I don’t know why you thought asking was a mistake?
But driving Standardbreds, Amish or not, tend to transition really well to riding. Especially if you have reasonable goals, like you do. The canter can be a bit of a wildcard.
My girl is still green as grass under saddle in terms of saddle time and training, yet she is my “grandma horse” who I can throw anyone on.
Honestly, it seemed as if my goals were beyond what I should expect. He canters in the field, so he does already canter. Having not been on the track he has never been told not to.
Can someone recommend a feed through joint supplement that actually works?
Lubrisyn. I’ve used it for many years for my horses, dogs and ME. 100 percent Hyaluronic Acid. Much better than the cheap versions.
Adopted a young Stbd. off track training and he was a huge doll baby. Nicest temperament and
pretty much bomb proof.
As a person who focuses on that bending stuff, I have to clarify this statement for any random reader who pops in to this thread:
Bending is not a priority for aN AMISH horse between shafts.
(The combined drivers live and die on that hill 
)
As an aside, Garden State CDE round a Standardbred division (this weekend)
My daughter has ridden many of our STB racehorses, most while they were racing, I’d say they transition beautifully! Mine was the toughest to start under saddle, took great offense to the saddle, but once he adjusted, he was lovely.
Some STB racehorse trainers will exercise them in the cart (not the race bike) at a strong canter or gallop. 
I’ve watched my DH do that, cantering along side another horse being driven by his help. They all naturally can canter, some just have nicer canters than others.
If someone thinks I was talking about all driving horses, they need a serious course in reading comprehension.
Put yer lighthearted hat back on, also, have you not MET the internets?!?!?
You could also look at Hackneys, DHH, or Freisians? The Amish are huge into them here and don’t typically use them for general buggy work so less wear and tear.
You want to be aware that the Hackney, DHH, Fresian and Fresian crosses may not be as “easy to handle” as the Standardbreds. Well trained yes, but there can be a much shorter fuse when things get questionable, facing new situations. Of course not all horses of these breeds react the same, but people new to driving, new to these breeds, might want to wait until they have better driving skills, more driving experience to read the horse, before shopping there.
The DHH that I see are pretty hot, even with age, well liked by young men, experienced older drivers. The other named breeds also are flashy, but can be “pretty lively” in front of a vehicle!
Buyer beware!!
Your comments remind me of my trainer’s reaction when I bought my Hackney pony. “Did you not learn anything when training with me? It’s very unwise for a beginner to get a hot breed for their first driving horse!” I pointed out that the pony was 22, and she said it didn’t matter. She was right, of course, but somehow, we survived. It was so much more relaxing when I started driving my bigger pony who was probably a Welsh cross of some kind.
Rebecca
Yes, DHH (and the Amish version, which is a lot of things not DHH thrown in) are a high energy breed. They are funny though, it’s not like run off with you or violently spin off when spooking, it’s just… so.much.energy… that can be intimidating enough in tack, never mind in a carriage or cart…
I have been on the back of the SYB that I am adopting. He tries very hard to understand but we are going back to the beginning and start with the ground driving and long lining with voice commands. He is very sweet and loves attention… will let you know how it goes
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
