Among the first horses brought to colonial America was a type of originating in the Netherlands. Like diminutive versions of the Flemish Great Horse, they were solidly-built animals well-suited for work which, in the New England area, included carrying a rider under saddle. The breed's propensity for pacing, more comfortable than trotting in pre-posting days, made them highly prized, especially in impromptu races in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Racing, however, was frowned upon by the predominantly Puritan citizens, and settlers who wished to live in a more liberal claimate moved to Rhode Island. They took their horses with them, and the animals became known as the Narragansett pacers. One of these pacers played an important role in American history by carrying Paul Revere on his celebrated 1775 'Midnight Ride.'
Other breeds of horse have more distingquishing conformation points than the Standarbred. It resembles the Thoroughbred although somewhat smaller in height, standing approximately 15hh (152cm), and being more sturdily built. Its weight ranges between 408-544kg (900-1,200lb), and its color is unbroken.
STANDARD BRED
