-Some of us get our inspiration from our horses, and learned that it is important to listen to what they have to say!
Have fun reading our "Standardbred Journals!"
A Good Driving Horse is Worth it's Weight in Gold
That is a
strong statement, but true! One must be cautious
when driving any type of vehicle today, but we must be extra careful when our
horsepower is the real thing!
In
the late 1800’s the Standardbred was the family’s driving horse. Due to their calm nature and incredible
stamina, they were used to drive the family to church, pull the wagon to market
or readily drive the doctor to a house call.
When you get a
Standardbred, you get a feature that comes “standard” with your new friend. The
majority of the horses already received driver’s education. They will easily adapt to the pleasure
harness in time. Remember, some wore
much more gear when racing or in training for the track, just in case you are
worried that the breeching might create an upset.
So they have
big heads?? Well look at the many other
breeds of horses and compare. With
respect to all breeds, others have large heads also…and cost a lot of money!
Why do people
ignore this breed, or say it is not good enough for them? That is easy to answer. They have not taken the time to get to know
the Standardbred. It is time to take a good look at this breed and
review just a few of the benefits.
Standardbreds
can be purchased at a reasonable price. Most horses have already
received Drivers Ed. Be sure to
introduce pleasure driving to your new Standardbred with the assistance of
an experienced trainer. They are smart and quick to
learn. They are also available in
many colours.
The best way to understand the
Standardbred is to watch them train at the track or speak to a person who
understands their training. You might
think they are being disobedient, but most of the time they are just doing what
they have been taught.
Here
is a thought for people working with their Standardbred under saddle. The blinders! Some folks might put their new Standardbred
in an open bridle and notice that their horse is acting nervous when trying to
mount for the first time.
Is he to blame for “acting up?” No...please consider this before
giving up on your horse. He has never seen what is behind him due to
the fact that he might have worn blinders throughout his training. It might frighten the horse to see a human (a
predator) trying to jump on his back!
The horses’ natural reaction is to flee. Fight or flight.
Introduce
yourself and your saddle by standing on a bucket. Allow him time to see you and know that you
are not a threat. Let him see the saddle flaps and feel the stirrups gently
touching his side. In no time you will be able to step into a stirrup and
gently lean into the saddle over his back. Don’t be in a hurry; let him get
to know you from this new angle. Again,
I suggest working with an experienced trainer.
Always
be sure to vet any horse you purchase.
Some Standardbreds have minor injuries that will not allow them to
race. It simply means he might not travel at top speeds of
up to 30 mph. Also remember that some
Standardbreds never make it to the track.
Many times it is due to their lack of speed, not necessarily
lameness.
I have also frequently heard
people say,
“A good driving horse is hard to find.”
Did they forget to look at a Standardbred?
Welcome!
