The Italian Trotter is a harness racing horse developed over the last century by crossing Thoroughbred stallions with French (Norman) trotters Russian Trotters and American Standardbred mares. The goal of the selection was to blend the speed of the Standardbred with the stamina of the French Trotter. The result is a large physically powerful horse standing up to 17 hands (68 inches 173 cm) at the withers with athletic ability and capable of defeating Standardbreds on the race track.