Comments on How to Choose a Thoroughbred Horse

I rescued a a wonderful ex racer from mere starvation a year ago. When I looked up his race record I thought I would have some work ahead of me when I brought him to health. He was almost undefeated. Since I brought him to health, I have trained him for western pleasure competition (of all things) and hunt seat. He has got to be the smartest horse I have ever dealt with, and the most graceful. He moves like a dancer, very poetic like, and is in no way crazy, mean tempered, or hard to handle. He is my first Thoroughbred (I grew up with Quarter Horses) and he definitely is not my last!

I rescued a a wonderful ex racer from mere starvation a year ago. When I looked up his race record I thought I would have some work ahead of me when I brought him to health. He was almost undefeated. Since I brought him to health, I have trained him for western pleasure competition (of all things) and hunt seat. He has got to be the smartest horse I have ever dealt with, and the most graceful. He moves like a dancer, very poetic like, and is in no way crazy, mean tempered, or hard to handle. He is my first Thoroughbred (I grew up with Quarter Horses) and he definitely is not my last!

I have been around horses for as long as I can remember, but I am still on my first horse. I now have two Thoroughbreds and yes, they can be high strung, but that's just the way they are. In fact, the two are completely different in every way, but both of them have the heart and the will to try and do what I ask of them. Both are off the track and are being retrained, and I cannot believe just how willing my mare is. The breed is just full of personality, love, affection, and power. They were bred to be athletes, and the truth is, that's all they know how to do. But the thing that makes them stand out is their willingness to learn. Both of my horses would rather stick their nose into something than run away from it. Once they know that you're their friend, you've got the best partner you can have.

I have owned my Thoroughbred since he was weaned. He is 17.3 hands and is like a big dog when in his pasture. He is extremely energetic as he was bred to be a sport horse. He can be a handful, however, he is extremely willing, very good natured and extremely sensitive. I think to say that any breed is mean or clumsy, is like categorizing an ethnic group of people one way or the other. I own 2 Standardbreds, a Thoroughbred, a Quarter horse and a half Arab half Tennessee Walker. They all are different and all great horses. My Arab/Tennessee walker is now 26--in his younger days we did some endurance riding and all of the Arab folks snubbed their noses at him because he was not full blooded Arab. This sort of attitude makes me sick. Thoroughbreds are very sensitive babies, and need and deserve a quiet, gentle hand.

Thoroughbreds tend to be on the hotter end of the scale. Unless you get a super well trained horse (assuming you're a beginner), don't get a Thoroughbred. I made this mistake when I bought my first horse, I ended up selling him before I had him for a year.

I have owned my Thoroughbred since he was weaned. He is 17.3 hands and is like a big dog when in his pasture. He is extremely energetic as he was bred to be a sport horse. He can be a handful, however, he is extremely willing, very good natured and extremely sensitive. I think to say that any breed is mean or clumsy, is like categorizing an ethnic group of people one way or the other. I own 2 Standardbreds, a Thoroughbred, a Quarter horse and a half Arab half Tennessee Walker. They all are different and all great horses. My Arab/Tennessee walker is now 26--in his younger days we did some endurance riding and all of the Arab folks snubbed their noses at him because he was not full blooded Arab. This sort of attitude makes me sick. Thoroughbreds are very sensitive babies, and need and deserve a quiet, gentle hand.

When I was a little girl my mother always told me that Thoroughbreds were crazy and scatter brained and to stay away from them. About 1 1/2 years ago my Aunt decided to adopt a retired racer. I warned her about them and told her that I didn't think it was a good idea, but that if she really wanted to do it I would help her out. What my mother told me couldn't have been farther from the truth! What I saw was a kind gentle soul, who was intelligent and sensitive. When he was delivered, he was about 300 pounds underweight and had rain rot all over him. His feet hurt so bad that when he saw the gravel in the driveway he stopped and planted his feet. People would look at him and say "Why did you want to get him?" and I told them, "You just wait and see". Since then, he's gained about 300 pounds, his feet are in great shape, and the rain rot that was all over his back is now the most beautiful dappled bay I have ever seen. I love him so much I don't know what I would do without him in my life. He's a gentle giant who loves my 11 year old son. My son rides him around bareback with just a halter and lead. I agree that Thoroughbreds off the track are not for beginners, they take a lot of time and patience. A calm, gentle, confident hand goes a long way with these guys. If you respect them they will in turn work for you until they can work no more. I'm grateful my Aunt was so insistent on adopting him. If she would have listened to me in the beginning, I would not have that beautiful creature in my life today. She passed away just over a year ago and was not able to enjoy him for very long, but I'm sure she's looking down smiling, proud of the job she did. It upsets me that the breed has such a bad reputation. I'm hooked on mine and am looking to get another. They are like Lay's potato chips. You can't have just one!

Try an ex-racer. Now, remember, the differences between racing and riding are extreme. If you're buying directly off the track you're likely to get a young horse for a ridiculously cheap price in top peak condition. Sounds great right? Well, yes, but also they will be high strung, they are fed tons of grain which can produce a "high" resulting in a hyped up horse. There definition of riding is throwing a person on their back and galloping. Often times they are injected with drugs to keep them tip-top and hyped(not always). They have no clue what cross-ties are, are not used to standing still while someone puts their foot in the stirrup and hoists themselves up, and definitely don't have the muscles to be cranked into a pretty little (and in this case incorrect) frame. You must have soft, clear, and effective aids. You have to acknowledge the difference and give them time to calm down. You have to re-train from the beginning. Many will become depressed if you put them out in an all day turnout and roast them in the sun. You've got to wean them off. After they're mentally prepared now it's time to work on balance and muscles. They have virtually no back and hind-end muscles lacking the ability to collect, meaning lots of uphill trotting. Trotting over ground poles on the lunge will significantly improve their balance. Keep in mind they don't know what lateral aids are, and since the jockeys use the reins to brace themselves, basically pulling back means "Go!". I would also suggest putting them on a multi-vitamin and cutting their grain majorly (they will need to gain weight, obviously, but that can easily be done after they've come off their high). Racers have special shoes that will do severe damage to their hooves if you leave them on, so get them off and get them re-shoed ASAP. And definitely go with a pre-purchase exam, more likely than not there will have been a past injury (don't worry, often times they will be sound for even intense competition). If you're ready, an ex-racer is completely awesome as a riding horse, their jumping ability is usually astounding and it's not uncommon for OTTBS (Off-track TB) to take their riders far provided that they're with the right kind of rider. If you're still thinking of an OTTB, try adopting, they're often incredibly nice(a lot nicer than most think). You can try these websites for OTTBS; there are many, look for links. A place I located on the net located in Georgia(why too far from me), there horses are exceptional, they are a bit more expensive than those just off the track, but they also have several horses just off the track at very nice prices.

I have been around horses for as long as I can remember, but I am still on my first horse. I now have two Thoroughbreds and yes, they can be high strung, but that's just the way they are. In fact, the two are completely different in every way, but both of them have the heart and the will to try and do what I ask of them. Both are off the track and are being retrained, and I cannot believe just how willing my mare is. The breed is just full of personality, love, affection, and power. They were bred to be athletes, and the truth is, that's all they know how to do. But the thing that makes them stand out is their willingness to learn. Both of my horses would rather stick their nose into something than run away from it. Once they know that you're their friend, you've got the best partner you can have.