It is used mainly for racing in harness to a sulky, but may also run in saddled trotting races.
[3]: 468 A stud-book for trotting horses in Germany is documented from 1896; it is now kept by the Hauptverband für Traberzucht e.V., formerly the Hauptverband für Traber-Zucht und -Rennen e.V., which also regulates all aspects of harness racing in the country.
[5][6] Registration is subject to a performance test, which includes a minimum time of 90 seconds over a distance of 1000 m; horses that run the distance in 80 seconds or less are registered in a separate section of the stud-book.
[3]: 468 In 2018 there were approximately 10000 horses registered, consisting of about 5700 mares, 2300 stallions and 3000 geldings.
[4]: 15 The horses stand between 1.55 and 1.70 m at the withers, with an average of about 1.60 m.[7]: 200 [3]: 468 The coat is solid-coloured or grey.