THE BREEDS OF HORSES 159 



the American road driver who first sought harness speed, 

 bred from a composite foundation, in which the Thorough- 

 bred top cross figured most conspicuously, the base con- 

 sisting of common bred mares which had shown an aptitude 

 to trot, due, perhaps, to the blood of the Dutch trotter, 

 this horse has been bred to a standard of speed perform- 



FIG. 79. A Standardbred stallion. 



ance. As a result, the type is not uniform, although the 

 extreme speed performance has been attained in a wonder- 

 ful degree and with extraordinary regularity. Standard- 

 breds (Fig. 79) range in height from pony stature to sixteen 

 hands and in weight from 800 to 1200 pounds or over, the 

 most approved size being about 15-3 and 1100 pounds. 

 They conform to the general speed type, modified in those 



