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Harness racing is a form of horse racing, in which standard bred horses race in one of two specified movements (gaits), either trotting or pacing. They usually pull light two-wheeled carts called sulkies, although races to saddle occasionally occur.

Popularity
Harness racing is popularly contested throughout the world, especially so in the United States of America, France , Italy and the Scandinavian countries. In north America the predominance is for pacing, whereas trotting is favoured in Europe.

Location
Historically many harness races were run on public highways, nowadays they are run exclusively on grass or cinder tracks. Tracks are either shared with flat racing or purposely constructed for harness racing.

Ability
The driver carries a long, light whip which is chiefly used to signal the horse by tapping and to make noise by striking the sulky shaft. There are strict rules as to how and how much the whip may be used.

Description
Races can be conducted in two differing and quite distinctive gaits; trotting and pacing. A horse that breaks stride (a horse which starts to gallop) must be slowed down and taken to the outside until it regains stride). One of the reasons pacers are less likely to break stride is that they often wear hopples or hobbles. The belief that hobbles are used to create this gait is a misconception. The pace is a natural gait, and hobbles are merely an accessory to support the pace at top speed.

Dedication
The difference between trotting and pacing, is that a trotter moves its legs diagonally, right front and left hind, then left front and right hind striking the ground simutaneously, whereas a pacer moves its legs laterally, right front and right hind, then left front and left hind striking the ground simultaneously. Pacers normally race in hobbles to prevent them breaking gate at speed.

The sulky, which is informally known as a bike, is a light two-wheeled cart equipped with bicycle wheels.

Potential
Races are normally run for a purse (cash prize), and there is much betting by spectators on the race outcome.

Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.

Energy

Arms

Legs

Sight

Hearing

Speech

Learning

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