Standardbred prejudice rant!!!!!

[KittyinAus]

I like Standardbreds but the prejudice against them is mind blowing. Too many people think that they are not proper horses. Excuse me? I really don’t understand that logic at all. What do they think they are? Some sort of weird alien creature in the shape of a horse?

I remember watching a video of a re-training of race horses demonstration. It was interesting and after there was a question and answer session. A woman asked about the retraining of her Standardbred. The person doing the demonstration (former Olympic eventing rider) muttered the word ‘shit’ twice and then proceeded to tell the person that it costs just as much to feed a bad horse as it does to feed a good horse and that she should get rid of it and buy another horse. The video then abruptly ended. This person gave this assessment based on nothing but the knowledge it was a Standardbred. To make it more aggravating, this person is a keen advocate of the re-homing and retraining of Thoroughbreds off the track. I wrote to her and politely voiced my concerns. Never received a letter back.

Standardbreds are proper horses and are worthy of the same care and same training as other horses.

I have worked myself into a tizzy and I am too cross to write more.

[Mara]

You’re not going to find that prejudice here on COTH. I’ve seen nothing but raves posted about the breed - a few members have off track Standardbreds and they’re thrilled with how these horses have transitioned into a second career.

There was a recent thread in the hunter jumper forum. I don’t remember the title but someone posted video of their Standardbred’s movement. He got rave reviews.

[KittyinAus]

@Mara

You’re not going to find that prejudice here on COTH. I’ve seen nothing but raves posted about the breed - a few members have off track Standardbreds and they’re thrilled with how these horses have transitioned into a second career.

There was a recent thread in the hunter jumper forum. I don’t remember the title but someone posted video of their Standardbred’s movement. He got rave reviews.

Folks here are awesome! My SO who’s non horsey thinks so too. He stumbled across the COTH forum while Googling about my horse’s issues.

I am Australian and wrote the rant from the point of view of personal knowledge and what I have garnered off the Internet. I know that the prejudice is present in not only Australia but also in the UK and the USA from people writing about how they have been confronted with it.

So please forgive me for being a grumpy old woman.

[Bluey]

I participated in two endurance rides, 200 km in two days each, on a wonderful trotting standardbred mare.

We trotted most of the way, she really moved on and did great.

Many people like standardbreds, many also don’t even know about them, but will give them a chance if they come across one.

[Gestalt]

I always chime in on standardbred threads. :yes: I hope I get the honor of having another one someday. My guy was the best of the best.

Standardbreds - unharness the potential.

[Luseride]

We have one, a pacer. Bought him with a surrey and was told that they had been told he also rode but I didn’t care about that. Guess what? We ride him much more than we drive him. Awesome horse! Off the track a long time ago, went to the Amish in Ohio then here to Georgia. Love him.

[FraggleRock]

While they are extremely willing horses and the most level headed breed I know… there are a wide variety of shapes and sizes not all of which are ideal for riding horses. Combined with the fact that (in this area anyway) they often go to beginner and back yard type riders, who don’t have the knowledge or skill to properly train them. Well you end up seeing a bunch of odd moving half trained horses in ill fitting tack, that is the majority of what is seen for Standardbreds around here

[KittyinAus]

You folks are lucky to have not seen Standardbred prejudice. Have known people have trouble finding a good riding instructor because they were riding Standardbreds. Some people will hide their horse’s freeze brand so that they don’t face prejudice when competing. Random strangers will take it upon themselves to ask you why you are even bothering to own a Standardbred. Was told by someone claiming to be linked to a horse rescue that Standardbreds aren’t worth saving because they are not proper horses. I asked how are they not proper horses and they refused to answer.

Don’t know what else to add.

[KittyinAus]

@FraggleRock

While they are extremely willing horses and the most level headed breed I know… there are a wide variety of shapes and sizes not all of which are ideal for riding horses. Combined with the fact that (in this area anyway) they often go to beginner and back yard type riders, who don’t have the knowledge or skill to properly train them. Well you end up seeing a bunch of odd moving half trained horses in ill fitting tack, that is the majority of what is seen for Standardbreds around here

We get that here in Australia too. That is so frustrating for the people who do take their Standardbreds seriously. Because that’s what folks think of when they think of Standardbreds as saddle horses.

Here’s a link to a newspaper article that you might like.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/sport/horses/standardbred-owners-clinic-raises-the-bar/news-story/a134408711ecc8a249666b7c06ce6153

[Willesdon]

Just sticking up for the UK. We don’t have enough standardbreds here for anyone to have an opinion about them. Once ran across a pacer in a riding school that everyone thought was fun to ride as they enjoyed the different gait.

[ChocoMare]

Have never heard S’bred prejudice here. Love them! Great brains, quite athletic…just find one that trots cuz trying to ride a pace is weird LOL

My mare is a Clyde/Standardbred… she’s built and colored like a Clyde, but moves like her Standardbred sire…what a trot!

[imaginique]

When I was a teenager we had a friend of the family who was a Standardbred trainer so I have a soft spot for them. I loved watching the races, especially when he was driving and it was insanely exciting when he would win! I remember a mare named Valley Air who broke stride in two out of three heats and still came up to win. Heart stoppingly exciting!! They had a retired gelding named Farlan who lived in their pasture until he died. He had won them a lot of money and became a pet when he retired. He had an awesome personality. He also had a young horse related to Farlan named HIgh Hoss who was in training. He could trot but he preferred to pace. My friend always said he would make a great saddle horse because he had such a good temperament. I have very fond memories of those horses!

[lawndart]

RxCate, is the grey out of the Laag line? His babies seemed so nice and kind.

Owned various Standardbreds, both Trotters and Pacers. As noted above, they are very level headed, smart, and in my opinion, one of the toughest horses out there. All of mine had great feet and legs and could cover a trail like no one else. I’ve seen some go one to various careers and do well.

Just one of those weird prejudice out there that will take years to disappear. Meanwhile, enjoy your cheap super horse!

[cayuse]

I love standardbreds. Our neighbor had them when I was growing up so I got fairly familiar with them. I also had one when I was in my early teens and he was a wonderful
horse. I did run into this standardbred predjudice several times with him though, one instructor refused to help me with him and when I wanted to join Pony Club I was discouraged from doing so
as I didn’t have what they thought was an “appropriate” horse. My 14 year old feelings were pretty hurt by that.
He initially paced, but after a couple of months and lots of trotting poles he was happily trotting. He loved to jump, too.

[Holly_Jeanne]

I want one!! If money weren’t tight due to elderly horse vet bills, dental bills, and vehicle expenses, I’d already be looking. Trotter, can be slow. I want it for trail riding, for low level dressage, and to put company on. Mares preferred just cause that’s what I already have. So if anyone knows of a freeby in KY…

[Malda]

I’d love to own a Standarbred, only hear great things about them. Rode one once when I was a polo groom.

[Foxtail]

My Pappy used to groom for a couple of harness racing outfits back when there was still a track in Flemington NJ, so Standies are in my blood! I love them so much that I’ve been thinking that it’d be worth it to pay to have one shipped out here when I start looking to buy again. Also a lot of them have one hell of a jump!

[Jealoushe]

my best friend has a 28 yr old Standie that she uses in her therapy program, shes had him since she was 14

[Scribbler]

We have harness racing locally so stbs are being rehomed or given away free here.

What I can say from direct observation is that they are level headed and have been exposed to a lot on the track. Not at all like the typical ottb.

There is a large variation in body type and size. Not all are optimally built for riding.

They are punished for cantering in harness so their canter will be undeveloped and some may prefer to never canter. They have gorgeous huge trots but might be hard for beginner riders to sit. And you don’t want to ride a pace.

In general there are issues with trying to ride a harness bred horse and that includes freisians drafts and some lines of warm blood as well as stbds. I realize that Hackneys and harness horses are becoming popular in dressage for the knee action but it comes with trade offs for collection and handiness.

That said, stbds like all breeds have immense variation in conformation and the good ones are handsome and athletic. Pick one that has a good canter and balance at liberty.

[BeckyS]

I got a STB this year due to the help of a fellow COTHer!

He’s awesome. He was a pacer, but has not offered a pace under saddle. He has a lovely trot under saddle, and offered up half a stride of a canter on the third ride. He is ridiculously athletic, and occasionally proves that to me when I walk out with his halter. :lol:

Second ride of his life, we met up with fire trucks, smoke from a nearby fire, all of our neighbors walking out/driving out to see what was going on, and a HELICOPTER flying low in the field right next to us. The only thing my STB cared about was if I was going to stop again soon so he could grab some grass snacks while talking to people. First ride being trailered out on trails, he lead about half the way.

But best of all, he has that loveable attitude with just a touch of sass, the way I love horses. He’s a good guy, and God willing, he’s going to be my horse for the rest of his life.

So, in my opinion, STBs are about the best dang horse out there.