I have an arab standy cross named Millennium Star. I have registered him as a partbred with the Standardbred Association of Tasmania.  He is by the arab stallion Franklin Zarhan and out of standardbred mare Our Tiger Lil.  His grandmother, Nanny’s Chance, actually won the Devonport Cup, so I would say he probably got his competitive nature from her!

We qualified in endurance in March after beginning him in endurance as a 5 year old in 2005 and he is going very well. I was told by a lot of people to sell him on, he’s too much for me, too big, too ugly, won’t be a comfortable ride, etc etc.  Don’t tell a woman things like that, it only makes me more determined to continue with him!  But he has come a long way and I am really pleased with his progress.  He now understands that he doesn’t really need to race everyone on track!  There are few that can keep up with his ground covering trot when he really gets going!  His heart rate is usually in the 40s and what I love about him is that he is a pretty cool customer when it comes to the vet ring and all the excitement which goes with it.  I do have a bit of trouble with him right before a ride, but who doesn’t have that!!!  After he qualified I gave him a pretty good break and I am now working towards another 80km ride down south.  If he goes well with that, plus one more 80km, I will enter him in a 93km at our state champs at the end of the year.

Based on their size, their endurance, ground covering capacity and their temperament, I wouldn’t be hesitating to breed them!! And SIZE is a major factor, regardless of what people say.  Hybrid vigour is a wonderful thing!  He is only 15.1h but is quite solid and has good strong hindquarters and a long shoulder.  I am fortunate in that the Arabian cross has fined up my horse’s head slightly compared to most standardbreds.  He was never raced; I bought him as a green broke 4 year old.  He has never paced and his canter is beautiful.  But hey, I am biased.

Sonia Hodgetts, Tasmania

 

*** UPDATE JULY 2008: Millennium Star completes Tasmanian FEI 3* 160km ride. See story Millennium Star : FEI Star.