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Thoroughbred Horses are the world’s greatest equine athletes. With their sleek coats and stunning greyhound-like lines, they captivate crowds at the racetrack. Thoroughbreds have been influential in the creation of many other breeds of horses. They carry the genes for speed and many of them are fine jumpers, too. For experienced riders, there’s no greater thrill than feeling the power of a Thoroughbred as it reaches full gallop. It’s similar to driving a finely tuned elite car. Thoroughbreds can be a good choice for the advanced competitive rider, but they frequently need more intensive management than other breeds.
Thoroughbreds are generally tall horses, around 16 hands high (64 inches/163 cm) or taller. They weigh around 1,000 pounds (450 kg). Thoroughbreds that are used for flat racing have the lighter, more greyhound-like appearance which is typical of racehorses. Their long bodies give them an increased length of stride.
Thoroughbreds that excel at hurdling, steeple-chasing and cross country are often taller, up to 17 hands high (68 inches/173 cm) and more solidly built. Thoroughbred coats are almost always solid colored, with the majority being bay, followed by chestnut, brown, black and gray. The deep barrelled chest of Thoroughbreds contains plenty of room for powerful lungs and heart. In fact, many of the world’s most successful racehorses, such as the famous Phar Lap, have had large hearts. They are eye-catching horses even when they are standing still. Ever since the Thoroughbred breed has existed, they have been an object for portraits, at first by artists and later by photographers. Once they start moving at phenomenal speed, they captivate the observer. Because they have been so intensively kept, their coats are usually gleaming with health and they are filled with energy. Underneath their coats, the musculature has been uniquely developed for athletic performance by specialist breeding.
In general, Thoroughbreds have dynamic and sometimes challenging temperaments, as they have been bred and reared with racing or other competitive sport in mind. They are high maintenance and require plenty of exercise. Their natures and athleticism are not usually considered suitable for people who are new to horseback riding. However, like every other horse breed, Thoroughbreds are individuals, and people who know them well confirm that quite a few of them are laid-back characters. They often need special care in the winter, including rugging and additional feed, as they tend to lose weight easily and are not usually “good-doers” like native ponies. They are said to be “thin-skinned” and when fit, carry muscle rather than fat, which means they can they lose heat quickly. They will require stabling or well-made protective shelters for the worst weather. The relatively large amount of space they need to move around and rest in must be taken into account before buying a Thoroughbred. On the plus side, they usually have excellent feet. They will bond very closely with humans and also with other animals. It’s very common for racehorses to share their lives with companion cats, goats, and even chickens.
There’s no doubt that keeping a Thoroughbred is more challenging than keeping many other breeds, but it is also extremely rewarding. The main thing to consider is the reason for purchasing a Thoroughbred, in other words, what they will be expected to do. While most will be bought to compete, there is also interest in Thoroughbreds that have been retired from the racetrack, as they often make excellent riding horses once their racing lives are over.
The Thoroughbred is often viewed as a breed apart from all others. The aim from the start was to create a horse that was “thoroughly bred for racing”. As such it occupies an important position for horse lovers among horse breeds. It is the creation of horses from many different locations, since native British and Irish horses, Turkomans, Barb Horses and Thoroughbred Horses have contributed to many other breeds, particularly the sports horse breeds. There are few European warmblood horses that do not have Thoroughbred blood, from the Hanoverian to the attractive Lewitzer pony. Thoroughbreds have been influential in creating the world’s tiniest horses, the Falabella Horses, and also some of the largest, such as Percheron Horses. The English Thoroughbred, the first of its type, is probably the most well-known of the Thoroughbred breeds, but there are also Irish Thoroughbreds, American Thoroughbreds and French Thoroughbreds. Each of these nations has developed their Thoroughbred racing breeds according to their needs. In America, one of the leading Thoroughbred breeds is the Standardbred, a phenomenally fast harness horse. The word Thoroughbred stands for speed!