“A good driving horse is worth its weight in gold.”

by Deborah Fransway

That is a strong statement, but true! One must be cautious when driving any type of vehicle today, but we must be extra careful when our horsepower is the real thing!

In the late 1800’s the Standardbred was the family’s driving horse. Due to their calm nature and incredible stamina, they were used to drive the family to church, pull the wagon to market or readily drive the doctor to a house call.

When you get a Standardbred, you get a feature that comes “standard” with your new friend. The majority of the horses already received driver’s education. They will easily adapt to the pleasure harness in time. Remember, some wore much more gear when racing or in training for the track, just in case you are worried that the breeching might create an upset.

So they have big heads?? Well look at the many other breeds of horses and compare. With respect to all breeds, others have large heads also…and cost a lot of money!

Why do people ignore this breed, or say it is not good enough for them? That is easy to answer. They have not taken the time to get to know the Standardbred. It is time to take a good look at this breed and review just a few of the benefits.

• Standardbreds can be purchased at a reasonable price.
• Most horses have already received Drivers Ed. Be sure to introduce pleasure driving to your new Standardbred with the assistance of an experienced trainer.
• They are smart and quick to learn.
• They are also available in many colours.

The best way to understand the Standardbred is to watch them train at the track or speak to a person who understands their training. You might think they are being disobedient, but most of the time they are just doing what they have been taught.

Here is a thought for people working with their Standardbred under saddle. The blinders! Some folks might put their new Standardbred in an open bridle and notice that their horse is acting nervous when trying to mount for the first time. Is he to blame for “acting up?”  No...please consider this before giving up on your horse.  He has never seen what is behind him due to the fact that he might have worn blinders throughout his training. It might frighten the horse to see a human (a predator) trying to jump on his back! The horses’ natural reaction is to flee. Fight or flight.

Introduce yourself and your saddle by standing on a bucket. Allow him time to see you and know that you are not a threat. Let him see the saddle flaps and feel the stirrups gently touching his side. In no time you will be able to step into a stirrup and gently lean into the saddle over his back. Don’t be in a big hurry; let him get to know you from this new angle. Again, I suggest working with an experienced trainer until you have properly introduced yourself to your horse from his back.

Always be sure to vet any horse you purchase. Some Standardbreds have minor injuries that will not allow them to race. Does this mean the horse’s life is over? Not exactly. It might mean that he can’t travel at top speeds of up to 30 mph. Also remember that some Standardbreds never make it to the track. Many times it is due to their lack of speed, not necessarily lameness. I have also frequently heard people say,

    “A good driving horse is hard to find.”

Did they forget to look at a Standardbred?