Photo by Schreiber. 



Photograph of the American standard bred trotter, GEO. WILKES, 

 2 :22 ; founder of the great Wilkes family of standard bred trotters. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE STANDARD BRED HORSE. 



THE CHIEF characteristics 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 2:03 14, while the world's 

 pacing record for the same distance is held by Star Pointer, the time being 

 IroO 1 /^. The type which should be encouraged in the show ring is that 

 which conduces towards this end, while at the same time showing the char- 

 acteristics required for endurance, ambition and the essential features of a 

 road horse. This means the possession of general features represented by 

 an intelligent head and extremely light neck, low, deep chest, oblique shoul- 

 der, long, muscular forearm, strong knees, short cannons, slim, sloping pas- 

 tern, and feet of good wearing quality, with round body rising slightly over 

 the loin ; neat, long croup ; thighs full with low hocks that are strongly con- 

 structed and clearly defined. Such deficiencies as are due to undersize, lack 

 of style and substance 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 pur- 

 poses. 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 

 l)e 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 f>8. 



