Training and racing the coldbloods

The World Record for coldbloods is 1.18,6KR (2:06.2h), held by Spikeld

The coldbloods were traditionally trained at slow speeds, often walking with heavy training carts. This resistance training made them stronger. Remember, the coldbloods were initially bred to help out in the woods and perform chores. Many of them would not stay sound if they were to jog as much as a standardbred. However, recently trainers of both coldbloods and standadbreds train the two breeds the same way. They jog the same daily miles and train intervals.

When starting to train at a faster speed, coldbloods are usually a much bigger challenge to balance than standardbreds. The majority are line gaited trotters. The coldbloods are not more likely to turn into long distance horses. Some of them may be sprinters and others may benefit from longer distances.

In horse races, coldbloods only compete with other coldbloods. All tracks in Norway race equal number of coldblood and standardbred races. They both race for the same purses. The purse for the Norwegian Coldblood Criterium is the same as the purse for the Norwegian Criterium for standardbreds. There are classical Stakes races for Coldbloods all year. Many of the biggest races for older coldbloods are raced in February, March, and April. For this reason, the public can enjoy the very best coldbloods of all ages almost all year.

Because the horses are very durable and good partners at the farms, many people that do not have standardbreds, raise coldbloods. There are more amateur drivers in the coldblood races and many of the greatest coldbloods have never been driven by a professional driver. For this reason, there is tremendous excitement and national pride when the best coldbloods meet in the international races during the Elitlopp at Solvalla and The Oslo Grand Prix at Bjerke. At these international races, the Norwegian and Swedish coldbloods compete against the best Finnish horses. These horses are considered to be a different breed than the Norwegian and Swedish coldbloods. Some coldblood breeders would like to breed to the best Finnish sires for an outcross match. But as of now, it isn't possible to register a horse that is cross between Finnish horses and Coldbloods in the Norwegian nor Swedish Trotting Association.

The coldbloods may race through 15 years of age; standardbreds race through 12 years of age. Because they are not as fast as the standardbred, the coldblood have less hairline fractures and seldom develop pulmonary hemorrage.