Ashgrove
Well-Known Member
Please can someone tell me about Trotters and Pacers, and do they make good riding horses?
Thank you
Thank you
Hi, I don't know anything about Trotters but have owned a pacer and have friends who have them. Known as Standardbreds, I can say they are probably the most biddable horses around. Handsome, independant, brave and about as bombproof as you can get. Mine paced from 2 to 6 then I backed him to be ridden, easy peasy. I never allowed him to pace and although he might pace a couple of strides if confused he was a quick learner. Canter can be slow to materialise. They jump and are very good endurance horses.
The ones i have met, are very easy going and yes very bombproof. One i knew paced, most of his life, he could trot too but paced when excited. He used to canter and jump really well but it too a while to get there and he seemed to have a light bulb moment when he got it.
Another i know doesn't pace any more, grew out of it really quickly. However she really struggles to get canter.
I have a riding pacer, who's now "reformed" and only really trots.
Because of a VERY rocky start to life, he can be a bit of a handful. He's got a great (if slightly unusual) jump, he's extremely fast and responsive, but can worry.
They're like TBs....but better
I would get another in a heartbeat
Though sometime he still can pace if he gets muddled or frightened.
Lovely pictures, thank you.
What does the pacing feel like? Can you rise to it? Is it like the Icelandic tolt?
Normally he only does it for a few steps before either cantering or trotting, but I did manage to get him to pace and I didn't feel like I had to rise as it was pretty smooth, but I could have done It felt as fast as galloping, it was awesome!
I love them - great fun, sensible horses
Normally he only does it for a few steps before either cantering or trotting, but I did manage to get him to pace and I didn't feel like I had to rise as it was pretty smooth, but I could have done It felt as fast as galloping, it was awesome!
When I took mine for the beach the first time, ended up with him trotting because he was so confused whilst my friends galloped! Talk about weird experience