[CrunchieTown]

I LOVE STANDARDBREDS they r so quiet and loveable I wanted one but everyone turned me against them I want to breed them when I am older, they deserve the best life ever coz they make so many ppl happy!!!

[Asfaloth]

Everyone turned you against them? How is that?
And why do you want to breed them? To race? For pleasure? Seems to me there are already so many great standardbreds in need of adoption that we really don't need more. Breeding horses, or any animal, is serious business and should not be taken up just for fun but to improve the breed. Seems to me that there are far to many people breeding horses in this world and far to many horses that are unwanted that currently go to slaughter because no one wants them but soon that will not be an option so what happens to all of the unwanted horses when breeders keep producing more horses than there are homes for them? Befroe long we will have stray horses on the streets like the dog and cat problem becausepeople are so irrseposible.
C.T. no offense I expect you are young and still learning but please as you grow up consider carefully before you decide to get into breeding horses. Few people get rich or even break even doing this.

[AnnaBelle02]

I agree with Asfaloth, an even better idea would be to pick up those coming off the track and re-train/re-sell them as riding horses. I wish I had the time/funds to do something like that - it would be my dream job!

[Lucky Duck]

I've been reading/watching this thread and as I've mentioned before, I would love to have a STB! All of you say such wonderful things about them. I'm thinking that as soon as we get our run-in built (we are using one of those metal carport things now ), that I'd like to adopt a STB.

SO, what are the best adoption agencies for STBs? (I am in Virginia) Do you think STBs are suitable for Dressage? (I don't show really, just ride for my own personal satisfaction) What should I look for in a STB as far as build? Is there anything else I should know about STBs?

[AnnaBelle02]

Yeah another taker!! For SURE they will do dressage, I've seen a number of them doing it, they have a lovely extended trot (makes judges go WOW).
Watch for conformational problems (especially with the hind end ie. hips and front legs), apparently there are some breeders who think these conformational flaws lead to speed - of course not true.
You may also find when you meet a STB that they come off as kind of cold and snotty - they really are one person horses so they like to figure you out before they'll open up, but when they do they will do ANYTHING for you and whatever you ask of them. They are very itelligent horses and if you give them respect they will do the same for you.
You'll LOVE them I'm sure.

[Bella]

Standardbred's are very lovable, trainable horses. I've worked with a large number of them (over 10 different ones) and I've loved every one of them.


-Bella

[Asfaloth]

Yeah make sure you find out what took the horse off the track althoug for dressage you can get away with a lot of injuries. Baby could do dressage but never jump because she blew a front tendon.

What Anabelle said about STB personalities it too true. They will really test you but once they are yours it is quite an experience to have that bond. I tell people that baby is MY horse and they get confused. I don't own her but the bond I have with her is such that she will nto perform as well for anyone else. She trusts me.

You probably want to go through one of these agencies
http://www.4thehorses.com/ is nation wide based in florida

http://www.adoptahorse.org/MDSRFinfo.htm has horses in NY, NJ, PA, DE, GA, OR, MD, and NC
No doubt there are many more. Baby came from Ohio. Her owner was prety happy with them.

[Asfaloth]

Bump! We can't have this on page 2.

Baby is doing really well with learning to canter. She is getting good at it and keeps the gait much more consistantly. Been having lots of awesome rides.

[powerjumper]

standardbreds are really nice horses. My neighbors just got two from a rescue. They are beginners and the horses are a perfect fit for them.

[Asfaloth]

Two weeks ago I took baby to her forst horse show. it was a judged trail ride and she was awesome. It was a 2 1/2 hour ride with ten obstacles.
To begin you had to mount in front of a judge and your horse had to stand and wait to be asked to move. baby was a tad nervous so was not perfect but she did ok.
Then we had to ride over some logs on the trail, Ride through a campsite with a fire and tent and sleeping bag hanging in a tree and people sitting around the fore and horses tied to trees. No problem there.
A water crossing, bridge, backthrough, We had to ride past a pen of barking dogs.
Open and close a gate, Move a hat from one barrel and put in on another,and walk over a piece of carpet on the ground. baby did really well. we had to stop and look at the situation for a minut or two but she did as she as asked.
In her breed division there were 3 horses she got secound. In my age division we got 5th. There were about 90 horses there.
I am so proud of her. We might be going to another Judged trail on the 25th. Looking forward to it. Was more fun than I've ever had at a horse show.