by Jessica Schroeder, USTA Outreach & Membership Enrichment Coordinator

Columbus, OH — The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Ohio participates in demonstrations to show the versatility of the Standardbred at events throughout the year.

This Spring the group will be heading to Equine Affaire (Columbus, Ohio) April 10-14 and the Kentucky Horse Park (Lexington, Ky.) June 21-23 to showcase Standardbreds in Dressage, pleasure driving, Western, English, games, saddleseat, polo and of course, harness racing.

Some of the horses that will be on display are:

AllAmericanLegacy (9-year-old pacer by Dragon Again)
Bumble B’s Yogi (12-year-old trotter by Perfect Spiral; 1:58.4, $55,989)
Cleopatra Saluki (14-year-old pacer by Fortune Leader)
Coalford Admiral (12-year-old pacer by Coalford Laag; 1:54.4, $59,020)
Crimson Viking (5-year-old trotter by Classic Photo)
Far Out Hall (7-year-old trotter by Like A Prayer)
I Feel Lucky Today (20-year-old trotter by C J Of Course; 2:03.2, $14,512)
Lace N Ribbons (14-year-old pacer by On The Road Again; 2:03.4, $6,292)
Looks Like Jet (10-year-old pacer by Jet Laag; 1:56, $58,275)
Moonlight-Fantasy (6-year-old pacer by Nuclear Siren)
Norma Jean Ryder (10-year-old trotter by Yankee Ryder; $4,087)
Ottawa Hanover (19-year-old trotter by Meadow Road)
Red Buttons (13-year-old trotter by Mr Vic; 1:57, $42,897)
Sammy Merlot (5-year-old trotter by Victory Sam; 1:58.3, $14,420)
Senator Sahbra (14-year-old pacer by Expensive Scooter)
Silver Match (15-year-old pacer by Royal Match; 1:52.3, $161,238)
Thank You Sam (14-year-old pacer by Sonsam; 1:52, $43,971)
Wen Her Wendy (22-year-old pacer by Listening)
Whiteascanbe (8-year-old pacer by Whitefish Falls; 1:54.3, $21,724)

The SPHO-OH has scholarships available to potential new members of the group that covers the adoption fees of a Standardbred through New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. They also sponsor several shows throughout the year at the Franklin (Hiliard) and Fairfield (Lancaster) County Fairgrounds, as well as at Cashman’s in Delaware. The first World Standardbred Show, coordinated by the group, will be held at Eden Park in Sunbury Oct. 5-6.

For more information about SPHO-OH, visit their website at www.sphooh.org.

Since 1996, the Standardbred Equine Program has worked with off-the-track Standardbreds and their owners to educate the general public on the many disciplines at which Standardbreds excel once they are retired from racing. For more information about the SEP at the USTA, visit standardbreds.ustrotting.com, or send e-mail inquiries to sep@ustrotting.com.