Standardbred horses are talented in all riding styles

If you have adopted a Standardbred horse you probably already have some idea of what the two of you will be doing together particularly if you like horseback riding. Standardbred horses are multi-talented in that they can be trained in all riding styles. If you like riding western or English the Standardbred horse can be taught either - or both! If a specialized sport is your intention the Standardbred excels in jumping, is making huge headway in dressage and can compete in any western riding sport. How is that for a versatile horse?

Below is an introduction to some of the most common sports Standardbred horses participate in. If you adopted a horse from the pacing race track (a pacer) you will have to retrain the horse for some sports that do not permit the pacing gait (dressage) or sports where the pacing gait isn't helpful (for example, jumping). Standardbreds also make wonderful companion horses for a lonely horse and they are 'easy keepers' for the most part.

• Standie Talents,
• Retraining

Standie talents are many however like all former race horses there is rehabilitation and retraining required in preparation for a new career. A vet inspection to determine if there are any physical injuries that might prevent some of the more challenging equine sports is always recommended first when you adopt a pacer. The Standardbred Fan Club's retraining video for pacers walks you through teaching your horse to accept a saddle, ground work, lunging in a round ring, your first ride and how to work with your horse on walk, trot and canter.

more info

• Standie Talents,
• Retraining,
• Endurance,
• 3 Day Eventing

Standardbred horses can be found in endurance riding and competitions all over the world! Standardbreds are hardy and sturdy horses who have the stamina to ride very long distances over challenging terrain. The horses are also praised for their sensible temperaments. See some of our talented club members and horses competing in Endurance and Three Day Eventing.

more info

• Standie Talents,
• Retraining
• Jumping

Standardbred horses can be found in jumping competitions everywhere however retraining is necessary for this equine sport since the pacing gait is not at all useful for jumping. The Club's retraining video prepares your horse with the necessary basic gaits of trot and canter so you can take your horse to the next level with an instructor to become a jumper. The video (above) is of a retrained pacer who is warming up for a Jumping competition in the prestigious Southlands Summer Show in Vancouver, BC., Canada held every year.

more info

• Standie Talents,
• Riding

Standardbred horses can be taught different riding styles such as English equitation and western pleasure riding. Many standardbreds from the race track who have been retrained can participate in competitions just like horses who were trotting and cantering from birth. Wellknown for their excellent temperaments, the horses are dependable and reliable partners in any undertaking.

• Standie Talents,
• Trail Riding

Standardbred horses are perhaps best known for their excellence as a trail riding partner. The horses don't scare easily, are laid back in their temperaments and love the fresh air and exploring the trails. Not much work has to go into trailering the horses since part of their former racing career involved transporting them to the race tracks. For the nicest and most reliable trail riding partner, the former pacing race horses are hard to beat. Besides, the pacing gait is quite comfortable to ride on in the trails!

• Standie Talents,
• Dressage Riding

Standardbred horses with retraining can be very graceful and strong bodied dressage partners. The pacing gait is not recognized in the sport of dressage however with retraining the former racing pacers become very proficient in mastering 'the art of riding'. The horses have the aptitude and again, amazing calm and steady personalities to excel in this type of riding, competitively as well.

• Standie Talents,
• Riding

The versatile Standardbred is suited for almost any sport or riding that exists. Due to the reliable and brave personalities of almost all Standardbred horses, the breed is also selected for police work and in Canada, the famous RCMP Musical Rides which is comprised of black colored Standardbreds. The dependability factor rates high with former pacers because not only have they had to brave the noises and crowds at the race tracks, they also have an inborn trait of not panicking at the slighest opportunity. This also makes the former race horses ideal for search and rescue work and as participants in parades.

more info

• Standie Talents,
• Therapy horses

In Canada and internationally, Felicia the Club's founder, developed the first non-riding therapy with horses to assist children with autism, youth at risk with new life skills and post-traumatic distress including other similar conditions. All of the horses in the pioneer non-riding therapy had been rescued from slaughter and were former pacing race horses. Other countries soon found the versatile Standardbred ideal for riding therapies and non-riding therapy. Today, horse therapy is recognized widely as a branch of Animal Therapy.

more info