Are Standardbreds bred specifically to be trotters or pacers?
Answer Hi Elaine. Standardbreds are specifically bred to be trotters or pacers, but most pacers have some trotting blood in their pedigrees. During the time between when a yearling is broken and the time he or she starts in their first race, the trainer will see whether the horse is a natural or prefers the other gait. There have been MANY horses that have raced on both the trot and the pace…they are called “double gaited.” There have even been a few “triple gaited” horses—they raced on the pace, on the trot and on the pace without hobbles. The trainer has some part in the decision, because most horses must be shod differently on the trot than they are on the pace. Another move that trainers will sometimes try is switching a horse from the pace to the trot if the horse seems unhappy or “sour.” If a horse is having major soundness issues, they will sometimes be switched from the trot to the pace. Perhaps you’ve heard of Meadow Skipper? His older half sister by Adios was named Counte
