Photo by Schreiber. 



Photograph of the American standard bred trotter. Geo. Wilkes, 3:22; 

 founder of tlie great Wilkes family of standard bred trotters. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE STANDARD BRED HORSE 



I'HE chief characteristic of the American standard bred horse is speed at the 

 trotting and the pacing gaits ; the world's trotting record for one mile being 

 held by The Abbott, the time being 2:fl.3i4, while the world's pacing record for tnt 

 same distance Is held by Star Pointer, the time being 1 1'lOi-j. The type which should 

 be encouraged in the show ring is that which conduces towards this end. while at 

 the same time showing the characteristics required for endurance, ambition ana 

 the essential features of a road horse. This means the possession of general feat- 

 ures represented by an intelligent head and extremely light neck, low, deep chest, 

 oblique shoulder, long, muscular forearm, strong knees, short cannons, slim, slop 

 ing pastern. and feetof good wearingquality.with round body rising slightly over the 

 loin; neat, long croup; thighs full with low hocks that are strongly constructed and 

 clearly defined. Such deficiences as are due to undersize, lack of style and sub- 

 stance should be points for underscoring in the show ring. In this connection, it is 

 of importance to understand the difference that may exist in representatives of 

 this breed when they are undergoing the strenuous work of campaigning or when 

 they are retained only for show and stud purposes. As many carriage horses have 

 their origin in this breed, as well as most of the roadsters and trotters, emphasis 

 should be given to the qualities which mean endurance, ambition and high finish^ 

 It sometimes occurs that both pacing and trotting action compete in the show 

 ring in a class for roadsters or standard breds. Both these gaits must be recognized 

 and the preference given to the one that shows the most purity and is the best in 

 every particular of its kind. The distinction must be made between the high knee 

 and hock action of the carriage horse and the more reaching and easier folding 

 action of the roadster or trotter. See standard, page .58. 



