Standardbreds As Pleasure Mounts: Retired "Trotters" Make Willing Riding Horses For Many Purposes

Standardbreds outperform other breeds as pleasure mounts for several reasons. One is temperament; Standardbreds are very tractable. They have to be. These days, Standardbreds are raised for one reason, and one only: to race on harness tracks. Moreover, they are not generally bred by well-heeled investors and breeders of the sort who contribute horseflesh to the Kentucky Derby, but by backyard horse people with shallow pockets.

According to Robyn Cuffey, founder of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Maine (SPHO-Me), it is often a family that just likes horses that gets into Standardbred racing, with one family member getting the license to drive in races, and the rest contributing horse care.

"Family Farm" Horses

The result of all this informality and lack of serious investment is that Standardbreds work harder, longer and more often than flat racers. Because they are family-owned, often living with only a couple other horses on the family plot, they are handled much more often than flat racers.

In addition, they are able, as some horses are not, to accept the confinement of the shafts, the weight of the substantial harness that connects them to a rig, and relatively severe bits. They must also agree to put up with it before the age of two; any horses that can’t accept it all are not kept on. Conclusion: Any Standardbred that raced is almost certain to possess the characteristics to make it a good pleasure mount. In fact, any such horse is likely to view retirement as a pleasure mount as a literal walk in the park.

Taking the Racetrack Out of the Horse

There is a little retraining involved in using a retired racing Standardbred as a pleasure mount. And they do have limitations. Because Standardbred racing is trotted, horses that have raced for a very long time are usually very unused to cantering and may not be able to perform the gait, ever. But most, even those who have substantial racing history, can be taught the basic English gaits and maneuvers – walk, trot, canter, jump. And they can be retrained as gaited horses, exhibiting the high knee action and minimal back movement popular in Saddlebred competition in the American South. And, if you want to learn to post the trot, nothing could be better than a Standardbred; they’ll trot until long after the cows come home if you ask.

Standardbreds were used, before the decline of the horse and buggy, for taking the family to town to shop or church, either attached to a rig or with a rider aboard, and they could still be used that way, if you lived in an area where it was safe to do so. Virtually all retired Standardbreds can be used as trail horses, although it would be wise to have them professionally “bomb-proofed” about hazards of the trail; they are usually fairly calm already about hazards of the built environment, from their years on backyard farms and urban/suburban harness tracks.

Retraining Reveals Many Talents

If you do decide to seek a retired Standardbred racer as a pleasure mount, plan to have some professional help in retraining the horse for what you want it to do. Even so, it might be a couple of years before you know all its capabilities. Understand that racing Standardbreds really were “one-trick ponies,” and it may take them some readjustment to find the entire range of their talents.

Sep 20, 2008 6:16 AM

Guest :

I was raised with Standardbreds. My first horse was an Arab/Standardbred cross and remains the smartest horse I've ever owned. He lived to age 35. I now own a retired Trotter, son of Speedy Crown who was also an Amish carriage horse for 7 yrs. When I brougt him home,he had to learn to be a horse, e.g. loose with other horses, crossing streams, rocky or swampy terrain, moving through tall brush..things he never before encountered on Rt.30 in Lancaster County, PA or on any racetrack. The day I agreed to take him was the first time he'd ever been ridden. Our Amish friends who convinced me I needed him wanted a home for him where he'd never have to work hard again. He had been their favorite horse but it was time to replace him for his sake. Anyway, he took to riding just fine. He has a lovely canter but crow hops with a rider. I've just never taken the time to teach him to canter with a rider. He's a crack driving horse,whether in a cart, buggy or sleigh. Our Amish friend who sold him to me is a true horseman and his horses are well trained to stand for harnessing, mounting, etc. This horse will 'rack' if the rider knows how to set him up. He also likes to jump and as he's 17 hands, he can hop over most things found on the trail. I think the Standardbred is the best kept secret in the horse world. They're built substantially, they generally have good dispositions and are tractable and usually aren't possessed of the flighty, high strung characteristics of their other racing counterparts. Our Standardbreds were all Hanover bred in the late '50s and early '60s. My own first horse's dam was not one of these and I don't know her exact breeding. His sire was an Arab who was a son of Geym, by Raffles who was bred in England by Lady Wentworth. I've always thought a great cross would be a 'Standarab'...well bred Standardbred mares crossed with well bred Arab stallions...maybe some day I'll start a new trend.