Gold Standard is, as one might expect, from a wealthy line of Earth Ponies who largely specialize in forms of wealth management or appraisals. They're known for refined, expensive tastes and consider themselves to be particularly 'advanced' as far as ponies go, though their description on what counts as 'not advanced' is deliberately nebulous. (Zebras and Donkey's have been known to get a bit... side eyed. As well as ponies who display markings that resemble far older, historical pony types.) Not that they'd ever admit it. At least not publicly.

Gold standard therefore was a bit of a disruption when he developed a 'ridge' of stiff mane like hair down his entire back as he grew, a trait decidedly hearkening back to -very- old lines of pony. He has been repeatedly encouraged to see a 'discreet' stylist known to the family to have it 'taken care of', but as he grew and hit a rebelious streak he deliberately grew it out, dismaying his relatives who didn't want to say anything... publicly anyway. He further dismayed the family by starting to hang out with musicians, who were considered 'entertainment' and not 'equal'... and knocked horse shoes off when his cutie mark came in.

He considers his talent to be having a excellent ear, an different form of his family's tallent for appraisal and uses this talent and his connections to try and put good music in the hooves of the creature he thinks will be the best fit for their career. He hates to admit that he has ANY concern for his own image, but old habits are hard to break and he knows that his high class reputation has a lot of sway.