Standardbreds as a first horse for a beginner.

I have recently been asked my thoughts on possibly having a standardbred as a first horse, for a VERY new rider. I wasn't exactly sure what to say, so I figured i'd ask you guys! This horse is apparently an ex-racer, who, obviously didn't make it. She was however trained to pull a cart and race. She was trained to be ridden but has done almost nothing since. I personally would not think this is a suitable mount for a beginner, anway, what are your thoughts / experiences?

I think a beginner would be more suited with a well trained school master of any breed, what suggests no to me is the fact that you mention things like the horse has done "almost nothing since". A well-trained , school master would be able to teach and be more predictable with a new rider.

New riders should not buy any horse. They should spend the first couple of years taking English lessons on a trotting horse. That will develop better balance and a better feel for the horse. As noted on many occations the effective management of the soft gaits takes some skill. Building that skill on a trotter is much easier and quicker.

When they shift after a couple of years they'll also appreciate the virtues of the soft gaited horse.

My view is not always popular amongst the gaited folk, but there it is.

G.

First of all, a standardbred is not an easy gaited horse. IF the standardbred paces, then, yes, technically they're "gaited" but a pace is pretty darn difficult to ride.

To the OP, the horse you've described does not sound like a good beginner horse. An off the track STB *might* be a good beginner horse if it has been thoroughly reclaimed from the track and has some years of experience as a riding horse under its belt. On of the advantages of STBs is in general they have sweet dispositions and are a pleasure to work with on the ground.

I agree with the rest of Guilherme's comments, though. As a "very new" rider, it would be better to direct your energies to increasing your riding experiece rather than looking for the perfect beginner suitable horse. The best first horse for a beginner is often a leased horse; your abilities and interests may outstrip the capabilities of a truly suitable first horse in fairly short order, but that's a much preferable scenario than starting out with too much horse.

My standie is THE BEST with kids. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1598292650709&set=a.1580489605644.7 8606.1637795866#!/video/video.php?v=1460467605169

I agree with Maura. I have two Standies now, I have had two others. All are very sweet, but one is very insecure. In general they are a very easy to work with horse, but off the track with training under saddle a while ago doesn't sound good. She likely spent more actual time learning how to race and that takes more time, just lots of time, to overcome. As much as I do love the breed, I would advise you to pass on this particular one for this situation as well.

BTW to Maura: once you learn how to sit a pace, it is totally awesome. You can definitely tell when they are collected or not and when they are flat out. It is definitely a completely different ride, but once you learn it, it can be very easy to sit actually.

I really wanted to keep the pace trained in my 3 pacers, but I didn't have the time or proper knowledge to teach them when I wanted a trot and when I wanted a pace. Too bad... maybe one day.

Even though the horse has been trained to pull a jogger and race bike, does not mean that you can just throw a saddle and it will be a good riding horse.

Standardbreds are good horses if they have already been retrained....but not for a brand new rider. Take lessons....then coboard....then lease....then buy.

BTW....most pacers also trot just as easily as they pace....ours switch back and forth when we jog them without hobbles. They can pick and choose what they feel most comfortable doing. Some pace the whole 30 minutes, some do half and half....It all depends. The pace you can also post too, just like a trot.

Honestly, I've never seen a sane Standardbred in my life. I rode one named Whiskey and he was a racking Standardbred who could rack about 18 mph. He was supposed to be a gentle kid horse but one day my cousin got on him and when he started riding, Whiskey bucked him off and when he kicked out, he kicked my cousin's leg and broke it in half. Not good for beginners in my opinion.

Standardbreds are the dominate show horses in my area, so I know a lot of them.

I've never seen a Standardbred rack.... Any that I've known trot or pace, and I grew up with them on my Grandparents farm.

You cannot judge a breed by what one horse did. Another breed of horse could have likely done this just as easily as Whiskey.

Sorry...but I am going to call bs on your racking Standardbred thing. Where do you live that Standardbred's are dominate in the show ring? I live within a 3 hours drive of multiple tracks and only know of one Standardbred showing....and he is only a half STB.