The standardbred is a breed best known for its ability in harness racing at a trot or pace.

They also have more placid dispositions and are considered people-oriented, easy-to-train horses.

After they have finished racing they are often sent to the abattoir to be killed but a group is taking them, re-training and then giving them out to new homes.

Dungog’s Simone Thomas was a keen rider until she reached year 12 at high school.

“I got doing other things but three years I got back into riding,” she said.

“Through a friend I met Sarah McCarthy who has performance horses out at Mudgee and she takes pacers and trotters that are no longer wanted,” she said.

“She trains them and they have competed in ridden and led classes at events out west.

“They are very willing to learn but sometimes under saddle they struggle as some have been flogged if they break out of gait when in harness.

“Riding for the Disabled love them and they are also good at endurance riding.

“Some have even turned out to be good campdrafters once they are introduced to cattle.

“Many have not seen cattle as they have been kept in stables all their lives.

“In fact they can do anything if they are retrained correctly.”

Simone will have her 10-year-old standardbred horse Cashulator, or Casheu as he is affectionately known, competing at the show.

He raced at Parkes and Forbes until 12 months ago and now has been retrained to be ridden.

He had 44 starts with five wins, four seconds and five thirds.  He won just over $19,000 in prizemoney.

“We are looking at competing in both led and ridden classes,” Simone said.

“All together we will have seven horses at the show and we are looking forward to putting standardbred horses back into the spotlight.

“Team Standy, of which I am a member, is putting up the trophies for the standard class events and we are looking to sponsor more local shows that include standards.

“We would like to start a points system with a winning trophy at the end of the season.

“Our goal is to show that standardbred horses can do anything.

“If a local show is happy to support us, then we are happy to support the show.”