I’ve recently aquired a 12yr old mare, she was raced but has been a trail horse ever since (supposedly) and ridden in a snaffle. She has had the winter off in a very lush field and is not too happy about leaving the paradise she was in all winter, but is dealing:rolleyes:. I would like to trail ride her this year and wondered about their gaits and general temperments. So far she hasn’t cantered, just walk/trot under saddle. If you ask for a canter she just trots realllly fast. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!!
I rode one for years. They tend to be fearless, that is one of the reasons they work so well as buggy horses for the amish. They can lope like anything else and they have a nice trot. I like the breed
I have only had experience with one STB. A really good friend was given a three year old (and she was green herself), not a combo I ever advocate, but he was the best. As a four year old he was the steady one that we used to take my nervous WB out with and my guy would bounce off of him and the STB never put a foot wrong. It took a long time to develop his canter but today he is cantering around the hunter ring and does really well. As a trail horse you could not ask for a better horse.
Like I said this is the only STB I have experience with, others might have more insight, but I have to say he is the best!
Having 3 Off- Track STB’s myself, and trained 10 others off the track, you could say I’m in love with the breed! All of mine know walk, trot, canter, as well as a few who can learn gaited stuff- really nice on trails!
The biggest thing with my retraining has been lunging and being turned out with other horses who canter, where that big trot, sad to say, just doesn’t quite work all the time. When we start canter, I always prefer nobody else be around- it’s strung out, confising, and butt- ugly. BUT, as with any other breed, they have to be taught, and they are more than willing. Make sure you have a godd foundation under you first, though, with an understanding of proper leg signals, bending and giving, and using the back- not inverting! This will make the process much less stressful on both of you, and will take a lot less time overall to teach. Praise even when you only get 4 strides during that 1.5 hr workout, remembering to always focus on being cool, calm, collected and rounded. Yes, it takes time, but such a better partnership!
I have a STB who was an IN Sires Stakes winner as a 2-yr-old pacer, and has since jumped 4’, gotten 7’s and 8’s on his canter and trot in Dressage, and is one heck of a trail and endurance horse. LOVES his jobs, just wants to please and learn. In my experience, very typical for the breed. My other two are the best beginner/ teache/ trail horses anyone could ask for. I also own a Thoroughbred and a QH, and while they are loved, the STB takes 1st in my book!
Standardbreds . I’ve taken mine on judged trail rides and hunter paces. The trot is amazing to ride.
Sissy. This was taken about two months after we brought her home.
[IMG]http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/BeaSting_Blair/SissyDillerBefore.jpg)
Sissy, ready for trail ride.
[IMG]http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/BeaSting_Blair/SissyDillerAfter.jpg)
Bea, Sissy is gorgeous and looks great in that saddle! I might adopt one some day, but first I need A)more time and B) a bigger trailer. No personal experience but I have heard they are a very versatile horse.
My STB is sort of atypical (he’s also grey - by Laag) and is not bombproof on trails. He’s not a bad trail horse, but when something scares him he does a 180 and is outta there. His canter is getting better and better, and is really very nice. Most of them are very tough horses - mine is an exceptional wimp. He is the exception that proves the rule because most of them do make good, sturdy trail mounts.
The first horse I ever fell in love with was a Standardbred – what a wonderful, grand, kind, intelligent horse! He was a trail horse and just the best. They are so under the radar and such wonderful horses for so many things. Good luck!
PennyG
I have great respect for their minds on and off the trail. I know someone with a beautiful mare who is a great horse to be with on the trail. Just plain good common sense with energy to boot! I am constantly telling my mare how embarrassing it is that she, oh once often showed been there done that horse is a consistently shown up in the common sense dept by my friend’s mare.
Thanks for the insight guys! I have a decent background in dressage and in retraining western pleasure horses for foxhunting, so I’m fairly sure I can get this girl to canter under saddle. Those WP horses can be tough to move out, the ones I’ve worked with were young and some just didn’t get it right away.
Once in a while she seems like she is going to gait out. It is sort of like a foxtrot I think. Has anybody else had this happen? Happy Trails Everybody:cool:
My young STB mare had something like a two year “vacation” while I was pregnant and then busy juggling the demands of job, new baby, older child, etc. But when I was finally able to make time to ride again, I just dusted off the saddle and away we went, no fuss. I would not call her bombproof, but she has a wonderful quiet mind, and she is as honest and kind as can be.
I’m not sure exactly what you mean by gait out, but maybe this will be helpful:
I’d second what AJHorsey said about making sure you have a good foundation - bending, being round, giving to the bit, and so on - before focusing on canter. Then, an alternative to pushing her for more speed until she falls into some sort of canter/gallop, might be to “fool” your mare into cantering by using a pole or little X-rail just big enough to be moderately inspiring. If she’ll hop over it, she’ll probably land with at least one canter stride, that you can praise, and then build on.
If she paces at times when you want her to trot, you might try this: when she switches to a pace, immediately turn her into a tight circle (mechanically, it’s very difficult for them to maintain a pace that way). The instant you feel her switch back to trot, let her go straight again, and praise her.
Best wishes!
Easy Gaited Horses by Lee Ziegler
[QUOTE=ponygrl25;4042647]
Thanks for the insight guys! I have a decent background in dressage and in retraining western pleasure horses for foxhunting, so I’m fairly sure I can get this girl to canter under saddle. Those WP horses can be tough to move out, the ones I’ve worked with were young and some just didn’t get it right away.
Once in a while she seems like she is going to gait out. It is sort of like a foxtrot I think. Has anybody else had this happen? Happy Trails Everybody:cool:[/QUOTE]
Get the book! If she is offering something that isnt clearly a walk or a hard trot she probably is gaiting. Many STBs have some easy gaits. Most can be taught to canter even if it doesnt come naturally to them. The book will help you identify and encourage her natural gaits. The one easy gait my mare DOESNT seem able to do is the foxtrot, so I am jealous. It is very comfortable to ride and foxtrotters tend not to have the soundness issues that some of the more lateral gaiters are prone to.
My neighbor back in OH’s favorite trail horse was a STB pacer who had raced. She was tiny and he was a big man but she carried him on all day mountain rides, very smart, willing horse. He was a farrier and encouraged her pace to become a saddle rack by how he trimmed and shoed her.
She was so stylish that people always wanted to buy her, and he sold her and bought her back multiple times because she was such a good horse.
Ms Ziegler’s book says flat shod or barefoot horses, given the right training and correct riding, can stay sound, learn and develop many easy gaits, and be the best trail horses ever. Remember that many STB’s are trained to hold the racing gait at all costs so just hang in there, they CAN canter.
If I had a horse that foxtrotted I might not even miss the canter. Have fun with your mare. These are really nice animals.
I’ve only known one sb personally but he was a wonderful boy! He belonged to a rather timid teen age girl and he was brave enough for both of them. She fox hunted him and trail rode him and I never saw him put a foot wrong. Wouldn’t have minded owning him myself.
Beasting your mare is lovely.
My little Butters FINALLY acted like a 3 yo last night. He was bucking and farting in the paddock. FINALLY!
I mean I kept wondering about him. So sweet and kind. I swear he thinks he’s a dog. Can let him just hang in the yard, doesn’t go anywhere. Well, except for stepping over the bushes to peek in my living room. A dream to put under saddle.
We do have to work on water and mud though. Real weenie about that.
My vet and farrier LOVE him.
Steady and willing to please!
My best mare is a standardbred.
She’s very willing and trustworthy. She’s my first STB, and I got her because her owner wasn’t very confident and they didn’t get along. I can put confident beginners on her with no problem, but I’ve learned not to put a nervous rider on her. She picks up those nerves and takes advantage. She came with 90 days western training, and since I’ve gotten her we’ve done hundreds of miles of trail, some foxhunting, dressage, jumping and parades.
My mare also trots reallyfast on the trails, but will pick up a canter in an arena quite easily. My friends have seen her pace, but I haven’t seen it since I was on board.
They can canter and gallop
STB’s are the unsung heroes of the equine world. Hardworking and just incredibly tough. My guy is kind, fast learner, stamina galore and has hooves like steel. He has done everything with me; jumping, dressage, trail riding and even several playdays at the loacal fair. 
I love this breed.
