American Standardbreds are the stars of the harness racing world. However, after their race career is over, they can be very successful saddle and driving horses. If you have some experience with training and are an experienced rider you may enjoy the challenge of re-training an American Standardbred. Here are a few links to information about adoption, Standardbreds as pleasure and performance horses and re-training.

 

Adoption Societies and Groups

Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society

American Standardbred Adoption Society

Saskatchewan Standardbred Adoption Program

Standardbred Retirement Foundation

New Vocation Racehorse Adoption Program

 

Promoting Standardbreds as Performance and Pleasure Horses

 

Standardbred Performance Horse Association -- A Horse for All Reasons

Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Maine

Performance Standardbreds of Calgary, Alberta

Standardbred Pleasure & Performance Horse Association of Victoria Inc (Australia)

Standardbred Pleasure and Performance Horse Assoc. of NSW Australia, Inc

Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey

 

Retraining The Standardbred

 

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program offers several online articles about beginning to retrain your Standardbred racehorse for a career as a pleasure or performance horse. The information includes how to encourage your Standardbred to 'rack'.

The book Retraining the Harness Racehorse is recommended by the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.

Retraining the Harness Racehorse
By Mary A. Donovan-Wright and Robyn Cuffey,
Digital Pub Center (September 1997)
ISBN: 1890543004