My Pet Peeve- "Rescuing" Standardbreds From The Track (2008)

I am the daughter of a harness horse trainer. I have also been taking Standardbreds from the track and retraining them under saddle since I was 8 years old. My first riding horses were Standardbreds, I learned to jog harness horses, brush them, and bathe them. My passion for horses started with the harness horse and harness racing.

Someone saying that they rescued a Standardbred from the racetrack is my biggest pet peeve, because it is not true for harness horses as a whole. Not all Standardbreds are rescued from the racetrack. Rescue by definition means "to free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger, or evil".

Most of these harness horses receive better care than your average show horse. They have a set schedule for meals, stall cleaning, pasture time, and training. They get one day off a week. They are fully rubbed down after workouts; some have chiropractic, laser treatments, and massage appointments. Most of these harness horses get the best twice-yearly veterinary care and some of the most advanced care in veterinary science in the case of an injury or sickness. They get hoof trims every 6 weeks, they receive joint supplements, vitamins, regular worming, and sometimes other supplements based on the horse. Most have their own blankets, coolers, leg wraps, and boots. These horses are kept fit, taking an average of 3 months to get them in top shape before even going to their first race of the year after a short vacation.

Racing is their job and MANY enjoy it. To say that you rescued your Standardbred off the track is as ridiculous as saying you rescued a horse from the dressage ring or western pleasure. There are bad apples in every discipline, but for the most part the harness horse trainers are good horse-loving people that you do not have to rescue horses from. Over 90% of these harness horses are well taken care of year round.

You may have adopted them off the track, but they are not a rescue, unless you or someone else has stepped in to save them from abuse, neglect, or a greater evil. When you refer to every Standardbred as a rescue, it is an insult to every harness horse owner and trainer who take excellent care of their horses. Real harness horse trainers do take excellent care of their horses, no exceptions.