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What can you tell me about Standardbreds?

5K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  LadyDreamer 
#1 ·
I have wanted a Standardbred Road horse since I was eight. As I have just now started an earnest search, it seems that Trotters are extremely hard to find(at least on the general classified sites). I have finally found one who is Pacing bred, but likes to trot, that dad liked so much that he called about.

He is very beautiful, has promising conformation from the photos, and...did I mention he was beautiful???

The only standardbred I have ever been around was a big hammer headed ugly thing that we rescued from a frozen pond a couple weeks ago. He was very sweet, and actually incredibly cute for being so ugly(not saying standardbreds are ugly, just this one), and even though he was almost gone, managed to muster up enough drive to get himself to shore(after darn near half an hour). He did one thing that I thought was just adorable that I have seen many STB road horses on the KY circuit do, and that is Lip Flapping. Too cute. I love it.

So Standardbred people, tell me some stories, and all about your standardbreds. Positives and negatives from personal experiences are greatly welcome.
 
#2 ·
ive had a fair bit to do with them. my dad used to breed and train pacers and i now have one old fella of my own. they are absolutely beautiful horses. all the ones that i have come across have been so sweet and gentle and loyal.

the only thing you need to watch is that a lot of people when trying to sell a stb will tell you it trots nicely as they know that is something that a lot of people are concerned about as getting a pacer out of pacing is very difficult. not impossible but difficult. even then they can break into a pace any time they feel like it.

its very rare to get a stb that hasnt been taught to pace but once they learn to trot well they are lovely. usually very smooth gaited in the trot but not always in the canter. this can be helped with a little work though.

i wouldnt trade my standie for anything...well maybe but it would be hard to part with him :)
 
#13 · (Edited)
the only thing you need to watch is that a lot of people when trying to sell a stb will tell you it trots nicely as they know that is something that a lot of people are concerned about as getting a pacer out of pacing is very difficult. not impossible but difficult. even then they can break into a pace any time they feel like it.

its very rare to get a stb that hasnt been taught to pace but once they learn to trot well they are lovely. usually very smooth gaited in the trot but not always in the canter. this can be helped with a little work though.
I am not sure how it works where you are, but we have trotters AND pacers, both with distinct lines. They are bred to trot, or they are bred to pace. A pacer will trot naturally, but it would take a lot of convincing to get a trotter to pace. Its just like a gaited horse, they are bred to do it.

Well, from what I understand, the horse I am interested in hasn't been worked much on his gaits. He's never been raced, and is broke to ride and drive.

Another thing that would make me against an exracer, is the turns. Going from the track to the ring, they would have to learn not only how to take the turns, but also to keep from pacing or cantering the turns. Pacing the turns will just blow a class.
Since you are wanting something for a roadster, you definitley should take a trotter over a pacer. Anytime I see the roadster classes, its always a high actioned trot in the front. Not always fancy or splashy, but just good action.

You won't have a problem with them pacing the corner if its a trotter, which again is what you want for a roadster. To keep them from cantering, YOU have to keep them from going too fast to canter. And actually, an ex-race horse would be better in the turns, because if they have raced on a smaller sized track, they are good at taking tighter corners.

You wont have to worry about getting them on the bit, or changing their muscling if you are keeping him as a driving horse, so dont worry!


ETA:Just want to add to make sure you do your homework on the pedigree of any Standardbred you are wanting. Some lines do not have the nicest manners, no matter what. Breed a crabby stallion to the sweetest mare in the world, and the baby is still a sour apple.
 
#3 ·
STB s and russian trotter are really loyal. Eaven when a person hurts them somehow, maby theyr feelings They still are loyal. They give theyr best to do what you want and they feel bad if the fail. You are newer allowed to use forsing with them. *They are too easy to mistreat... :roll:
 
#6 ·
Well, from what I understand, the horse I am interested in hasn't been worked much on his gaits. He's never been raced, and is broke to ride and drive.

Another thing that would make me against an exracer, is the turns. Going from the track to the ring, they would have to learn not only how to take the turns, but also to keep from pacing or cantering the turns. Pacing the turns will just blow a class.

Man here is what I want.






Here is William Shatner with his Road Horse.
 
#7 ·
it looks like those guys are trotters and you would have much less troubles there but to be honest with you whether you get a pacer or a trotter you will still have some kinds of problems to deal with. good luck with what you chose. those guys you have pictured are beautiful :)
 
#8 ·
yes, those are most definitely trotters. Those are Road Horses. They HAVE to be trotters if you are going to do well.

What do you mean problems? Problems with the breed in general? Or problems with the soundness of exracers? I am fully aware of the potential soundness issues coming from OTT STBs.
 
#9 ·
LadyDreamer said:
yes, those are most definitely trotters. Those are Road Horses. They HAVE to be trotters if you are going to do well.

What do you mean problems? Problems with the breed in general? Or problems with the soundness of exracers? I am fully aware of the potential soundness issues coming from ott STBs.
nah i didnt mean soundness stuff. things like their desire NOT to canter lol they are taught thats its 'naughty' to canter so it can take a while for them to get it all figured out. there will more than likely be things like wanting to go only one way comfortably. but hey, these arent things that are forever problems and can be worked through. its just something to be aware of :)

p.s. also stuff like proper carriage and getting them down onto the bit will be hard as their muscle structure is different. lots of groundwork, lunging with side reins etc should slowly help strengthen the muscles he needs. slowly and steady :)
 
#10 ·
Well, seeing as cantering is something one doesn't want to encourage in a road horse(cantering the turns will kill you in a class just as easily as pacing) it won't matter that much.

And I'm sure getting them to set up the way we would want wouldn't be too much different than training a Fine Harness horse or a Road Pony. We have plenty of experience with Road Ponies, but those are Hackneys. Miserable little creatures.

Just curious but what dicipline do you ride/are you referring to?
 
#11 ·
Dreamer, you're in Kentucky?

West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are big harness racing states. If you're looking for a Standardbred (and I don't blame you, I have a half and love him), try the off-track rescue sites. They have a beautiful grey in West Virginia right now on Petfinder, named L'Argent, and some gorgeous duns and browns.
 
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