Some things you might have heard about the Standardbred are not necessarily true!

Standardbreds can't canter.
A Standardbred is a horse.  Horses can canter.
Standardbreds are not allowed to canter, or break gait during their racing career.  It might be strange for them to understand that one of their natural gaits is now acceptable! When racing, a Standardbred must travel straight.  ( I bet you thought they were bending round those corners at the racetrack!)  Their racing gear keeps them essentially straight which enhances their speed. A Standardbred will need to know that it is OK to canter now that his racing career is done.  Flexing exercises will help him bend on the circle.  Don’t rush, be patient!  Just try to imagine being asked to do back bend for the first time .  This would be a challenge unless you had prior training.  Time and patience will get your horse used to bending and utilizing the natural gait of cantering with confidence.

Yankee Jack 9 yr Trotting Standardbred

Retired at age 4 to Denise Metayer from the track.

Photos taken by Guy Metayer

 

Standardbreds can't trot.
Again, a Standardbred is a horse. Horses can trot.
 In the gilded era the horses that raced were called trotters.  There are trotters and pacers.   If you are worried about pacers having trouble with the trot, try not to worry.  Your worry and negative expectations of them pacing might send them the message to do so! They will usually pace when they race.  They might pace if asked to move quickly, especially if you are trying to transition into a canter without taking the time to help your horse feel balanced under saddle. Watch them play in the field.  You will see and feel the power of their beautiful extended trot. 

 

Standardbreds are all "jugheads"/ugly.
There are many breeds of horses that have large heads.  Not all Standardbreds have large heads but they seem to have been burdened with the title of “jughead”.  There is no typical-looking Standardbred .  Most Standardbreds share the same traits;  an exceptional temperament, a willing attitude, good bone structure, strong feet, and the capacity for incredible endurance.

       If you ride a Standardbred, all it will do is pace at 40 mph.
If your Standardbred is still pacing at 40 mph, bring him back to the track!  They usually can cover 30 mph in harness.  Standardbreds will start out slowly when starting to learn how to carry a rider.  They must be introduced to you from a new angle.  You should stand on a bucket and lean into the saddle to get him used to seeing you.  He might have worn blinders during his career and now wonders why you are trying to climb on his back! Carrying a rider is new to the horse, but not something he can’t do.  You must show him what you are doing and let him accept you and this new way of carrying weight.  Please remember that your Standardbred is also accustomed to getting tacked up, having his feet tended to, grooming trailering, and more.  Once you get to know each other, you can ride at a comfortable speed of your choice.

       Standardbreds can't jump
 The Standardbred has the conformation for speed with a hindquarter that acts like a powerful engine. That engine can carry or drive you for miles, or create a fantastic jumper! Two such examples are Bionic Woman and Primrose, who each jumped up to 6'9" during their respective careers. There have also been many half- or part-Standardbred horses that competed successfully in eventing and showjumping, some that even made it to the Olympic levels.

Bionic Woman demonstrates the jumping potential of a Standardbred during an exhibition high jump contest at Santa Anita Racetrack, 1983 or 1984.

All off-track Standardbreds are lame and will have soundness problems.
Many Standardbreds do not make it to the track due to lack of speed.  Some might not be happy racing and become lazy. A trainer might retire the horse from racing if he does not have the speed, not because he is lame.  During their training Standardbreds still have countless hours of handling and exercise -- receiving regular farrier, dental, and veterinary care -- and are in excellent condition.
Standardbreds with leg injures might not be able to travel at 30 mph any longer.  This does not mean that they are not able to become pleasure horses.  A pre-purchase veterinary examination, while keeping in mind your future plans, will usually determine whether or not the horse will be suitable for your needs.

   Standardbreds are "hot" blooded because they are racehorses.
No. Standardbreds are generally very kind, gentle, and quiet animals, and they love attention and handling. They are not as high-strung or flighty as other breeds.  They are calm and easy going in nature.  They will give you their “All” if you ask them kindly.
Standardbreds have faced many situations that your average horse has never seen.  Vehicles, tractors, harrows, water trucks, large moving gates, crowds of people, other horses in harness, horses under saddle, hoses, showers, wheelbarrows, semi trucks, horse trailers, cross-ties, noise , etc, Standardbreds get personal attention every day during their training.  They adore being handled and readily return affection.

Yankee Jack 9 yr Trotting Standardbred

Retired at age 4 to Denise Metayer from the track.

Photos taken by Guy Metayer

 
Standardbreds can't collect.
Standardbreds, like any breed, take time to master collection. You have to keep in mind that these horses are bred and trained to cover as much ground as they can, as quickly as they can, which generally results in the horses pushing themselves along on their forehand. When racing, they go in a hollow frame, and they learn to run against the bit. Time and training can teach the Standardbred to better carry themselves, and to accept the bit rather than brace themselves against it. While the Standardbred's conformation, with hindquarters generally higher than the forequarters, can sometimes be a bit of an obstacle with collection, there have been quite a few Standardbreds that have been successfully retrained for dressage, some even making it to Grand Prix level.

Standardbreds are all bay/brown.
Not exactly!  While bay and brown are the dominant colors in the gene pool, Standardbreds come in almost every color. Aside from bay and brown, the more common colors are black, gray, chestnut, and roan. Standardbreds have also been found in dun and pinto. There are a few champagne racers making appearances on the track.

Standardbreds are small. (not the horse featured above!)
While Standardbreds come in different colours, they also come in many sizes!  Some horses surpass 16 or even 17 hands. Most also have dense bone structures, stout builds, and thick legs and strong hooves, lending them an overall sturdy appearance. Many Standardbreds are used in the Mounted Police in the USA and Canada. They are calm enough to handle the crowds, and can be large enough to subdue a rowdy crowd.