OTSB-- standardbreds for pleasure ???

[calypsocapers]

Does anyone have any experience with race-retired standardbreds? I have always wanted to learn how to drive a horse, but really can’t afford a well-trained driving pony/horse. So I had the thought perhaps I could find a retired trotter who can be used for pleasure. Most standardbreds I have seen appear fairly quiet and easy going… I was wondering how they are pulling a cart. Are they only for experienced drivers because they have a "go, go, go " attitude? ( kind of like OTTBs) Or are they fairly easy to handle for a driving beginner?
Are there any CANTER- type organizations for placing unwanted trotters?

I am speaking in general, overall terms of course, individuals will vary!

Tammy

[mares_tails]

[QUOTE=calypsocapers;3373358]

Are there any CANTER- type organizations for placing unwanted trotters?[/QUOTE]

Standardbred Retirement Foundation

USTA adoption link

Good luck! Standardbreds can be great horses, drive or ride.

[jodyjumper]

Try the New Vocations site.

I have a retired guy. He is very nice and extremely easy to handle. My husband doesn’t drive him every often, but he is just the same every time out.

[pricestory]

My first driving horse was a rescue from New Vocations. They are great folks to deal with and picked out a perfect horse for me. He happened to be 3 and I really thought I didn’t want a 3 yr old but he was so dead broke and calm that he was perfect, even if he was only 3 and right off the track. He took to the breeching and heavier cart like he had been doing it all his life. I don’t ride anymore but a friend rode him and he was easier to get on the bit under saddle than in harness. When I was ready to be more competitive, I found a wonderful home for him with a lady who only wanted to pleasure drive.
He happened to be very attractive also. Noone at show ever guessed he was a STB.
Good luck with your search. STBs are great horses.

[Thomas_1]

If you are a novice then getting a horse that needs retraining isn’t a good idea. I’m not sure how you think it would save you money or, as a novice, how you could train it not to be thinking of racing all the time

Appreciate that a standardbred which has been on the track has just been trained to race. Got to say that it wouldn’t appeal to me and I train driving horses! I’d be very aware that it would need a lot of work and training before it would be suitable for its new discipline with a total novice owner.

By all means if someone has got one and then invested time and miles training it to pleasure drive and its then available then it might be worth a look but one straight off the track for a novice driver is a big NO IMO

I’ve driven racing trotters myself and trust me its neither an easy nor pleasurable experience. Exciting yes, but it scares the pants off me even thinking that a novice would give that a go!

I’ve recently bought a driving horse for a gentleman I’ve taught to drive. It will be the first horse he’s ever owned and though he’s had good regular lessons (at least 40 so far) he’s most definitely a novice driver. This is the sort that would be perfect for you. I’ve bought, on his behalf a very nice 21 year old Welsh Section C. I actually put this pony to harness as a 3 year old and brought him on then sold him to a lady that brought him on further to compete. He was then sold as a 7 year old to another lady who competed higher level and he competed successfully at national and then fei level horse driving trials. He retired from competition when he was 15 and when his owner developed Multiple Sclerosis and since then he’s been pleasure driving and with occasional Private Driving Showing classes at local agricultural shows. As his owner’s illness has progressed, this pony has evidenced that he is indeed a true gent and he’s totally looked after her. Now she’s unable to drive and I’ve bought the pony and his turnout for a relatively small amount because of his age. Yes he’s a veteran now, but he’s a great confidence giver and he’s healthy and fit so will, with luck, be able to help his new owner to develop his skill and give him confidence until he’s ready for his next one.

I tell you the above because in my professional experience the horse bought cheaply, most often costs the most in the long term. (Its those that I normally spend time and take money for retraining because their owners can’t manage them.)

There’s also been some good discussion threads here before about standardbreds in general and I particularly liked these ones:

Post 20 by Goodhors is very informative
http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=123837&highlight=standardbred

and if you plough your way through this, there’s a lot of good information:

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=125823&highlight=standardbred

[Cherry]

I knew someone whose father raced and bred Standardbreds so there were always a few STBs around the farm at any given time… The one gelding was retired from racing and given to the older daughter to ride but whenever she tried to drive him it was off to the races!!! :eek: She said the minute the overcheck was hooked up it was “goodnight”…

That said, looking back, perhaps putting him in a sidecheck bridle or one without an overcheck would have been a better choice but we were all young and didn’t know what we know now…

Just because the horse has been trained to drive does not mean he/she will make a suitable pleasure driving horse. You have to evaluate on a horse by horse basis but I will tell you that if you go through New Vocations I would trust Dot Morgan (founder of the program) to choose a good driving horse; you just tell her what you need and she will do her utmost to make sure you get what you need. I have never adopted from there but have exchanged emails with Dot–she’s very knowledgable, coming from a horsey background (for generations), and trustworthy. Several people on this board have dealt with her and have nothing but high praise for her… :yes:

Good luck!

[pricestory]

I agree with Thomas that if you can find an older, made animal, that would be ideal.
I disagree that an OTTSTB is automatically a bad choice.
I did deal with Dot at New Vocations and she picked out the ideal horse for me. Yes, we both needed more training, but I was already involved in lessons and we continued our education together.
Racing training actually involves a lot more than just racing around the track. Being at the track, being transported to tracks, getting used to all the things other horses think are spooky like tractors pulling things, barrels, etc are all important lessons. In fact, my road was being blacktopped when I got my STB and when I took him on the road the first time, with orange barrels, caution tape, cones, etc, he didn’t blink at anything.
I had a daughter in college and couldn’t afford the big price of a made horse.
Oh yeah, I never used any check with him. Our biggest problems were that he had never been in electic fencing and that they had tied his tongue while racing. Once he learned about keeping his tongue under the bit and to respect the fence, we were great. He was never a good show horse, never wanted to go on the bit or trot fast and turn at the same time, but he was one heck of a pleasure driving horse, and still is for his current owner. He was the safest horse to work with and drive I have ever known, from the time he came to me as a 3yr, OTT.

[promlightshine]

I’m not sure where you are in Florida but I’d contact the folks at SPHO of FLA. Tell them what you are looking for in a horse and they can likely connect you. Many of the people who work at promoting stbs are also willing to put in time. That is, they may be able to work with you.

To me , taking a stb off the track and retraining is very much like taking a tb or perhaps a racing qh. Some were bred to win and the breeding was successful. Some were not, thus you have a well broke horse who likes to take things easy.

I don’t drive. Have a friend who pleasure drives a guy who won over 80K on the track. Another friend has a mare who she only drives and to work on suppling etc, started long lining. It’s been a learning and growing experience for both.

In these tough economic times, you might find a stb, qh,welsh or morgan for little money, including some that have been pleasure driven. I personally hope you do consider a stb. Do go look, talk to others who pleasure drive and connect with those who work with these horses. Their conformations vary thus some will be better designed for pleasure/dressage/ cde while others make great roadster (aka hang onto your helmet!! horses.

http://www.sphofl.com/

not sure where you are but I googled and found this guy… good luck!!

http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-658577.aspx?lid=658577&search_id=350c9099-06a5-4330-8e44-e339663dba50

[Yip]

Not driving related, but my first horse (when I was almost 50) was a retired OTT/STB. Lark was beauty and brains in one red bay package. I was an OLD green rider and she was born to trot - a very frightening combo indeed! When trotting, Lark would pass up my cantering TWH! That STB had almost as much personality as my Haffie, Cookie. I would love to have another someday. I think they can learn to do anything.

Wendy

[cinder88]

I’ve seen some really nice OTTSTBD’s out there! Both to ride and drive.

I’m sure there is some retraining involved, just like a OTTB, but I’ve worked at the tracks and I can tell you that working with STBDs is NOTHING like working with TB’s! Give me a STBD anyday!

Perhaps a good option would be to adopt one (or whatever you are going to do…) and then send it to a reputable trainer for a month to see how it goes. If it’s an adoption, you can always return the horse and they will try to find one more suitable.

That said, I think STBD’s are great for novices, once the track is taken out fo them, as they have seen EVERYTHING in the way of machinery so are usually super road safe.

Cinder
PS…saw a number of them go at auction this weekend for $500.00 to $750.00…guaranteed sound…so they are certainly reasonable if you can get a good one!

[Formosus]

I’ve had about 10 over the year. All of them outstanding beginner horses. Some kept some nervousness about being hitched up ( associating it with racing and the stress associate with it) those were turned into riding horses. The others were not interested in racing and so they were perfect for pleasure driving. Very bombproof and very used to commotion and vehicules and all types of straps on their body ect… Retraining them to to pleasure drive or ride was a non-event in every single case. The only thing I had to work on is making them realise that they were allowed to trot (worked on the lunge until they figured it out) and that they could bend their body in the direction of travel (they are discourage from bending in the races so they tend to turn with their shoulder out).
So my personal experience is that they are great for what you are looking for.
Look for the calm one that just never was interested to race and then take your time and stay safe.
Happy driving

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

What’s the place in New Jersey that rescues saddlebreds? They re-train saddlebreds and other driving breeds like standardbreds - often their horses are retired Amish horses, whom I would think would be pretty bombproof to traffic. I have no personal experience with them but I believe they have a good reputation.

[SuperSTB]

I ride and drive stbs… any stb I’ve had/have has been off track. I helped promlightshine and others with placing off track standardbreds. They are an absolute delight of a breed…

I just bought a training cart since moving out here from the east coast 2 yrs ago. I’m back into driving again. I do ground drive and long line my stb mare on occasion but she hadn’t had a cart hitched up to her in 4 yrs before yesterday. First time around the block was nothing. Second time she was a bit antsy but she listens extremely well to ground commands. Practice on the ground and take a few lessons.

Some stb’s are ‘hot’- but the overall majority is pretty easy going yet willing and sensible to do just about whatever you ask of them. Plenty of ‘newbie’ to a discpline or ‘newbie’ to horses pick up a standardbred. They are very affordable and versatile.

Work with some standardbred folks- there are organizations with members who will assist you. I find standardbred fans- fun, friendly, and most extremely helpful.

Also I’ve found it best to drive my mare in an open bridle and no overcheck. She gets really nervous/ anxious with those on. If they are off she figures “whew, we’re just going to mosey around today”. My mare likes to mosey Actually a good number of stb’s I’ve known like to mosey if the owners/riders let them.

[LisaB]

:D:D
Just picked a little 2yo from New Vocations. Dot is really great. Spent $400 in gas and hotel to get a $200 horse. Whatever. I’m nuts. Anyway, I went to the driving board because that’s all he’s been taught so I don’t know what he knows and doesn’t know. Like I’m surprised that she said track folks don’t teach them to lunge. Huh? Really? Okay … My amish reject lunged and is incredible with voice commands. So, yup, we are starting from scratch.
Dot will lead you in the right direction and won’t over sell a horse to you. If she thinks that maybe you should look elsewhere, like another type of horse or something, she will tell you. No nonsense type of person.
This little guy is active but sensible. He’s not for even an intermediate person as he needs to be trained up. But he has no track baggage.
I’ve heard a lot about how sensible they are. All the parts I like about my Amish guy, friends say is very standardbred of him. So, heck, might as well get one.
Oh yeah, we aren’t going to be driving. Riding and jumping!

[smay]

I used to have a huge grey STB

…that everyone thought was an expensive warmblood. He was almost 17 hands and very wide bodied! A gentle, kind horse, too. He’s working at a disabled children’s camp now!

I saw this one on Craigslist… isn’t it cute? Grey STBs aren’t that uncommon either. http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/763538410.html

It’s in Columbus, OHio, but you could ship him! haha

[SuperSTB]

[QUOTE=Thomas_1;3374347]

There’s also been some good discussion threads here before about standardbreds in general and I particularly liked these ones:

Post 20 by Goodhors is very informative
http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=123837&highlight=standardbred

and if you plough your way through this, there’s a lot of good information:

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=125823&highlight=standardbred[/QUOTE]

These two threads are not about standardbreds in general… they are primarily more about ASB’s in a round about manner.

OP should not bother with even reading them unless she’s interested in competing FEI CDE internationally. (as facinating as the debate may have been reading wise).

Not much to be gleamed except there is the debate that some breeds may not be capable of showing at the top levels of a discipline. (Yawn!)

[Barbara_L]

I had Thoroughbreds all my life, but then adopted a Standardbred pacer.
I will never call them “jugheads” again–as much as he was a grand racehorse, raced until he was 10 and still an intact horse he came into the SRF, he is an amazing animal! Great work ethic. I was a TOTAL beginner at driving and he can go to any pleasure driving show anywhere against any breed and still perform well. He still paces when he gets nervous, but his trot is to die for.
He is fun, he is safe, and made showing for me (who used to do combined training over BIG fences) a lot more fun. No more sweaty palms, just really fun.
You teach them driving just like you’d do dressage on the back of a horse, and there is no overcheck involved. They carry themselves much more naturally, and he has never grabbed the bit and tried to “race.”

I love him–and yes, I vote that a beginner driver who knows about riding and horses can definitely work with an off-track standardbred!!

[shakeytails]

The STB trotter my trainer and I have is being retrained to be a show horse- road horse under saddle for now and roadster to bike if we can find a decent, affordable bike! She won a fair amount of money on the track, and was an Amish horse when she caught my trainer’s eye.

This mare is very safe, but she’ll still scare an inexperienced driver like me. She knows where the cart is and stops ands turns easily, but slow really isn’t really her thing. It was definitely an “oh shit” moment when my trainer told me to ask for a little speed coming out of a corner and she slid the cart around behind her- I’m glad I was sitting well to the inside of the cart! The horse was having a blast, me- not so much! But I’m game so I had to do it a couple more times- I was definitely bug-eyed when I got out of the cart. My trainer was laughing so hard she could barely talk and there was a decent size crowd at the barn that day and we all had a good chuckle.

Anyway, I think if you’re going to get a STB for pleasure driving, look for one that’s already done that. I don’t think think a straight OTT horse is a good bet for learning to drive.

Another source for inexpensive well-broke driving horses is ASB barns. They’re all broke to jog, and probably most ASB trainers have or know of a well-behaved horse that could be had cheaply because it won’t make it in the show ring for one reason or another.

[Renae]

[QUOTE=pAin’t_Misbehavin’;3376678]
What’s the place in New Jersey that rescues saddlebreds? They re-train saddlebreds and other driving breeds like standardbreds - often their horses are retired Amish horses, whom I would think would be pretty bombproof to traffic. I have no personal experience with them but I believe they have a good reputation.[/QUOTE]

http://www.saddlebredrescue.com/

[SuperSTB]

My mare has been doing very well with the cart. We go out almost every day. She is definetly more forward in the cart then under saddle but she is much better in harness than under saddle.

The other standardbred mare… well we don’t know what to do with her so we might put her back in harness as well.