Standies?

Kirstd33

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So....for those of you who have followed my posts, following coblets retirement earlier this year, we've been tentatively looking for another ridden horse. I say tentatively as this unicorn needs to act as a mother - teen daughter share for us both; daughter keen to hack, attend the odd RC pole clinic, farm ride with friends, fun ride etc and following a summer of dipping my toe into the endurance water, I'd LOVE to enter some 30km pleasure rides next season as a novice.
Horse also needs to be 15hh + as daughter is 5ft 6" tall, not too wide a breed for my old lady hips, live out 24/7 with our grumpy gelding, be a generally nice citizen to deal with as my youngest lad (10yr old non-rider) likes to get involved and go on the odd hack, and also cope with weeks of no work, when my job, daughters college and weather conspire against us! And all this on a small budget (mid 4's)

We went to view a young, green Anglo Arab last month bred for endurance that was a strong contender but after 1 good viewing, at the 2nd he ruled himself out as I exited out the side door after asking for a steady canter and have acquired a nice gluteal hematoma into the bargain which has stopped me running and riding over the past month but is finally abating.
Anyhow I digress, as we've seen a standardbred advertised which seems like it may fit the bill; 15.2h gelding, with a bit of bone so not a weedy type, 9 yrs of age, 1.5 hours away, trained but never raced and been in a hunting, funride, working sheep farm type environment and they think he would love endurance.

I've never owned a standardbred but there was 2 at coblets old livery yard, the gelding was older, a very biddable, nice chap who could turn his hoof to most things with a can-do attitude and a young mare, who sadly had poor confirmation and lack of muscle working against her but who also had such a sweet personality.

what are peoples thoughts - are they horse breed marmite?
 
There’s one at the trekking centre where I ride, and he’s absolutely brilliant. A total unicorn who will look after a novice but step up a gear for an experienced rider. I don’t know anyone who rides there regularly (and is in his size range) who doesn’t enjoy riding him. He’s the herd leader too.
 
I adore our standie (my profile pic). He's 20 next June but you would never know it. We've had tremendous fun with him out hunting/fun rides/hacking etc.

We bought him as a 10yo from a local dealer. He had done a fair bit of jumping and has a lovely canter on him. SJ is not our thing but he pings stone walls like a stag out hunting.

He can be a quirky sod which is why we think he ended up with a dealer, in that he makes his opinions know 🙈 but he is just the most fun horse to ride and eats up the ground. Gave many of the P2P's a run for their money on our old yard. Go and try that gelding. I don't think you will regret it 🤞
 
There’s one at the trekking centre where I ride, and he’s absolutely brilliant. A total unicorn who will look after a novice but step up a gear for an experienced rider. I don’t know anyone who rides there regularly (and is in his size range) who doesn’t enjoy riding him. He’s the herd leader too.
Many thanks - Is that at Cannock chase? whats his name?
 
I adore our standie (my profile pic). He's 20 next June but you would never know it. We've had tremendous fun with him out hunting/fun rides/hacking etc.

We bought him as a 10yo from a local dealer. He had done a fair bit of jumping and has a lovely canter on him. SJ is not our thing but he pings stone walls like a stag out hunting.

He can be a quirky sod which is why we think he ended up with a dealer, in that he makes his opinions know 🙈 but he is just the most fun horse to ride and eats up the ground. Gave many of the P2P's a run for their money on our old yard. Go and try that gelding. I don't think you will regret it 🤞
Thanks, I have contacted the seller this morning asking to view him on saturday but she has already agreed someone to view on sunday :(
 
I like them. If trained for racing then getting them to do a balanced canter can take a bit of work.
Apparently he trained briefly but never actually raced as was too slow! he's been hunting and doing funrides in his current home and they said he has a lovely balanced canter, although not fast which would be perfect for endurance. I really hope he doesn't sell to the lady viewing on saturday.
 
I have a standie mare and I would love to clone a dozen like her. She will look after a novice/beginner rider but step it up for the more experienced....my son qhen he was younger tried to get her to canter across a field but she decided he wasn't stable enough and did no more than slow trot, me in the same field adjusted my weight and we were gone 😂....she's almost 25 now and is semi retired but she's still like the energizer bunny and will go forever and not think about stopping. She does move a bit like a camel/moose hybrid but she's a pacer so a normal trot isn't her forte 🙈

If another one comes up I'd definitely say go and view.
 
I have a standie mare and I would love to clone a dozen like her. She will look after a novice/beginner rider but step it up for the more experienced....my son qhen he was younger tried to get her to canter across a field but she decided he wasn't stable enough and did no more than slow trot, me in the same field adjusted my weight and we were gone 😂....she's almost 25 now and is semi retired but she's still like the energizer bunny and will go forever and not think about stopping. She does move a bit like a camel/moose hybrid but she's a pacer so a normal trot isn't her forte 🙈

If another one comes up I'd definitely say go and view.
Oh my, she sounds wonderful what an absolute treasure. Reading these comments really makes me hope I get a chance to see him.
 
Never ridden one but I follow Elizabeth Collingwood on Facebook and I am slowly falling in love with them.

You may have already seen but I think she currently has a French trotter for sale that might suit you. His full advert is on her website.
 
Another vote for Liz @ Collingwood Standardbreds and another vote for standardbreds in general. The horse in my avatar was a standie, I have ridden a few and generally love them, they are quirky but lovely
Its actually not one of hers, but she has advertised it and has been answering all my questions as knows the horse and family very well - so comes highly recommended!
 
Its actually not one of hers, but she has advertised it and has been answering all my questions as knows the horse and family very well - so comes highly recommended!
Ah yes she is really helpful. He looks a nice horse, I saw the ad and it made me half want one again. I have a feeling the people selling it have the stallion to my boy
 
Another vote for Liz @ Collingwood Standardbreds and another vote for standardbreds in general. The horse in my avatar was a standie, I have ridden a few and generally love them, they are quirky but lovely. They ARE marmite and maybe not a first horse
She is advertising it on behalf of the owners, and has been very generous in answering my myriad of questions, it would be a 2nd horse after a very quirky cob x trotter so we're not total novices but still want/need something fairly laid back and easy which she assures me his is.
 
Have you seen him advertised, I would welcome any honest opinions?
I edited my post after you quoted. Yes I have seen the advert, he sounds fab and I would definitely go and look. My only query would be if you need him to be good in traffic because it really is very quiet around there so he wont have seen a lot. What are you wanting him for? As a general rule they are great hackers/ endurance horses, can jump well but in their own unique way, dressage can be ok but takes a lot of work. Mine was a really good doer but my friend had one who took a lot of feeding
 
I edited my post after you quoted. Yes I have seen the advert, he sounds fab and I would definitely go and look. My only query would be if you need him to be good in traffic because it really is very quiet around there so he wont have seen a lot. What are you wanting him for? As a general rule they are great hackers/ endurance horses, can jump well but in their own unique way, dressage can be ok but takes a lot of work. Mine was a really good doer but my friend had one who took a lot of feeding
Thanks for taking a look, and I really hope I get to go and see him but fear that he may be snapped up by his first viewer on Sunday. I'm wanting him for 90% hacking, and 30km endurance rides next season and the teen daughter would like to do farm rides and fun rides with her horsey pals, I doubt he will set foot in an arena more than a handful of times/year as we don't have one and its just not our thing. If he can pop a 60cm log that's about as big as we jump also. Happy to supplement feeding as surprisingly cob x isn't the best doer over winter, but do need him to live out 24/7 as we rent a 4 acre field with no stable but plenty of man-made shelter.

Re- traffic we're in rural shropshire so a long way off the M6 and I suppose its something we can work on?
 
Yep, I had one, she was fantastic. I wish I still had her. She loved showjumping and would canter for that beautifully. Dressage was a bit more difficult but she always tried. She hunted, charity raced, and was a fantastic hack. Sensitive but not spooky. A really good horse.
 
Just checked, Buttons is standie cross Irish 🙂.


Interesting that he was pretty feisty to start with as he’s now settled down to being an absolute gentleman who is suitable for all to ride. He was the first horse that I rode at CCTC, he’s often now used for first timers and novices, but he can absolutely raise his game for an experienced rider.
 
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I haven't met anything with standie in I haven't wanted to take home with me.
They can be quite narrow though, which is a problem for tall people. I LOVE a half-bred cob x standardbred, best personalities and take up the leg better...it was what I thought I wanted, when horse shopping, very much not what I ended up with but still a pipe dream to own one. Preferably seal bay tobiano (because pretty but if you miss a bit of mud no one will notice 😂😂).

There's an endurance account I follow, Kayleigh Tonkins, who's just got her pure sb to Advanced endurance level, after doing 50 miles at the Red Dragon.

They're brilliant, personable and very capable horses imo.
 
We have a Standy, love love love her. Should have got another one and not the Connemara! Zero health problems, good doer but doesn’t get fat, long quick walk slow smooth canter, popped a log on the trail with no jump training. Just a really fun ride, can put any level of rider on her. Sadly retired now and has been for years as OA in RF. Easy to deal with. They use them in trail riding places extensively in aust and NZ.
 
New Zealand, a country where people are less concerned with keeping up with the Jones’, is full of Standardbreds (off the track in many cases) and they’re relatively cheap and easy. Not flash or trendy, just useful allrounders…and they can really shift.

Someone mentioned not great at taking up the leg - fair comment, I’m 6’ and rode a 16hher and I looked like a proper daddy long legs, heel was probably in thin air 😅
 
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