Scientists Study Coldblooded Trotter Career Length

Most Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters are bred for racing. Thus, understanding how long their careers typically last is essential not just from a product quality perspective but also from an animal welfare perspective, researchers said.
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Coldblooded Trotter Career Length
Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotter stallions had much longer careers—with higher earnings—than geldings and mares. That is probably related to the fact that these horses can be bred via artificial insemination, unlike Thoroughbreds, the researchers said. | Photo: Micke Gustafsson/Kanal 75/Wikimedia Commons

Researchers from around the world are conducting studies and learning more about how Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds deal with workloads, how feeding and management can affect their performance, and what factors might influence their career length.

But what about local racing breeds? Those produced for Quarter Horse racing in the U.S. or for Icelandic pace racing in Iceland? Or how about the coldblooded, draftlike trotter bred for harness racing in Norway and Sweden?

Studying health and welfare in local racing breeds has great importance, especially as people become more attuned to animal well-being, said Brandon Velie, BSc, MSc, PhD, researcher in the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, in Uppsala

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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