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Post by tinuviel on Apr 17, 2010 23:11:30 GMT 1
I have been offered the chance to adopt an ex-racer Standardbred (he is 5,raced for a year but was too slow),he is realy quiet and lovely to do anything with,his nature is one of the best i have ever seen in a horse.
I would send him away to be re-trained as a saddle horse but i rode him around the paddock bareback in a halter and he was quiet as a lamb.
My problem is that i basicaly know nothing about this breed and a number of people have told me to stay well clear of them and that they never make it as ridding horses and especially never make it as show horses (I don't want to show at all,just want to hack about). Now i don't actualy like these people,they are part of the snobby ''my horse cost $20000 so I'm better than you'' crowd but i still am wary to discount there views as they may know something i don't.
So does anyone have any advice/experience with this breed,especially after racing.
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Post by kunuma on Apr 18, 2010 0:00:49 GMT 1
I knew trotters and pacers in Wales, they were amazingly calm and placid horses off the track, and went like smoke when in harness.Rather like heavier TBs, but with a different head and neck carriage. I would have thought they would probably not excel at dressage, but as a hacking horse can't see any reason why they should not be good. You can retrain pacers to trot normally. Don't get me started on typical horsey people - can't stand 'em myself!
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Post by tinuviel on Apr 18, 2010 0:29:32 GMT 1
Thanks Kunuma . I have been looking for a horse for a while now and am honestly at the stage where I'm wanting to give up...Between dodgy sellers and huge prices (i fail to see how anyone is willing to pay $5000 for a 20yo wind sucker with sacroids for example) it's realy disheartening. So when this boy came up i was excited but then when people started telling me not to do it i pretty much threw my hands up and asked myself why even bother.
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Post by Claire on Apr 19, 2010 10:03:12 GMT 1
I dont know a lot about trotter but I would say go for it tinuveil. Like kunuma, I can't stand those so called horsy people and woulld ignore them. He has a good nature which is the main thing and if you just want a horse for pottering about he will prob be fine. By the way do you call hacking, hacking or trail riding over there?
Good luck if you do decide to go for it!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2010 12:16:02 GMT 1
I agree with Claire and kunuma...he sounds a lovely natured horse. I'd go with your instincts and go for it!
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Post by Buster on Apr 19, 2010 19:25:45 GMT 1
My horse is a complete novice ex racer, and yeah they do have a bit of a 'spark' shall we say, but it makes them fun. And he's a complete donkey in the stable anyway haha. Believe me, they seem to be greatful for some fussing. But every horse is different, so I reccomend you maybe try him for a week or so just to see how he settles in and if hes different at home, then you'll definatly know. And check for any racing injuries etc and get him vetted. I wouldnt bother about the snobby ones, everyone told me not to get Buster cos he was an unschooled mess. And yeah he was. But hes improved a lot, one came to see him and said she really loved him and he had beautiful paces. So ha! So I think go for it, and good luck !
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Post by tinuviel on Apr 19, 2010 21:48:02 GMT 1
Claire,i call it hacking...Everyone else calls it trail riding lol,must be the books i read . The realy good thing about it is that because it's an adoption through the Standardbred association the first 12 months are basically a trial and if anything does not work out i can send him back and they will re-home him (hope that does not sound too harsh,i would only do that if he turned out to be a total nutter). I'm going to see him again on the weekend and fill out the paper work so fingers crossed .
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