Buyer question
Is a Standardbred horse good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Standardbred horse 4 out of 5 for beginners (calm once restarted).
Source: the Standardbred horse page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Standardbred horse in the Animal Library
The detail
The American harness racer, bred to trot or pace at speed in front of a sulky. Off the track, Standardbreds are known for calm, sensible minds and make steady trail and driving horses.
- Temperament
- Calm, honest, sensible
- Best fit
- Trail, driving, amateurs
- Trainability
- 4 out of 5 (Honest and patient)
- Upkeep
- 2 out of 5 (Hardy and sound)
- Energy
- 3 out of 5 (Stamina, quiet mind)
What to weigh
Ex-racers usually need retraining to canter under saddle, and pacers can take months to learn to trot. Old track injuries are common, so a thorough vet exam matters.