The American Trotter horse
The true founder of the American Trotter or Standardbred is a Thoroughbred stallion, Messenger, out of Darley Arabian, born in England in 1780, who arrived in Philadelphia in May 1788. One of his sons, Abdallah, produced Hambletonian 10, born in 1849. The descendants of these two sires were crossed with three families of Trotters, namely the offspring of the Thoroughbred Fustin Morgan, Hackneys imported from Canada and Belfound Trotters, out of the Norfolk stallion Belfounder. A Stud Book was opened in 1871. The term “Standardbred”, adopted in 1879, refers to the “standard” of speed required over the mile (1.6 km), which had to be covered in 2’30” for Trotters and 2’25” for Ambleurs.
Thanks to its excellent reputation, this horse is exported all over the world to improve other breeds of Trotters.
Caractère et aptitudes du cheval
A good-natured horse, the American Trotter is powerful, vigorous, and resilient. With its long strides, it runs either amble (lateral gait) or trot. The faster ambler (or pacer) is favored by Americans.
Utilisations du cheval
Mainly harnessed trotting.
Morphologie du cheval
Head with straight profile. Well-flared nostrils. Long ears. Long body, slightly longer than that of the Thoroughbred. Rather long, muscular neck. Prominent withers. Long, sloping shoulders. Deep chest. Long, straight back. Short, broad loins. Exceptionally powerful hindquarters. Croup higher than the withers, broad, oblique. Limbs slightly shorter than those of the Thoroughbred. Wide, dry joints. Excellent, resistant feet. Coat: all simple colors, including bay, bay-brown, black, and chestnut. Height from: 1.50 to 1.70 m.
