Norfolk Trotter
Encyclopedia
The Norfolk Trotter is an extinct horse breed
once native to East Anglia and Norfolk
, England
. It was said to be "a large-sized trotting harness horse originating in and around Norfolk".
In 1542, King Henry VIII
required the wealthy to keep a specified number of trotting-horse stallions. The breed was well established in Norfolk, and later became known as the Norfolk Trotter. The most influential sire in its history the half-bred stallion Shales (foaled 1755), also known as "Old Shales". Shales' Thoroughbred sire, Blaze (foaled 1733), was a son of the great racehorse Flying Childers
(a descendant of the Darley Arabian
, one of the three foundation sires of the Thoroughbred).
The Norfolk Trotter became the all-around travel horse in England at this time. In Yorkshire, the same breed was known as the Yorkshire Trotter. Both breeds were also known as roadsters. It is common to see the term Norfolk/Yorkshire Roadster/Trotter in breed-history books; regardless of the name, all are the same breed of horse. They were used under saddle as the quickest means of travel in areas where there were no established roads. The breed was known for its ability to carry a heavy man for great distances at speeds up to 16-17 mph. Trotting races (usually under saddle), were very popular in the early part of the nineteenth century and Norfolk Trotters excelled in them.
A Norfolk Trotter stallion, Bellfounder was imported to America in 1822, and he proved a major influence in the founding of the Standardbred by becoming the damsire of Hambletonian 10
. Norfolk Trotters also strongly influenced today's modern Hackney
horse.
Horse breed
Horse breed is a broad term with no clear consensus as to definition, but most commonly refers to selectively bred populations of domesticated horses, often with pedigrees recorded in a breed registry. However, the term is sometimes used in a very broad sense to define landrace animals, or...
once native to East Anglia and Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was said to be "a large-sized trotting harness horse originating in and around Norfolk".
In 1542, King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
required the wealthy to keep a specified number of trotting-horse stallions. The breed was well established in Norfolk, and later became known as the Norfolk Trotter. The most influential sire in its history the half-bred stallion Shales (foaled 1755), also known as "Old Shales". Shales' Thoroughbred sire, Blaze (foaled 1733), was a son of the great racehorse Flying Childers
Flying Childers
Flying Childers was a famous undefeated 18th century Thoroughbred racehorse, foaled in 1714, and is often cited as the first truly great racehorse in the history of Thoroughbreds.-Breeding:...
(a descendant of the Darley Arabian
Darley Arabian
The Darley Arabian was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock, the other two being the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo, Syria by Thomas Darley in 1704 and shipped back to Aldby Park in England, where...
, one of the three foundation sires of the Thoroughbred).
The Norfolk Trotter became the all-around travel horse in England at this time. In Yorkshire, the same breed was known as the Yorkshire Trotter. Both breeds were also known as roadsters. It is common to see the term Norfolk/Yorkshire Roadster/Trotter in breed-history books; regardless of the name, all are the same breed of horse. They were used under saddle as the quickest means of travel in areas where there were no established roads. The breed was known for its ability to carry a heavy man for great distances at speeds up to 16-17 mph. Trotting races (usually under saddle), were very popular in the early part of the nineteenth century and Norfolk Trotters excelled in them.
A Norfolk Trotter stallion, Bellfounder was imported to America in 1822, and he proved a major influence in the founding of the Standardbred by becoming the damsire of Hambletonian 10
Hambletonian 10
Hambletonian 10, or Rysdyk's Hambletonian, was an American trotter and a founding sire of the Standardbred horse breed. The stallion was born in Sugar Loaf, NY on 5 May 1849. Hambletonian has been inducted into the Immortals category of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.-Origin and early years...
. Norfolk Trotters also strongly influenced today's modern Hackney
Hackney (horse)
The Hackney Horse is a recognized breed of horse that was developed in Great Britain. In recent decades, the breeding of the Hackney has been directed toward producing horses that are ideal for carriage driving. They are an elegant high stepping breed of carriage horse that is popular for showing...
horse.