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Myths About the Standardbred
Here are some common myths about the Standardbred horse, as well as the actual facts. Some of these were inspired by or taken from the SPHO National (www.spho.org) website, while others are simply popular misconceptions about the breed.
Myth: You can't ride a Standardbred.
Fact: While most Standardbreds only race in harness, Standardbreds from off the track are easily retrained to saddle to make excellent riding horses. The biggest challenge is usually getting the horse used to leg signals, which isn't too difficult as long as the horse already knows voice and rein commands. Standardbreds can be found ridden for pleasure or show in many disciplines: jumping, dressage, equitation, trail, team penning, endurance, gymkhana events, saddleseat, and even sidesaddle. There are even growing associations for racing Standardbreds under saddle -- trotting or pacing just as they do in harness. They are quick to learn and eager to please, and they really can do anything.
Myth: Standardbreds can't canter.
Fact: When racing, Standardbreds are not allowed to canter, or break gait. As a result, Standardbreds aren't quite used to cantering when they come off the track. They are discouraged from cantering any time they are in harness. However, Standardbreds can and will canter naturally; watching some at play in a field, it can be hard to pick them out from the rest of a herd on the move. While at first they may be unsure of themselves, with a little training the Standardbred will canter on command willingly, and with time and effort the gait can become more balanced and polished.
**Click here to read an article on getting your Standardbred to canter.**
Myth: Standardbreds can't trot.
Fact: Considering the breed originated from horses that raced at the trot, this is a slightly silly myth. While around 85% of the Standardbreds in the U.S. are pacers, all Standardbreds can trot -- the pacers just don't do it when they race. Most Standardbreds possess a beautiful extended trot, and will happily show it off, whether under saddle, in harness, or just out in the paddock. Their stride is big and bold, and the trotters especially will tend to have high-stepping action.
Myth: Standardbreds are all "jugheads"/ugly.
Fact: While Standardbreds, as a whole, are not as refined as most light breeds, they have a beauty all their own. They were originally bred for function rather than form, though today's breeders are aiming for a more correct conformation; this gives us a more attractive overall picture. There is no "typical"-looking Standardbred, and individual horses have been mistaken for Thoroughbreds, Morgans, Arabians, Quarter Horses, Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walkers, Warmbloods, etc. There is a look and style for any taste, though all Standardbreds share the same traits of an exceptional temperament, a willing attitude, good bone structure, strong feet, and the capacity for incredible endurance.
Myth: Standardbreds don't bend/flex/turn well.
Fact: In harness racing, Standardbreds must travel in an essentially straight line -- bending in a race could endanger the horses or drivers. As a result, like with cantering, Standardbreds will be a little unsure of turning at first -- racers are used to the equipment that discourages them from bending, so it takes some time for them to realize that turning, in fact, is okay. Bending and suppling exercises are excellent ways to get the Standardbred to turn or flex better. Standardbreds have been successfully retrained to do dressage and barrel racing, discplines where it's important to be flexible and agile.
Myth: If you ride a Standardbred, all it will do is pace at 40 mph.
Fact: If you think about it, this is another silly myth. The average harness racer travels about 30 mph in harness. If a horse could pace 40 mph under saddle, it would most likely still be on the track making money. As it is, Standardbreds will usually start out quite slowly when being started under saddle. A Standardbred just starting under saddle is like any other green horse -- a little unsteady as they get used to carrying a rider's weight. Although Standardbreds, unlike most green horses, are already used to wearing bridles and equipment, as well as tacking up, steering, stopping, standing, and backing up.
Myth: Standardbreds can't jump (after all, they can't canter, right?).
Fact: The same conformation that allows for speed in harness makes the Standardbred a fantastic jumper. Many Standardbreds have hindquarters that are level or higher than the withers, which gives them a powerful engine. Hambletonian 10 was recorded to stand 15.1¼ hands at the withers, and 15.3¼ at the hindquarters. This can make it a bit harder for them to raise their forehand, but again, time and training can solve that problem. There have been several Standardbreds that found a successful career involving jumping. Two such examples are Bionic Woman {below} 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.
Myth: All off-track Standardbreds will have bad legs/soundness problems.
Fact: Many Standardbreds are just not fast enough to make it in the racing world, where a mile is regularly paced in well under two minutes. Some are not competitive, or are simply lazy. Rather than push a horse past his physical or mental limit, some trainers just choose to retire the horse from racing. Some horses never even race, but still have countless hours of handling and exercise -- receiving regular farrier, dental, and veterinary care -- and are in excellent condition. While some Standardbreds have had leg injures, which may or may not make retirement necessary, the horses usually will become sound and serviceable again after some time and treatment. 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.
Myth: Standardbreds are "hot" blooded because they are racehorses.
Fact: 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, like the Thoroughbred, and they are generally more forgiving of mistakes. They will try their hearts out for you, and nothing is too big of a challenge for them. The daily life of a racing Standardbred includes facing vehicles, tractors, harrows, water trucks, large moving gates, crowds of people, other horses in harness, horses under saddle, bicycles, hoses, showers, wheelbarrows, semi trucks, horse trailers, cross-ties, etc, and sometimes even goats or dogs. Standardbreds have had personal attention every day for most of their lives, and they adore being handled and readily return affection.
Myth: Standardbreds can't collect.
Fact: 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.
Sight Unseen, a pacer originally registered as JoPa's Tycoon, is currently competing at the Prix St. Georges level in dressage.
Myth: Standardbreds are all bay/brown.
Fact: 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 {below}, and there are even a handful of "dilutes" out there (palomino, buckskin, cremello, etc). It has even been said that there are a few champagne racers making appearances on the track. Standardbreds have also been found to display "lace" or "giraffe" markings, as seen with the stallion Aachen and some of his offspring. Due to the breed's widely mixed heritage, as well as a standard based on performance rather than appearance, it's really not so surprising that the Standardbred can appear in so many colors.
Ireland's Who Who Gives a Toss, an example of a Standardbred with "color." Photo from www.harnessracingni.com.
Myth: Standardbreds are small.
Fact: While Standardbreds generally average about 14-15 hands, it's not uncommon to see them surpass 16 or even 17 hands. Most Standies also have dense bone structures, stout builds, and thick legs and hooves, lending them an overall sturdy appearance. While the nickname "jughead" is not always true, it's not completely unwarranted, either, as Standardbreds do tend to have large heads.
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