by Lorraine Truitt, president, Horse Lovers United

Harrington, DE — While Standardbreds are not recognized at all horse expos, the Delaware Horse Expo had plenty of Standardbreds to show off on Saturday (March 17) and Sunday (March 18).

The Expo is held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, Del., every year in March and was expanded this year to two days, giving people who work on Saturdays a chance to visit on Sunday.

Megan Warnick/Firestorm Photography

Jessica Walter (left) rides Bathsheba Hanover and Roxane Stephens (right, HLU Secretary) rides Stormy Right Now in the Parade of Breeds at the Delaware Horse Expo.

Horse Lovers United, Inc. took three Standardbreds to the Expo this year.

Bathsheba Hanover is a 9-year-old mare with a short racing career, spanning only two years and one win. She was adopted through HLU two years ago by Jessica Walter from Somerset County in Maryland. They are studying the Parelli training methods together.

Magic Wing is a 25-year-old gelding that recently ended up at a broker’s lot in Pennsylvania. The fearful look on his face is what motivated HLU to reach out to him and let his last few years be peaceful ones, even though our resources are already stretched. When he arrived at the boarding farm, we realized that he was even in worse condition than we could see online, but he is slowly coming along.

Stormy Right Now is a young 5-year-old gelding that never made it to racing. He is boarded at Jessica Walter’s farm and is also learning the Parelli method. He has already been on trail rides and was in the Parade of Breeds at the Horse Expo on Sunday. He will be up for adoption as soon as the right person comes along.

The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Delmarva recently attended both the Maryland and Pennsylvania Horse Expos and were very surprised to not see the Standardbed breed being represented. They took it upon themselves to make sure that this was not the case at the 2012 Delaware Horse Expo. The group gathered several of its members to perform in the Parade of Breeds that took place on both Saturday and Sunday. The breed was greatly represented by several horses showing in different disciplines.

Emilie Courtney from Delaware drove Handsome Scooter (aka Romeo) on Saturday in a beautiful pleasure driving turnout. Nicky Ratledge of Clayton, Del., rode Keystone Sable in hunter turnout and truly amazed onlookers with her beautiful extension of gaits and especially her canter. Blake Warnick of Greenwood, Del., rode TE’s I Cam Pace in western gear and generously demonstrated the gait of a free legged pacer.

A wonderful booth was created to represent the breed in the Dover Building which included the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association, Post Time by Heather Vitale-Moffett, Horse Lover’s United and the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Delmarva. It truly was a group effort.

It was a great weekend in Delaware and a strong representation of the Standardbred’s presence in the area. Proof that there really is nothing “standard” about this breed.

— Megan Warnick also contributed to this story