[AnnaBelle02]

I was wondering if there is anyone out there that has adopted/rescued or knows someone who has adopted/rescued a standardbred and how to you feel about them?

I myself have a standardbred (she never made it to the track, she started her training but got caught in the fence in her paddock and as a result her racing career ended before it began - and then I bought her) and I love her to death, and not just because she is mine there is much more to it than that. At first I thought my love for her had to do simply with "her" as an individual but I began working with off the track standardbred rescues and realized that they all have this amazingly genuine personallity.

I'm selling my case here a little but whenever I meet anyone interested I getting a horse I always recommend adopting a standardbred. As I said I've worked with quite a few off the track standardbreds and found them to all have very simmilar attitudes and personallities.
In general what I can tell you is, unlike off the track TB's, Standardbreds are very calm and laid back, most of them are bomb-proof coming off the track, by nature the majority of them aren' skittish horses. Because of all of the handeling they have had and their easy going attitudes their ground manners are impecable - even the studs and mare's (when in heat) that I've worked with have all been amazingly well behaved. When you start working with them, they immediately forget that there are other horses in the ring, or a buddy in the field calling to them - these horses are professionals and they get right down to the business at hand and don't bother with destractions. I think this attitude also stems from the fact that they need to succeed and perform for you. They have very determined attitudes and from the minute you start breaking them to ride they are trying to give you 110%, never getting frustrated with repeating the same thing over and over again. (I actually had one mare who after working for a few days on trying to get her to trot when she finally did it and I rewarded her for it she realized this is what I wanted and she wouldn't stop then. I'd bring her to the walk and right away back she would spring into the trot on her own! ha!)

A common misconception is that standardbreds won't canter, but the will and its an extreemly smooth and controlled canter. They are a gaited breed so along with the typical walk trot canter gallop some will also pace, foxtrot, running walk etc... And once you get used to a pace (if your standardbred does it) it can actually be a Godsend (I can tell you my butt has been thankful for it after a long trail ride) because as opposed to the up and down movement of the trot the pace moves side to side - which is actually ideal for anyone with back problems.

This breed never fails to amaze me or any rider I can get up on one. They jump (my mare is actually a hunter - who has brought home a number of ribbons in her day), they barrel race, the trail, they teach beginners, they can be taught ANYTHING you want them to do. So if you are going to be considering adoption or even looking for a horse check out your local Standardbred adoption program (there probably is one in your area that you aren't even aware of) and at least go meet one of these guys - you might be very pleasantly surprised!

If anyone has any questions about my training methods (I know sometimes people buy them directly from auction and then aren't sure how to get them troting or cantering) let me know, or if you just want to know more about the breed I'd me glad to let you in on my experiences with them. I'm sure anyone who has ever worked with a Standardbred would agree they truely are a diamond in the rough!

[AnnaBelle02]

Bump - anyone?

[Palominopaint]

I have rescued a horses befoe but never a standerdbread. I hope to adopt a horse and if they have any standerbreads I want to get one. Mabe one day I will. All horses dezerve a good home where some one will feed them and love them.

[minihorses4ever]

i want one someday.. are they really easy to break?

[stdbred88]

just curious, i have an off track filly that im working on right now...how do you teach yours to set their head and not carry it stuck out like they do when theyre racing?

[AnnaBelle02]

The best way is to get them bending. Because they are never trained to bend and work the muscles along their sides they don't bend and rely solely on that high head set for balance (its not exactly comfortable to have it stuck in your face either when you are trying to ride).

Try working her around things keeping your turns nice and wide and really working your legs on her sides trying to get her "around" them. Don't turn her to sharply (they can't handle this right away and she may swing her hindend around too quickly and you'll go flying - speaking from experience....). Also, stay with her natural bend, if you are planing to move towards an obstical on your right but she is already beginning to bend towards the one on her left go with her decision, you don't want to throw her anymore off balance. Eventually you will begin to feel her bend and she'll make her turns tighter.

Also the use of side reins on the lunge will help to speed up your efforts. On some horses I also use a standing martingale - especially with pacers. In order to trot they need to drop their heads, the standing martingale gently reinforces that and once they figure out lowering the head = what you are asking for they will continue to do it (thats the joy of a standardbred they are continually aiming to please).

I'll attach a link to an adoption site that actually has a manual you can purchase (I believe its $20 U.S.) on how to re-train Standardbreds.

Any other questions don't hesitate to ask me!

[AnnaBelle02]

Here is the link if you are interested in purchasing a book:
http://www.digitalwave.ca/osas/new/faq.htm

[stdbred88]

thanks a lot! i will be sure to check out the link but im a little pressed for time right now

[Asfaloth]

I have had two wonderful standardberds to work with.
Whiskey came to me when i was 13. Sadly I am now faced with the task of letting him go. He is 36 years old and failing fast. It is time to say goodbye to him.
For the past 22 years he and I have done it all togather. He taught me so much over the years. He has always been a wonderful trail mount. Great with children and inexperienced riders. patient and forgiving and very sensible. he is so smart I honestly think he understands everything I tell him. We went to collage togather. He was there when I was maried and was my husbands favorite mount. He could go all day and even when he was into his early 30's he was making the young horse work hard to keep up on a ride. He has been very healthy an strong until just this past winter. Old age has caught up with him now. Of all of the horses I ever rode or will ride. He is the best.

Baby was adopted off the track by a friend. She was a winning racehorse untill the day she blew a tendon severly. She had been off the track a year the forst time I rode her and she certainly is a very inteligent and strong willed girl. She can be stubborn but she gives her all. She never does anything really bad, never really tries to buck or rear. She is 7 now and turning into a wonderful trail horse. Very gentle and sweet. Just a few weeks ago she tore her suspesory in one bad misstep on a ride and she has been on stall rest since then. She never complains, is a lady in her stall and very patiently waiting until she can be taken for her hand walk. She is so well behaved she is recovering much faster than anticipated. Even though she is impatient ot get out she is still well behaved and ladylike.

I love the breed so much I may even get another someday.

[Carly]

I totally agree...I know SO MANY people who have rescued a Standardbred OTT!
They are all SO happy with them, and many have said they will never get another horses again.
I really love the whole I dea, and wa slooking to adopt, when I found Mandy..