all-breeds connection [email protected] Breed of the Month: Standardbred Adaptable, versatile mounts are well suited to dressage tandardbreds have been used recordkeeping entity for the sport of as harness race horses since the harness racing. ! is not-for-pro" t 1800s, when neighbors would organization not only focuses on Schallenge one another on the back providing racing opportunities for its country roads to see who had the 20,000 members, but also promotes fastest horse. Today, harness races Standardbreds as pleasure and com- are conducted at more than 250 petitive riding and driving horses. county-fair and pari-mutuel race- Founded in 1939, the USTA was orig- tracks across the country. inally headquartered in Goshen, NY, Standardbreds are well known the “cradle of the trotter”; but moved for their gentle dispositions, and to its current home, Columbus, OH, they adapt well to most situations. in 1948. Because they are handled exten- All-Breeds awards offered: sively when in race training, includ- First and second places in all open, ing learning to wear various forms adult-amateur, and musical-freestyle of equipment and standing for the categories. farrier and veterinarian, becoming How to participate: ! e horse accustomed to carrying a saddle and must be registered with the USTA STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE: ! e 1995 a rider generally comes easy and and declared as a Standardbred with ex-racing Standardbred mare Whiz Bang makes Standardbreds ideal candi- the USDF. (Say Kash – Caprene Kash, by Bret Hanover), dates to become competitive riding Organization contact info: owned by Pat and Jean “Tina” Bombardo (FL), horses. ! e Standardbred’s person- United States Trotting Association: now competes in dressage with trainer Heather ality is well suited to the detail and ustrotting.com or (877) 800-8782. L Caudill extensive training required for dres- sage, as either a " rst career or as a second career after racing. Standardbreds are built much like For the Breeds, by the Breeds ! oroughbreds: athletic and slender, ach month, “All-Breeds Connection” spotlights a USDF All-Breeds but with a slightly heavier build and a strong bone structure. Most stand " f- awards program participating organization and the breed it rep- teen to sixteen hands high and weigh Eresents. Information and photos that appear in this column are between 950 and 1,200 pounds. furnished by the breed registries. USDF does not endorse or promote any Standardbreds you might breed or registry over another. know: Whiz Bang (pictured) started The All-Breeds program is designed to recognize the accomplishments out her life as a racehorse at various of specifi c breeds in dressage. All participating organizations offer “open” New York tracks. Her second career year-end awards from Training Level through Grand Prix, and some offer is on the dressage circuit, and in 2010 awards in additional categories, such as adult amateur, junior/young rider, she competed successfully at Second and dressage sport-horse breeding. Registry representatives are usually on Level, both in open classes and in hand to help bestow awards at the banquet held during each year’s USDF musical freestyle. Whiz Bang lives convention. and competes in Florida with dres- All-Breeds award eligibility requirements include memberships and sage trainer Heather Caudill. horse registrations with both USDF and the participating organization. For The organization: ! e details and a list of current participating organizations, visit usdf.org. For United States Trotting Association more information about All-Breeds awards program participation, send (USTA) is the breed registry for e-mail to [email protected]. the Standardbred horse and the TROTTING ASSOCIATION COURTESY OF THE UNITED STATES 54 September 2011 • USDF CONNECTION .