[Tami]

Does anyone know if Standardbreds are born or taught to pace? If so, how? A few of us had a big discussion yesterday and could not figure this out.

[stacy411]

I was a groom for a standadrbred trainer, years ago. To my recollection they are bred to pace, but need training to bring them to their fullest potential. Just as with any horse

[2manypetz]

http://www.ustrotting.com/ this site will tell you everything you might want to know.

[JBandRio]

Both. There are trotters and pacers. Some born trotters are trained to pace and are kept in the hobbles to keep them in the pace. I don't believe I've ever heard of a born pacer being trained to trot though.

[Eventer98]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Both. There are trotters and pacers. Some born trotters are trained to pace and are kept in the hobbles to keep them in the pace. I don't believe I've ever heard of a born pacer being trained to trot though.

My first mare raced as a pacer, but when I rode her, she could trot or pace. She also did both out in the field.

Or did you mean race trained? If so, just ignore me!

[JBandRio]

From what I know, a born pacer rarely trots (if ever). But some trotters are put into hobbles and taught to pace because they already show the ability to do both and for whatever reason the trainer/owner wants to run a pacer instead of a trotter.

[Eventer98]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

From what I know, a born pacer rarely trots (if ever). But some trotters are put into hobbles and taught to pace because they already show the ability to do both and for whatever reason the trainer/owner wants to run a pacer instead of a trotter.

I do know that she raced in hobbles, so it may be that she is technically a "trotter" She did prefer to pace under saddle (no hobbles of course!) and would do both when she was free in the field. I thought that all stbs were born with some degree of aptitude for the pace, with certain bloodlines being faster/more suited to it.

[Tami]

Okay. So some horses are born pacers? If they are born a pacer are they able to canter normally?

I could not help but to think of the Paso Fino. Aren't they naturally gaited horses? I thought the same of Standardbreds, born to pace? Bottom line, this is confusing.

[2manypetz]

"Standardbred racing is contested on two gaits, the trot and the pace. Trotters move with a diagonal gait; the left front and right rear legs move in unison, as do the right front and left rear. It requires much skill by the trainer to get a trotter to move perfectly at high speeds, even though the trotting gait is a natural one in the animal world.

Pacers, on the other hand, move the legs on one side of their body in tandem: left front and rear, and right front and rear. This action shows why pacers are often called "side-wheelers." Pacers, which account for about 80 percent of the performers in harness racing and are the faster of the two gaits, are aided in maintaining their gait by plastic loops called hobbles, which keep their legs moving in synchronization."

All that was pulled off the USTA site.
Our STB is a trotter, he would not canter or lope when he first came to us, he went fron a trot to a gallop, but now he will do a fast 3 beat canter. Our old TWH is suppsed to do a nice smooth 4 beat running walk but he will do a hard side to side pace, when he is ridden by somone that does not care. He canter and racks nicely, and also has a nice running walk with you ride him properly. Our other TWH has never paced. I don't know if this answers your question at all...sorry, do you have a pacer?

[Tami]

Originally Posted by 2manypetz

"Standardbred racing is contested on two gaits, the trot and the pace. Trotters move with a diagonal gait; the left front and right rear legs move in unison, as do the right front and left rear. It requires much skill by the trainer to get a trotter to move perfectly at high speeds, even though the trotting gait is a natural one in the animal world.

Pacers, on the other hand, move the legs on one side of their body in tandem: left front and rear, and right front and rear. This action shows why pacers are often called "side-wheelers." Pacers, which account for about 80 percent of the performers in harness racing and are the faster of the two gaits, are aided in maintaining their gait by plastic loops called hobbles, which keep their legs moving in synchronization."

All that was pulled off the USTA site.
Our STB is a trotter, he would not canter or lope when he first came to us, he went fron a trot to a gallop, but now he will do a fast 3 beat canter. Our old TWH is suppsed to do a nice smooth 4 beat running walk but he will do a hard side to side pace, when he is ridden by somone that does not care. He canter and racks nicely, and also has a nice running walk with you ride him properly. Our other TWH has never paced. I don't know if this answers your question at all...sorry, do you have a pacer?

No, I don't have a pacer. A group of us went to the races the other day and someone made the comment they did not like what the horses were put through in order to learn how to pace. I thought they were born as pacers-I never thought this was a gait taught to them. Are some born to pace and others born to trot? I guess I always thought the horses racing with the carts were pacers. I never thought "trotters" meant something different than pacing. Now, am I confusing you as much as I am confusing myself??