How did it go @Spudsmyguy??
I can’t wait to hear how your test ride went with the STB.
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I’m anxiously awaiting an update too!
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The Standardbred and a couple other horses there were diagnosed with Lyme and are being treated. I did try an older QH gelding and he was so stiff he was reluctant to walk let alone trot. Kept trying to stop in the middle of the arena or go past the gate. He’d been out of work for a while and wasn’t sure he wanted to come off vacation. The barn manager was so nice she said if I wanted to come out and work with him for nothing, she was cool with it. Unfortunately, after my five minute test ride, my knee, which I’ve been having pain issues with for about a year, hurt so bad I could barely walk. I have an appointment with an orthopedist in two weeks to check it out. About a year and a half ago I had to have surgery on it from a partially torn ACL and it hasn’t been the same since. Lots of pain, gimping around and haven’t been able to ride. I asked the surgeon if I could go back to riding and he was “oh yeah, no problem.” Well there’s a problem. So here I am.
Sorry for the tangent.
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I don’t know the standardbred breed, but if you like the horse, and he’s something you can work with he he is physically sound, I don’t see why not. I assume you know enough about what you would be tackling in terms of training him to do trot and do some gaits that are more appropriate for under saddle. With all that in place, I say go for it. Horses are always such a gamble no matter anyhow.
Both sit and post. My Standie is currently learning to pace a 20m circle with me onboard. And i’m learning how to post to help him. I do not post each beat either…kind of like every-other …sort of.
Mine prefers pace. He does it out in the pasture most of the time. He canters laterally too! And canters almost normally as well, but not as often.
You know that Western Dressage offers a class for gaited horses right? And they consider a pacer a gaited… I have a Missouri Fox Trotter and a TWH cross and i can tell you that a pacer is totally different, but they think they all belong in the same class…so, oh well.
My guy is so stable. Just absolutely levelheaded. He’s obedient to a fault. Even when he wants attention he’s not anything but sweet about it! I’ve been using him as a teacher horse with my mustangs as he is so mild and agreeable. Here he is helping one of my mustangs lead (as well as demonstrating where, exactly, the treats lie) He’s worth his weight in gold this one…
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That is such a cute picture. Thanks for the information.
