[kmacdougall]

Hi guys! This is my first post, how exciting
I'm KIND OF in the market for a new horse - and by kind of I mean I already have a horse (14.1HH Arab/Welsh) but I think this'll be my last year showing him, I've been showing him for 6 years now in the jumpers and he's ready for retirement. So yeah I don't need a new horse this year but should the opportunity come up I wouldn't say no.

I came across this boy today. He's 17HH, four years old, unbroke but has been sat and walked around on. (Unbroke doesn't bother me really, I'd be working with my coach) My biggest turn off is he is a standardbred. Not to be stereotypical or anything but nice standardbreds are so rare, I can't remember the last time I've seen one (and around here, they're a dime a dozen so often in use). That's pretty much all I know about him, other than he's $2000.

Here he is! I can get bigger pictures also if you like.

 

[Kayty]

What do you want to do with him?
He's really quite nice, particularly for a standie. Has he raced? And can he canter? He is built a little forehandy though so if you go to look at him, see how he moves. Does he stop by sitting on his hindquarters, or by tipping onto his forehand?
Overall, cute, not a show stopper but not bad either. He'd be a bit of an alrounder by the looks of him )

 

[kmacdougall]

What do you want to do with him?
He's really quite nice, particularly for a standie. Has he raced? And can he canter? He is built a little forehandy though so if you go to look at him, see how he moves. Does he stop by sitting on his hindquarters, or by tipping onto his forehand?
Overall, cute, not a show stopper but not bad either. He'd be a bit of an alrounder by the looks of him )

Yeah I thought he was pretty cute too - I'm not sure if he can canter. He was raced, but no injuries, he was just bad at it I guess. I'm disappointed in that he might be an allrounder, cause I'd like to move up to 3' and higher jumpers. I thought he was impressive for a standardbred and definitely a great price for how he looks, but I'm kind of thinking a little uncertainly about him because I wouldn't be able to go look at him - I'm halfway across the country at university so I'd have to send my dad. My dad knows if horses move good (he's been riding for 10 years or so) and also temperament and conformation, but I'm afraid of him assessing potential for a jumper.

 

[churumbeque]

I am cunfused. You say he is unbroke but been sat on and walked around and then you say he has been raced. So is he unbroke to what you need? but more than just walked around a bit? He looks fairly well put together in the 1st pic

 

[kmacdougall]

I am cunfused. You say he is unbroke but been sat on and walked around and then you say he has been raced. So is he unbroke to what you need? but more than just walked around a bit? He looks fairly well put together in the 1st pic

He's a standardbred - he was raced in harness. He is basically unbroke - he's only been sat on once, and walked around for a bit (from my understanding). So he's effectively unbroke to everything, except harness

 

[HowClever]

Looking at him in the pictures with the girl on him I would say he's "green broke" at least. If he was completely "unbroke" they wouldn't have pictures of him with saddle, bridle & rider

He is a cutie though.

 

[Kayty]

It depends what you classify as 'broke',. To me broke is when the horse understands leg aids to the point where it will move off the leg forward and sideways. And will stop to the rein. This horse would be classified as 'backed'. Someone has sat on him and that's all.

Hmmm I wouldn't pay 2k for a standie over here especially if unbroken and you're unsure if he can canter. Was he a trotter or a pacer? Trotters are a bit easier to re-train at least. Sure he could jump, but you'd want to see him over poles before you bought him I think. I wouldn't buy him sight unseen personally. Not for that price.

 

[kmacdougall]

It depends what you classify as 'broke',. To me broke is when the horse understands leg aids to the point where it will move off the leg forward and sideways. And will stop to the rein. This horse would be classified as 'backed'. Someone has sat on him and that's all.

Hmmm I wouldn't pay 2k for a standie over here especially if unbroken and you're unsure if he can canter. Was he a trotter or a pacer? Trotters are a bit easier to re-train at least. Sure he could jump, but you'd want to see him over poles before you bought him I think. I wouldn't buy him sight unseen personally. Not for that price.

Thanks! His ad says this

Has started training undersaddle going w/t in his 2nd ride!

And apparently he was a trotter. But $2000 here (Eastern Canada) is pretty much a steal for a horse. You'd be amazed what they go for. For instance, getting a warmblood yearling with unexceptional breeding, little to no handling will run you around $12,000. So at that rate if he had any ability $2000 would be a steal.. but after hearing from you guys I'm pretty sure I'm just going wait until next year to look for a new horse. I'm still terrified of seeing the word "standardbred" lol

 

[HowClever]

I picked up Trojan as a "backed" standardbred. He cost me $350.

 

[Kayty]

Oh well if 2k is a good price there then certainly consider him!!!! standies here go for around $500, with the very occasional one going for up to $1000.

 

[NittanyEquestrian]

I'm liking that first trot picture a lot even though he is on his forehand he's still lifting through his back and shoulder a bit all on his own and he doesn't LOOK like a standardbred. That in mind, if he's a steal and you want to put 30 more rides in him and if he doesn't work out then resell him or pass on him that's your prerogative. I think he definitely has potential...just hard to assess how much by three pictures.

 

[kmacdougall]

Hey guys! Quick follow-up: I did some facebook creeping (LOL) and found out a little more about him: he doesn't pace (definite plus) and for some reason he didn't work out as a trotter. But I also found a video of him that I really didn't like. He doesn't move as nice as I want my future jumper to move. Also he seemed to be stumbling a bit, which could be nothing (footing, shoes, etc), but at the same time I'm not going to send my dad 6 hours away to look at a horse I have my doubts about!
I'm going to set my budget at around $6000-$7000, plus that could go higher if I wait a full year, so I'm hoping to get something warmblood-ish or a TB, and hopefully started because even though a project horse wouldn't be a bad thing for me, I'd rather come off of a horse (my old jumper) and move right up on another horse.
I'm sure you'll be seeing lots more of these type posts from me in the future, and thanks guys!!

 

[maura]

He looks like a nice guy, but I think you have a long, hard road to get to the 3' jumpers. For starters, he's built fairly downhill, and jumpers ideally have a slightly uphill build. Also, at 17HH and long backed, he's going to have a very hard time executing jumper type turns. Add to that the difficulty of teaching a standardbred to have a round, three beat canter, and you've got a lot of work in front of you.

I'd say he's an excellent trail/pleasure horse prospect, but that if you really want to do the jumpers, even local jumpers, it would be best to keep looking.