[left]I volunteer for Riding for the Disabled (New Zealand) and one of our nicest, most willing, and cooperative horses is a Standardbred called Connie. She is used both as a therapy horse and a horse for those riders who are able to be more independent. We couldn't ask for a nicer horse. Connie is a much loved and valuable member of the RDA team.

aww that is very nice to hear

That is wonderful to hear Marsha

I have wondered why more RDA facilities don't use Standies as they have had so much ground training and are generally so calm under saddle.
I think the old "trot/canter" boogy might be responsible but with better retraining happening these days it should not be an issue.

I have sold horses to a couple of people who volunteer at Pegasus in Canberra and they say they are def. going to push the Standie cause there.
My daughter rides at our local RDA and they have expressed interest in a Standie to use in harness in the future but had oddly blank faces when I suggested a riding horse.
I think I may have to find an extra special horse to impress them with and then donate

At RDA we use another Standardbred called GB and he too is gentle with his riders. He is a much bigger horse though Last year when Princess Anne visited our RDA, Connie was one of the two horses that were used for the adult therapy riding demonstrations. It is a shame that people have such stereotypes of the breed.