For those commenting about how it will be hard to train the “don’t canter” button out - the OP stated she’s going to buy a yearling from the auction, not a retired racer, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
I currently board my horse at a private farm that foals out STBD broodmares. From my observations:
- the pacer-bred foals DO pace naturally. Clearly they have not been trained at the track to pace (these are unweaned babies). Not always, but they do tend to pace. I would think it would be easier to start off with a horse who would rather trot, but then again many pacers trot under saddle. A friend rode a lovely STBD that she started under saddle. He was a pacer but would trot under saddle in an English saddle, but would prefer to pace in a Western…no idea why but he was a very sensible horse. He would race one night, then head to a show the next day
- the pacer-bred STBDs that I have seen generally do not have good natural canters. I can almost always pick out the pacers from the trotters when they’re in the field and they start cantering. The pacers tend to have very lateral canters are it doesn’t seem to come naturally to them (not as balanced and they don’t seem comfortable in that gait overall)
- the pacers here (Ontario) tend to be shorter-backed, more compact, and more stoutly built than the trotters. Some of the trotters are quite long in the back (it helps to keep them from overreaching and hitting themselves), but you get the huge lovable ears!
- I have ridden a couple STBDs that were not raced and instead made into riding horses. Both had normal canters and jumped
Centuree - I live in Standardbred central here in Ontario. You could easily find trotters here (either at the sales or retired from racing if you decide to go that route). There is an adoption agency (OSAS) that can assist you if you want to get a retired racer.
