Re: RC: RE: Standardbreds

["Carolyn Burgess" <carolyn_burgess@hotmail.com>]

Laurel:

Let me start with that I LOVE THIS BREED. So now you all know where I am coming from. I have to disagree with your statement about general stiffness and lack of agility.  I have a Standardbred mare who, in her younger days, was so agile and limber that she could double barrel kick at another horse, while under saddle, and I wouldn't even know it.  And she came off of the track.  These are wonderful horses that have all of the qualities to do endurance, AND WIN!  They have stamina, and heart.  And when the body starts to fail, the heart keeps going.  They are sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly.  And here is where I do agree with you.  They are considered hot blooded horses and can be as hot or hotter than Arabians or Thoroughbreds.  I describe my mare as being quiet and bomb proof, which does not equate with being for a beginner.  They require alot of work to retrain from harness racing to saddle horses, and they are worth every second.  I would still be riding my mare if she hadn't been over used before I got her.  And they often come with emotional baggage from their racing careers.  Mine used to cower in the back of her stall when I came in with the hose to fill her water bucket.  There's a story there.

And I think my mare is beautiful, but she does have the typical, expressionless face of a Standardbred. 

Carolyn Burgess

 

>From: "Laurel Hickey"

>To: "Ridecamp"

>Subject: RC: RE: Standardbreds

>Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 07:02:33 -0500

>MIME-Version: 1.0

>Received: from [207.141.24.22] by hotmail.com (3.2) with ESMTP id MHotMailBC511A0400B3D82197ECCF8D1816D70F0; Mon Feb 12 03:54:46 2001

>Received: (from slist@localhost)by seahorse.fsr.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) id DAA24849;Mon, 12 Feb 2001 03:59:08 -0800 (PST)

>From ridecamp-request@endurance.net Mon Feb 12 03:54:51 2001

>Resent-Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 03:59:06 -0800 (PST)

>Old-Return-Path:

>Message-ID:

>Importance: Normal

>Resent-Message-ID:

>Resent-From: ridecamp@endurance.net

>Precedence: list

>Resent-Sender: ridecamp-request@endurance.net

>

>I will second the observation that this breed does tend to have a stiffness

>and lack of agility, and I speak from personal experience. My mare has

>improved tremendously with adequate turnout on slightly hilly pasture and

>sensible dressage gymnastic training, in both her physical abilities and

>psychological approach to various trail conditions and obstacles, so it

>_can_ be done.

>

>I would not recommend a Standardbred for a beginner rider or one who is

>looking for a quick-fixer-upper. Retraining an ex-racehorse is a years-long

>proposition. They are great horses with excellent work ethics and a real

>desire to please, but make no mistake they are not all mellow! I have known

>several who are every bit as hot as the typical Thoroughbred or Arabian,

>mine included.

>

>While my mare spent minimal time in training and at the track, her way of

>going was strongly influenced by how her feet were trimmed and how she was

>taught to balance herself while in harness. This takes time to "correct"

>both in the body and the mind.

>

>As far as endurance competition goes, I have limited experience and have

>completed two CTR's in the Northeast. We are currently training for

>ride&ties this season. Interested parties can check the archives for an

>article comparing the muscle fiber types of various breeds; the Standardbred

>has a similar make-up to the Arabian.

>

>As with any breed, each horse has to be looked at as an individual. Just as

>some Arabs may _not_ be suited to endurance riding, some Standardbreds may

>be. With sensible (re)training, shoeing, turn-out, and enough time to

>generally decompress, the natural athleticism of the Standardbred will shine

>and there is no reason they can't do anything any other horse can do

>provided they are built for the task. There are as many body types within

>this breed as with Quarter Horses or Thoroughbreds. And yes, mine does have

>a pretty head!

>

>Additionally, as an owner/adopter of an ex-racehorse you are doing a real

>service to the animal, and to the breed. There is a book, "Retraining the

>Harness Racehorse", by Mary Anne Donovan-Wright and Robyn Cuffey which is

>well worth the read to anyone interested in giving a Standardbred a chance

>at another career.

>

>Laurel Hickey (NY)

>

>

>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

>Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.

>Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp

>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

>

---

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com