Harness Race for Dummies

What does "Harness Race" mean?

Oh hey there, my friend! I'm super excited to explain what a "Harness Race" is to you. So, imagine this: you know how horses can run really fast, right? Well, a harness race is a special kind of horse race where the horses are attached to something called a harness. Think of a harness like a special piece of equipment that goes around the horse's body to keep everything in place.

Now, let's picture it like this: you know when you go running, and you wear those snazzy shoes to help you run faster and keep your feet safe? Well, horses wear a harness just like you wear running shoes, but instead of shoes, it's a special gear made of straps and buckles that goes around their bodies.

During a harness race, the horses don't have someone sitting on their backs like in other horse races. Instead, they pull a small cart called a "sulky" or a "race bike". The harness is attached to the sulky, and the driver sits in it. So, the driver doesn't ride on the horse, but rather sits behind them in the sulky and guides them around the race track.

Now, here's the thing, my friend, a harness race is not just about which horse can run the fastest. It's also about how well the driver can control the horse and guide them around the track. It's like a team effort between the horse and the driver. The driver has to be really skilled to make sure they don't slow down the horse or make them go off track.

So, to sum it all up, a harness race is a type of horse race where the horses wear a special gear called a harness that's attached to a sulky, and the driver guides the horse around the track from behind. It's not just about speed, but also the teamwork between the horse and the driver. Now, my friend, I hope you have a clear understanding of what a harness race is. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!