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Step 1
Look at the overall body of the horse. It should stand between 14.2 and 17.3 hands, and will most commonly come in solid colors, such as bay, chestnut, and grey. The overall impression should be one of an athletic animal ready to compete. The body will be long, often lean, and with flat muscles, long legs and sloping shoulders.
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Step 2
The head will be refined and somewhat long. The eyes alert, the hair coat extremely fine with thin, sensitive skin. Ears will be curved and neither too long nor too short.
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Step 3
The hind quarters of the horse will be tremendously muscled, with power exuding from every inch. This is the horse's engine, so on a horse bred for racing, it will be the most prominent feature of the body.
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Step 4
The thoroughbred horse often has a fiery, bold temperament, and is usually not for beginners. They can be termed aggressive or mean, but more often than not it is simply the natural courage and boldness of the horse expressing itself in tightly controlled conditions. When treated properly, the Thoroughbred is a wonderful mount, full of adventure and intelligence.
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Step 5
Finally, all registered thoroughbreds must be able to trace their lineage back to three horses--the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian, and the Godolphin Arabian. Papers from the Jockey Club must be presented to show that the horse is truly a Thoroughbred.
