Retraining a Ex trotter Standie tips?

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Sherbie

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Hi All,

Well, after a very long and disapointing day at the yard, I need a little pick me up. My horse is an ex trotter, very willing, fabby when ridden, never spooks totally traffic proof. He does need more patience and reasurrance when leaving the yard but apart from this he is great. Today started well but went down hill and although I love him to bits, this is one of those days I need cheered up and to re focus myself for him. So would really like to know of any of you lovley HHOers who are or have ever retrained an ex harness racer (Trotter or pacer). I do know of a few who now have a sucessful ridden career, may it be hacking or jumping. :)

Rose wine for all ! :D
 
We have a standie who has never raced but found canter quite difficult. In a nutshell we have found a good instructor and are working on the canter in small pieces ie just a few strides on a circle, then move on to half a circle, half a long side, half a school etc. Ours seemed to panic and just doing small pieces reassured her. We also really mix up any schooling lots of circles, various sizes, serpentines, transitions etc. I don't think we do a whole circuit of the school without doing something else. Poles in the corners helped with strike off.
Ours is also wonderful out hacking and will pass anything. Persevere as they're worth it in the end.
 
Thanks DCL! I have heard of alot of pople having difficulty with the canter transition/balance with standies, esp pacers. Our will canter on the lunge very nicely but as he raced before finds it difficault when asked to go in the other direction, its all too much for his head to take in. He is 17, but is amazing for his age, still has plenty to give and considering he was a harness racer for so long. He cantered out a hack (not by me, im a bit of a chicken lol) and was good, not stong and came back to trot/walk when asked. At the moment he needs someone at his side as we leve the yard or he has no intention of going, once he is out he hacks alone no probs and loves it. Defo needs more schooling :)
 
LittleBlackMule said:
Good luck :D:D:D

You will need a LOT of patience, but boy is it worth it!

What issues are you having with him?
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Yep, hit the nail on the head there lots and lots lol! Its the mini dance, threatening to rear (he is genuinley stressed ) that really gets to me, as I said before he fab when out, just getting him there, not good atall. Verging on dangerous. Our yard has no school and we must go past the cars parked to get out. Would love him to feel more secure on his own without someone at his head. Im sure I would feel better too :D
 
My boy was a little bit speshul - I think he had one too many knocks on the head when he was with the ******.

He would stress for England and I had to take real baby steps with him, asking tiny questions and rewarding every effort.

The big breakthrough came when I started using treats (Spillers Meadow Herb;)) having not believed in using them before. Then whenever we hit a problem he would be like " OMG THE WORD IS ENDING WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.. ooh a treat.. what was the question again..?"
It cost me a fortune but I ended up with a calm happy horse who actually listened to me!
 
Don't expect a perfect canter and not sure about anyone else's as mine raced for 10 years before I got him, but if he was unsure or nervous in a situation he would resort back to pacing.
I was 12 when I was given him and I retrained him to jump and did pony club, handy hunter, xc, pretty much everything but dressage. It took patience but it helped he had a heart of gold and tried his heart out.
There's no reason why they can't do everything other horses can do its just they pace. Mine would trot 99% of the time and he spent most his life on race track so although pacing comes naturally to them they can trot. We got eliminated from a walk trot and lead game once coz he went flat out at pace and we wiped the floor with the other competitors and they objected!!
Patience and persistence is the key, they make cracking horses. My mum did endurance after I'd finished with him and he was brilliant at that too! Nobody cared he paced and its so comfy to sit to that mum never came back complaining of a numb bum.
He's 31 now, blind in 1 eye but still the fittest and best looking of the 7 horses
 
LittleBlackMule said:
My boy was a little bit speshul - I think he had one too many knocks on the head when he was with the ******.

He would stress for England and I had to take real baby steps with him, asking tiny questions and rewarding every effort.

The big breakthrough came when I started using treats (Spillers Meadow Herb;)) having not believed in using them before. Then whenever we hit a problem he would be like " OMG THE WORD IS ENDING WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.. ooh a treat.. what was the question again..?"
It cost me a fortune but I ended up with a calm happy horse who actually listened to me!
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Oh, this really made me actually lol! Sounds very familiar ;) I can be very nervous riding him too sometimes so that wont help one bit. Going to look in to the Meadow herb for him, anything is worth a try right now. He was very well looked after with his old owner and had a good career, just want to do him justice, hes such a good horse. Did yours race? if so how long for and what age was he retrained? Sorry for all the questions :)
 
Hello!
While I don't have a lot of experience with standies in general, I do have a lot of experience with a certain special little horse called Ned :P
He hasn't raced on the track, but we're 99.9% sure he raced on the roads.

Sounds like you have to do the exact same thing to get out of the yard as I do.
I have to go through a narrow bit, then past parked cars. I just can't do it unless he's following either me (which means I can't get on) or my mum. It's very slow progress, but we're getting there! Is there anyone who could walk you down the drive?
 
Mine never raced, I got him as a 2 year old after he had been broken to harness and trotted out, by our travelling friends (obviously can't say the P word or I'll get censored again).
He was nutty and violent when I got him, but ended up totally safe and reliable, though never a novice ride.

I started doing endurance with him, and he is now with a lady who is going to compete him at a higher level.
 
Thanks gill84- Im not looking for a perfect canter as we will be hacking (fab hacking up my way :) ) Its like you say, most standies (Iknow) have a heart of gold and will try anything for you, sometimes when they have been on the track being told NOT to break into canter its very difficult to persude them otherwise. My boy if allowed will just trot very powerfully and quickly, no way I could sit to that. I do ride a pacer on a regular basis, who is just the most wonderfull riding horse ever. Its rather strange feeling as no need to rise but I do get a numb bum too :D Endurance is fab as they have sooo much stamina, yknow I think standies are way underrated actually. :D
 
Nah said:
Hello!
While I don't have a lot of experience with standies in general, I do have a lot of experience with a certain special little horse called Ned :P
He hasn't raced on the track, but we're 99.9% sure he raced on the roads.

Sounds like you have to do the exact same thing to get out of the yard as I do.
I have to go through a narrow bit, then past parked cars. I just can't do it unless he's following either me (which means I can't get on) or my mum. It's very slow progress, but we're getting there! Is there anyone who could walk you down the drive?
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Ohh, I do love Ned :p
It sounds to me like he has, I dont have alot of experience with them either but often wondered if he did. Did Ned ever wear blinkers of any kind you know of?. He needs to build up alot of muscle and hacking i the only realistic option. Walking mostly, I do let him trot on MY terms after a wee trot he settles his nerves, walks like a dream. I do have poeple who are more than willing to help but, time is restriced as everyone has thier own horses to do. OH will need to get his bike sorted and come out with us for half hour :)
 
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