For many Standardbreds, the hardest part of retraining isn’t learning to trot under saddle, it’s actually learning to stop and stay stopped. Their entire racing background conditions them to stay moving. Even when the driver slows, they’re still expected to work and keep going. Standing around with a rider on their back is brand-new territory for many of these horses.
You want to begin by teaching “whoa” on the ground while tacked up. You want to work on building their ability to pause without becoming anxious.
Under saddle, you want to give them space and don’t hold them tight. A tight rein usually makes them more unsettled, because it feels like racing pressure. Instead, you want to reward every small moment, a deep breath, a shift of weight backward, a relax of the jaw.
Never expect them to stand like statues in the early days. You just want to expect them to try. As their confidence in what is being asked grows, the standing time increases naturally.
This patient approach takes time, experience, and daily consistency. Some horses pick it up quickly, and some may take months before they are comfortable “just hanging” with a rider on their back. The “work” mindset can take time to realize that riding isn’t work, it’s fun!
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