Standardbred owners

I’ve had one and my very good friend now has one that I ride occasionally. I find them to be very willing to please and rational. What questions do you have?
 
I had a lovely mare. I still miss her. Sensitive yet sensible, kind yet feisty, forward yet controllable, never spooky or nappy, a wonderful partner and companion. Very communicative. Always tried so hard. Anxious about cross country in her youth, she became very brave in her later years.
 
So I had a physio out to my new boy last week, not that I have had any specific problems just I like to go through a thorough checklist with all new horses eg farrier, teeth, saddler, Willy washer, physio etc so it was the turn of the physio to come out. Not one I’ve used before but recommended as my friend uses her for her endurance ponies where he lives and she was incredibly thorough. In the absence of a school and with the field wet we took him up the lane and walked and trotted him up for him to see how he moved. Walking he was fine but was incredibly reluctant to trot and went into camel/pacer mode and we had a strange hybrid of the 2! He didn’t however have his flex boots on and he’s very footy barefoot as we took his shoes off 3 months ago when he arrived. (I should say he is naturally a pacer but can produce a decent enough trot under saddle once balanced and going forward and praised profusely. It’s got better as we’ve been hacking lots of hills and building up his muscle) Anyhow based on what she saw he pronounced him lame behind, moreso on his right hind. She did a full session though with massage, muscle manipulations ans ultrasound and left us with some stretches and in hand work to do. So I cancelled the Pleasure ride we were supposed to do last Sunday and he’s just been resting in the field ever since. I’ve been hacking him 2-3 times a week since he arrived in November and 80% in walk (it’s very hilly) and starting to introduce some trot work the past month but nothing strenuous. I will give him a week or so off and then of course get the vet out to have a look at him.
He was 5 stage vetted back when I bought him, flexions were performed and he was declared sound however I appreciate things can change quickly especially being out on wet ground in a herd of 4.
I guess I’m asking as owners of these gaited horses have you had lots of people comment on the lameness of your horses based on their different ways of going?
By my own admission I’m not brilliant at spotting subtle lameness but can generally feel it better under saddle.
 
The physio should not have treated a horse that presented as lame unless under the specific instruction of a vet. She should not have continued with the session.

That is against her professional guidelines, assuming that she is qualified, registered and insured. Physios are not allowed to diagnose, that is for a vet.

Vet next.
 
Tiddlypom said:
The physio should not have treated a horse that presented as lame unless under the specific instruction of a vet. She should not have continued with the session.

That is against her professional guidelines, assuming that she is qualified, registered and insured. Physios are not allowed to diagnose, that is for a vet.

Vet next.
Click to expand...
Thanks TP that makes perfect sense. She is however qualified, registered and insured and incredibly well thought of in local circles. I just don’t think has any experience of Standardbreds and their particular way of going. So was interested in other owners thoughts. I’ll book the vet to come out for sure. Will be devastated if indeed he does turn out to be lame with a serious issue after a vetting and just 3 months ownership - hopeful nothing serious.
 
When I first had Icelandics 30 years ago people weren't used to seeing them and sometimes accused them of being lame just because they were moving differently. I had some trouble with the vetting in endurance with my second Icy because she didn't favour trot so was difficult to get her to trot at a vet gate.
If you get a vet to your horse do make sure they have experience with gaited horses because many have never seen one in my experience.
I had my standardbred before I had any icelandics so had no experience of gaited horses at that time. She was an ex brood mare and harness racer I broke to ride. She came okay as a riding horse but I wish I'd known more about the gaits at the time.
I found this book good https://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Gaite...9538242442-1580175627-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1
 
Tiddlypom said:
The physio should not have treated a horse that presented as lame unless under the specific instruction of a vet. She should not have continued with the session.

That is against her professional guidelines, assuming that she is qualified, registered and insured. Physios are not allowed to diagnose, that is for a vet.

Vet next.
Click to expand...
I didn't think they were supposed to treat at all without veterinary approval - mine asked for vet notes and emailed the vet to get the okay to treat?
 
It can be difficult to tell lameness on a gaited horse. They can also show more gait (tölt) when they're lame and it can be easy to miss, though they can also appear lame to someone not used to tölt when they're actually just fine.

I don't know how common Icelandics/other gaited horses are over there, but if you have a vet out, try get one who knows gaited horses specifically. Far away from all vets are good and this is a difficult area.
 
I can’t really comment as my mare was a Belgian trotter, standardbred yes, but not a pacer. She had very thin walled hooves, though, and I do not think would have coped barefoot.
 
Also, I have a Standardbred (and three Icelandics). She's also gaited, does tölt on command but chooses trot usually. I've never gotten flying pace on her. She's mostly a field ornament for now, until I have fewer horses and thus more time for training her. Due to injuries (S1 and more) she's limited in what training she can do and we mostly play around with whatever is fun. Spanish walk is popular, and passage is quite fun too. Piaffe exists but she easily gets frustrated from trying more than she's capable of. This is a very typical red (bay) mare with a lot of opinions and attitude, including both positive and negative ones.
 
My share is half standardbred and randomly paces when he's excited which feels horrid to ride and I imagine looks just as weird.

Have you trotted him up since with his hoof boots on to assess? What's he looking like when he moves freely out in the field?

I'd not be too inclined to panic and get the vet out until I'd at least trotted him up in hand again (booted this time) and checked for soundness. Maybe even under saddle if you find that easier, provided he looks completely sound in the field.
 
Happy to be part of the standie support crew. I worked as a trail guide in NZ in my younger days and 90% of our horses were standies and 90% of those were pacers. I would agree that it is harder to judge soundness when they pace, unless you are really familiar with them. I do own a standardbred now (advertised as a Connemara but soooo clearly a standie!) but she is a trotter rather than a pacer, so that keeps things a little more straightforward. I’d agree not to panic, and to try a trot up with boots on to see if you can narrow things down.
 
Standie owner 🙋‍♀️ It's pretty common for gated breeds to be accused of being lame by those who have no experience with them so it's important that when choosing vets and physios etc that they have breed experience. I will say its useful to spend time watching your horse move, video and study it, you will learn what is normal for him. They can often have awkward looking transitions especially if they are unbalanced/unfit so bear that in mind but best if all just enjoy your horse, quirks and all. They really the most incredible horses and will go to the ends of earth to please you once they trust you.
 
We have a rising 5 standardbred mare, had her for 2 years she was my daughters birthday present. She is the most loving chilled mare, she never raced but was in training before we got her. She is a pacer but has learnt to trot and canter all be it a bit wobbly still. I've got used to the way she moves our vet says she's fine but to people that dont know her weird movements she can look lame.
 

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Another standie owner here! 5 years strong! Mine is also a pacer and so far only has had a single comment of her gaits from a non-professional with none from the professionals we work with for her health and training.
I spend ages watching her move so I can access her movement and I know how off putting she can look when uptight and anxious as well (4 independently moving legs is hard work and I've seen her manage to have all 4 in a different pace before as well 😂). Was race trained and didn't take to it which I don't find to surprising as she was and still is a rather opinionated gal but she has really blossomed into to be an incredibly sweet mare at least with me, my disabled mother and any baby or small child that we may encounter. (The rest need to earn their place or bring bribes.)
Definitely boot next time on trot up and access free movement in the field and try not to panic.
Lameness if it was that should have stopped the session until permission was obtained or if it was an already known issue with previous permission from the vet to work as keeping up with body work during issues can help stop compensatory pain and muscle tightness from cropping up, so if she continued the session that's bad practice on her part and I probably wouldn't use her again if I'm honest as any professional worth their salt should be able to tell lameness vs general pacer movement (Waddle waddle as those hind legs have to stay out of the way of the front admittedly they do look very ungainly from behind) and have the sense not to work on a truly lame horse previously unseen horse.
 
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