Standies?

Congratulations on your new horse, he seems really nice!

I have a Standardbred mare, now 11 years old. She's rather spicy, likes people a lot and is the most fun horse I've ever met. It has taken time, but she's the one of mine who does movements above the ground (intentionally, she does them unintentionally too) as well as terre à terre etc. She's also gaited and gaits when asked to, up to approximately a middle tempo. Her canter isn't great compared to dressage warmbloods, but how many of them can gait? I think it's worth it, it's not bad either. Her walk and trot are good, even compared to warmbloods.
 

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FitzyFitz said:
Glad you liked him! It takes a bit to work out the communication issues same as any new horse, you've just got a few extra buttons to keep consistent, but imo worth it for the bonus gaits.
I second the recommendation for the book by Lee Ziegler, it's great, and both Ivy Starnes and Gaye DeRusso on youtube are excellent as well.
Generally speaking they go more towards the trot the rounder/more uphill they are and more towards the pace on downhills, for smooth 4 beat gait you're aiming between those. Different people have different methods for getting there and some might work better than others for you. I usually work a lot on the walk first, getting adjustable speed, good lateral work and lots of power from behind, as the footfall is the same in smooth gait so it crosses over pretty well.

I know theres always 101 new things to work on with any new horse so you'll be plenty busy already, but i know a lot of standie owners who never take advantage of the comfy gaits which always seems a shame to me!
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This is so interesting to me.

I like Standardbreds because they seem chilled, have good feet, large plain heads (gorgeousness isn't everything) and seem to take a lot of things in their stride from what I can see (which isn't much as I've never owned one, but I've noticed the standies in places where I've agisted a horse).

I've only ridden one once, to try it out when I was looking for my first horse. I couldn't handle the pacing as i couldn't rise to it, from memory, and i felt I was all over the place. Mind you, this is some decades ago. Quite some decades.

So pacing is comfortable to sit to? I've always assumed that if I get a SB for my next horse (because I like great feet, being able to cope with things one sees when out riding, and there's something about a plain, honest head that I like)... yes, if I got a SB for my next horse I'd have to find one that trotted. Seems like that's not necessarily the case.
 
Kirstd33 said:
So.....the vet just called on her way back from the vetting! She was very complimentary about the horse, citing his very sweet, gentle, acommodating nature and ease of general handling whilst conducting the vetting. She said he was quiet to be around and stood quitely whilst she carried out all the check. Eyes clear, ears clear, teeth in good condition and consistent with his age. Hooves good, freshly shod and she could tell he's been owned by a farrier! she couldn't comment on how he would transition to barefoot but said confimationally good and strong hooves.
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I was reading the above with my heart in my mouth, then I got to...

Resting HR of 36 in the stable...
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... and thought, oh no, resting right hind (assumed typo)

... of 36...
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What?

Then the fog cleared and I came good. I agree with the others. This is such an interesting thread.
 
fidleyspromise said:
He looks handsome and not all fussed at being in a new home (judging by the photo).
I hope you have lots of fun with him.
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He looks very surprised at all that has been said about him though, all the 😍 starry-eyed well-wishers and such. He must be very chill indeed.Welcome to your new home, _______ [name].
 
Kirstd33 said:
Thanks all, he really was so chilled out! He walked off the trailer after a 2 hour journey with not a bead of sweat, met the 2 boys over the fence said hello and then got his head down and started grazing! I’ve been watching him on the camera all night and he’s been eating and resting. Can’t wait to head out shortly to see him. Few days getting him used to his new surroundings then I’ll get the saddle fitter out next week. He’s very dark bay so I can’t decide between brown and black and I’m thinking a nice 17” GP style. But will be guided by the fitter.
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Always brown saddles 😅 black tack hurts my soul
 
Lois Lame said:
So pacing is comfortable to sit to? I've always assumed that if I get a SB for my next horse (because I like great feet, being able to cope with things one sees when out riding, and there's something about a plain, honest head that I like)... yes, if I got a SB for my next horse I'd have to find one that trotted. Seems like that's not necessarily the case.
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A proper, four beat gait is very comfortable. The false pace, not so much. False pace is quite unhealthy for the horse as well. Getting a proper gait will need training for most horses, including Icelandics, but many Standardbreds can do it. Of course the very majority of gaited horses can also trot, although those with a preference for gait might not give you that for free either.
 
Lois Lame said:
This is so interesting to me.

I like Standardbreds because they seem chilled, have good feet, large plain heads (gorgeousness isn't everything) and seem to take a lot of things in their stride from what I can see (which isn't much as I've never owned one, but I've noticed the standies in places where I've agisted a horse).

I've only ridden one once, to try it out when I was looking for my first horse. I couldn't handle the pacing as i couldn't rise to it, from memory, and i felt I was all over the place. Mind you, this is some decades ago. Quite some decades.

So pacing is comfortable to sit to? I've always assumed that if I get a SB for my next horse (because I like great feet, being able to cope with things one sees when out riding, and there's something about a plain, honest head that I like)... yes, if I got a SB for my next horse I'd have to find one that trotted. Seems like that's not necessarily the case.
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I don't find pace at all comfortable to sit to, although I know a few people who find it ok. To me it's like riding a boneshaker!
However, a horse with the gaited gene isn't limited to just walk trot pace and canter, they are capable of doing other intermediate gaits that are much smoother. The smoothest is an even 4 beat gait, usually called saddle gait, saddle rack, or tolt. Some gaited horses will just do it on their own but the majority need conditioning and asking for it. It's effectively a walk dialled up to 11 so getting a really good quality walk will help, and usually you'll find at least to start with they find it easier on some terrains than others (eg better uphill, or on flatter ground, or deeper surface) so you can use that to your advantage to raise your odds of getting the gait, then build in the consistent cues and eventually they'll do it on command.
Each horse is an individual of course and takes a slightly different approach but imo it's worth the effort if you want a comfortable ride. No good for dressage of course but it is possible to keep a 4 beat gait AND a trot you just have to be extra extra consistent with cues.
 
Lois Lame said:
So pacing is comfortable to sit to? I've always assumed that if I get a SB for my next horse (because I like great feet, being able to cope with things one sees when out riding, and there's something about a plain, honest head that I like)... yes, if I got a SB for my next horse I'd have to find one that trotted. Seems like that's not necessarily the case.
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A hard pace where the lateral legs are moving exactly together isn't particularly comfortable to sit to though better once you get used to it.
If you can break the pace into a stepping pace where there is a fraction of time between hind and front feet landing it becomes a lot more comfortable.
If you can break it further so that you have an evenly timed four beat gait like a rack you are onto a winner.
 
All this talk of gaits is so interesting, so yesterday I had the saddle fitter out and on trying the saddles we had to start moving a little faster than a walk! So even though we walked, trotted, paced and canter on our viewing ride yesterday we ended up in a bit of a muddle, he tripped and I fell off onto the soft field! and it was all a bit pacey yesterday! We have 1 saddle (a Kent and masters) to try for a week so intend to head out tomorrow for a short hack when his new hoof boots should have arrived. We took his shoes off on Tuesday and have some flex boots on order to help the transisition hopefully.
 
Kirstd33 said:
All this talk of gaits is so interesting, so yesterday I had the saddle fitter out and on trying the saddles we had to start moving a little faster than a walk! So even though we walked, trotted, paced and canter on our viewing ride yesterday we ended up in a bit of a muddle, he tripped and I fell off onto the soft field! and it was all a bit pacey yesterday! We have 1 saddle (a Kent and masters) to try for a week so intend to head out tomorrow for a short hack when his new hoof boots should have arrived. We took his shoes off on Tuesday and have some flex boots on order to help the transisition hopefully.
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That all sounds fairly normal when getting used to each other in a new ( to him ) environment
 
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