The Neighborhood Posse

A few weeks ago Paint Girl and I took our horses for a ride around the neighborhood.

Sometimes, we catch a glimpse of some of the neighborhood horses as they are grazing or run out to say hello. This one had plenty of grass to eat, but kept trotting up and down the fence line when she saw us.

This little bay beauty just watched us go by.

On the last leg of the ride, one of the horse's we saw was this guy. Or at least, I think it's a he. I forgot to check. Paint Girl is acquaintances with the horse's owner. This horse is a Standardbred. I thought he had such a cute face.

A kind eye and foxy ears, and rich chocolate color. When we rode away, this horse began to trot -er, I mean, pace? He definitely did not move in a normal trot. He also looked a bit off or lame.

I don't think his owner rides him. I don't know anything about the horse. Maybe it is an ex race horse?

I know very little about Standardbreds. Here is some information I found online:

Standardbreds tend to be more muscled and longer bodied than the American Thoroughbred. They also are of more placid dispositions, as suits horses whose races involve more strategy and more changes of speed than do Thoroughbred races. Standardbreds are considered people-oriented, easy-to-train horses.

They are generally a bit heavier in build than their Thoroughbred cousins, but have refined, solid legs and powerful shoulders and hindquarters. Standardbreds have a wide range of height, from 14.1 to 17 hands 57"-66"), and most often are bay or the darker variation of bay called "brown," although other colors such as chestnut and black are not uncommon. Gray and roan are also found. The tobiano pattern is seen in some New Zealand-bred horses.

There are two basic types, trotters and pacers. As the name suggests, the trotter's preferred racing gait is the trot, where the horses' legs move in diagonal pairs, when the right foreleg moves forward so does the left hind leg, and vice versa. The pace is a two beat lateral gait; Pacers' forelegs move in unison with the hind legs on the same side.

However, the breed also is able to perform all other horse gaits, including the canter, and pacers can be retrained to trot.

Do any of you know anything more about Standardbreds? I have seen them offered for adoption on Craigslist.org. Kind of a rehabilitation program. How many years do they race? What do they do when their careers are over? Can they make good riding mounts? Do you know anyone that has one?

Anyway, I am going to check on My Boy this afternoon and see if he can tolerate wearing a bridle with his healing sarcoid. Here's to hoping I can ride him soon!