[LordOfDaReins]

I was watching harness racing on tv a few minutes ago. I've always thought those horses looked almost silly pacing around so fast with their tails in their driver's face, pulling their little sulkey and rocking back and forth! So I was wondering who liked what kind of racing best. Also a few questions about harness racing-
What if the wheels latch together?
How fast do the pacers go?
How fast do the trotters go?
Does anybody else think that harness racing is a winsy bit boring to watch? (though I think training,breeding, racing and being around racing standarbreds would be a blast!)
Has anybody ridden on a pacing horse? I hear its uncomfortable.

<small>[ February 05, 2004, 07:28 PM: Message edited by: LordOfDaReins ]</small>

[Dawn]

What's timber racing?

[Sandra-A1]

I would think that if the wheels lock together the drivers either get them seperated or they can run the risk of losing or worse....a wreck.

Today, Standardbreds must be able to trot or pace the mile in 2:20 or faster to be registered and they must have both a Standardbred sire and dam. With the racing “bikes” and flawless track surfaces of today, Standardbreds are posting speeds of 1:49 for a mile and even faster.

I enjoy watching harness racing, even more so than any other flat track racing and steeplechasing. It amazes me that the trotters and pacers can move so fast and I find the pacer's racing gait almost hypnotic.

I have ridden pacers before and some are smoother than others but it is not something that would make me want to own a saddle horse that paces. wink

[LordOfDaReins]

Timber Racing: Simular to steeplechasing, exept for the obstacles are not made of brush, therefore will not break away. To make it more exiting, it think, but In my eyes I would never support something so dangerous. In fact, I think they banned timber racing. Does any body know? Also, if somebody can check my definition, I'm not positive if its correct.

[LordOfDaReins]

Can anybody name a steeplechase track in Washington, Oregon, British Colombia, Idaho, Kentucky, or Tennessee? I could also stand another state bordering Kentucky. (My parents took me on all these sightseeing trips when I was a baby, so I wouldn't remember them, I got mad at them and they swore that when my brothers got out of high school, they'de take me wherever I wanted, and as part of my vacation to Kentucky I'm going to watch a semi-major stakes race at Churchhill downs, Spend a week in a horseback riding resort, watch hunter/jumper show or three day, and see go to a steeplechase. (talk about the greatest vacation EVER!!!!) Yes, I do know how expensive this vacation will be.

[tn walker]

As far as riding a pacing horse goes, I've ridden plenty of pacey walkers Never ridden a Standardbred though... I can just imagine how uncomfortable that hard pace would be just coming from the walker end of things

[EventingDayDream]

I've ridden my neighboors TN walker and I think its very comfortable!

[tn walker]

Oh, yes don't get me wrong! A running walk is the most comfy thing in the world A nice rack or stepping pace isn't bad either. Its when a horse isn't gaiting correctly, they tend to either be pacey or trotty, both of which are undesireable. I personally think that a hard pace is worse than trying to sit the trot on the bounciest horse imagineable eek! If your neighbor's horse was comfy, he was either walking or close to it!

[::Miss Kitty::]

I only know about thoroughbred racing, I hope to learn about standardbreds sometime though!

[MissBandit]

Now YEARS ago I rode a gaited horse (a friend of a friend sort of thing...) and I can't for the life of me remember which breed it was. All I remember is that I was getting into him a little bit to try to get him to trot, figuring he was doing a super duper fast walk. Looking down at his legs I was amazed he was actually trotting! It was the smoothest thing ever! And such an incredibly wierd sensation.

Am I dumb in saying he was a TN Walker? Are they known for that gait?