Rocky Mountain Standardbred
By Jamie Coffy, Administrator of the USTA's Standardbred Equestrian Program.

Karen Ansteensen, a Colorado native, is proud owner of Bay Lady, a trail horse of the highest caliber.

Though the 14-year-old Standardbred has come a long way from her origins, she seems to have found herself a Rocky Mountain home.

Born in Florida and registered as Little Miami Vikki, she was bred and owned by James Hysell and Danilo and Alvaro Manrique of Everglade Acres. The stable, which owned the mare’s dam, Toni Vic, p,5,q2:02h ($11,773), and sire Sparkling High, p,4,1:55.3f ($162,208).

In 1985, Ohio native Donald Harper bought yearling Little Miami Vikki and her dam. Despite training, the stout mare had no luck on the track and never made a start. Her half-brother by Steady Airliner fared somewhat better, earning $9,690 from 98 starts and taking a mark of p,2:02h at age 6.

How the mare reached the Rockies may not be known, but Ansteensen had reason to be grateful that the mare had found her way to the Centennial state.

"After a bad accident on a green horse, I decided to find an older, more well-trained horse," Ansteensen said. In 1998, she found Bay Lady.

Bay Lady’s previous owner was selling the mare because her granddaughter, the horse’s primary rider, had developed allergies to horses. The girl’s misfortune proved to be Ansteensen’s good luck, since "Bay Lady and I took to one another right away."

Colorado affords some wonderful trails and scenery, and Ansteensen and Bay Lady take advantage of them.

The retired pacer quickly learned the manuverability needed on the trails, including backing, turns on the haunches and turns on the forehand. Now, Ansteensen has no problems opening and closing gates from horseback.

Currently, the pair is working on developing a balanced, smooth canter under saddle. Ansteensen also plans to purchase a driving cart to explore Bay Lady’s abilities in harness.

"She’s a joy to ride," she added.