Standies?

Burnerbee said:
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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Haha me too! I'm "only" 5'7" and a sniff, but the one I rode was about 15.3 and my legs dangled into thin air. He didn't seem to care though, he was strong and tough as old boots. He's the only horse I ever think back to with regret - because I wish I could've bought him. We we couldn't have afforded him at the time but he's my one that got away.

I've been trying to avoid looking at this thread because it's making me want one. A nice plain bay gelding with a very slightly too big head.
 
Widgeon said:
Haha me too! I'm "only" 5'7" and a sniff, but the one I rode was about 15.3 and my legs dangled into thin air. He didn't seem to care though, he was strong and tough as old boots. He's the only horse I ever think back to with regret - because I wish I could've bought him. We we couldn't have afforded him at the time but he's my one that got away.

I've been trying to avoid looking at this thread because it's making me want one. A nice plain bay gelding with a very slightly too big head.
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Thats exactly what he is! Dark bay, exactly the colour of welsh mud and with 2 of the tiniest white socks, on his hinds! A large head that will certainly need a full size bridle, and tbh I think I'll ride him bitless.
I'll try to post a photo x
 
Thanks everyone, I never had coblet vetted as I didn't pay very much for him and it didn't seem worthwhile at the time and indeed may or may not have picked up on the issue with his annular ligaments?. However despite this boy not costing a whole lot more I would like a 2 star vetting, as I hope to do endurance with him next spring so could do with a listen to his heart, check his eyes, basic trot up that sort of thing. he does had a very small old split - should that affect the vetting?
 
Kirstd33 said:
Thanks everyone, I never had coblet vetted as I didn't pay very much for him and it didn't seem worthwhile at the time and indeed may or may not have picked up on the issue with his annular ligaments?. However despite this boy not costing a whole lot more I would like a 2 star vetting, as I hope to do endurance with him next spring so could do with a listen to his heart, check his eyes, basic trot up that sort of thing. he does had a very small old split - should that affect the vetting?
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If you're vetting a ridden horse get a 5 star vetting. It doesnt cost much more but is more likely to pick up on soundness issues. No a splint wont be a fail but it will be noted and excluded from insurance.
 
Good luck with the vetting!

I have an Arab x ASB but he isn't gaited like my Standie mare and I also have issues with my L2 - L5 vertebrae as well as nerve damage and partial paralysis and I can ride my mare for hours as she is so smooth but my gelding requires me dosing up with strong painkillers just to do a 30 minute schooling session so if you have back problems a standie is definitely the way to go.
 
I would also get a 5 stage for a ridden horse and attend the vetting if at all possible. I've definitely seen issues arise at vettings that were not apparent until the horse was ridden. Unless there's something concerning about it a splint should be OK. A 2yo I bought passed no problem with quite a large splint.
 
I would definitely get a 5 stage vetting not a two stage; things can still be missed but it's much more likely to find things that could develop into issues later on under saddle, so especially important if you want him for endurance. It's pennies more considering it could give you peace of mind for years (and a very lovely new horse).
 
I am going to get a 5 stage vetting within the limitations of where he is, on a hill farm - they have no arena but they do have a all weather cinder track that use for training the pacers on and the vet may be able to use that for the purposes of the vetting? I'm waiting for a call back with the chosen vet to discuss this morning what we can do and when and then book a day off to get there. Trying to remain non-plussed as yet, although did buy a second hand rug last night - he wears a 6ft 3 which is waaaayyy bigger than coblets 5ft 9's!!
 
webble said:
I'm another that would want 5 stage
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I talked to the vets who I've approached to carry out the vetting and she will do as much as possible given the limitations of his locality, they do have a cinder type track which could be used for the ridden part and definately have stabling for the indoor section also. Its booked for this friday!
 
Oooh just caught up on this thread, I had a cob x standardbred back in the day and he was a little super star. He wasn't very big at all, only just about 14.2 but he jumped like a stag and was wonderfully forward going but safe, one of my sons was always pinching him to ride and he was very fussy about which ones he rode, they had to have a bit about them IYKWIM? I actually sold him sooner than I had intended for an offer I couldn't refuse for a young teenager who wanted to SJ him. Back in those days I often bought just for a bit of fun to sell on when they had done a bit more. I understand she did very well with him. Here is a very blurry piccy about 40 to 45 years ago when I took him XC for the first time. Happy, happy days! 😍 Good luck with the vetting. ☺️

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Best of luck with the vetting. I love a good Standardbred. The boy I'm ridding in my profile picture was my 17HH boy. I'm 5'8". I felt tiny on him! He was one of our former racehorses. The drivers used to joke about needing a periscope to race him.

He was a total gentle giant and I miss him so much.
 
Kirstd33 said:
Many thanks - today he offerrred me a nice active walk, then a decent trot up a hill, with a few strides of pacing on the Down transition. Then we went into an open field and we had a tranter that when pushed On a little become a half decent smooth canter. And then on his training track he did a lap in pace! My job will be to learn all his buttons and work on the transitions . But he’s such a polite boy, who you can put your leg on which I like and I think we’ll have a lot of fun teaching each other.
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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!
 
This is a very exciting thread find - I've just bought a youngster standie (was born on my yard Ive watched her from afar and shes won me over with her golden retriever personality) I have no expectations for her as of yet but loving the good reviews as I don't know loads about the breed, beyond the 2 other standardbreds on our yard who are doing amazing competing show jumping local level 70/80 cm.

Fingers crossed for your vetting, - I feel like we need a standie thread if one doesnt already exist!
 
starbucker said:
This is a very exciting thread find - I've just bought a youngster standie (was born on my yard Ive watched her from afar and shes won me over with her golden retriever personality) I have no expectations for her as of yet but loving the good reviews as I don't know loads about the breed, beyond the 2 other standardbreds on our yard who are doing amazing competing show jumping local level 70/80 cm.

Fingers crossed for your vetting, - I feel like we need a standie thread if one doesnt already exist!
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Definately a need for a standie thread!
 
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.
Resting HR of 36 in the stable. Apparently he didn't lunge terribly well but wasn't naughty just obviously not used to it being a pacer more used to travelling in straight lines. He passed the trot away and flexions no problem.

They exercised him quite hard ridden, at walk, trot and canter and she said although he is clearly unfit he didn't object and had a strong workman like attitude, they got his HR up to high 80's let him rest and then it returned to low 50's after 20 mins or so which bodes well for a possible go at endurance.

She found his splint which I hadn't told her about, but said it was old and cold and of no real concern although obvs that forelimb would now be excluded if I was to insure him. She commented on his minor cosmetic scarring on lower hind limb but said it was superficial only.

Overall she said nice horse, with a good temperament and at his reasonable price a good buy for hacking, funrides and once fit low level endurance.

I understand its not a "pass" or "fail" but that all sounds good yes?
 
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