trot a mile in the "standard" of two minutes and thirty seconds, so a tremendously fast trot is a must.
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Step 2
There are two types of Standardbred trots--the regular and the pacer. Both will have a reach that nearly no other breed can match, and both will outpace most breeds at a gallop while the Standardbred holds the trot. But the pace is when the legs on the same side move in unison. A normal trot has lateral movement of the limbs. Standardbreds come in both these types, and are often "trained" to be pacers.
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Step 3
The body of the Standardbred is longer, heavier, and stronger than the Thoroughbred. The most common color is brown, although bays are also common. Other colors are rarer. Their size can also range extensively--from 14 hands to 17 hands.
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Step 4
The disposition of the Standardbred is calmer than that of the Thoroughbred, and they are steadier off the track than their galloping cousins. They make excellent harness and cart horses, and the Amish favor the Standardbred as their cart horse of choice.
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Step 5
Standardbreds are not a common breed. There are more in the Northeastern sections of the United States than in any other part of the country.
