Comments on: How to Choose a Thoroughbred Horse

on 11/16/2009 OK here is the thing. I work at one of the largest TB race farm in the USA. I work with only TB and own a rescue that I love. We have a magnificent training program and have WORLD CLASS show jumpers jumping 1.4 to 1.8 meters. We rescue them, then re-train them. It takes time and guts as most of them are track failures yet amazing animals. They could be faster than anything running but trained badly and never adjusted to track life. They are second to none in anything they are trained in. Trail, English, Dressage, All Western, Parade, Police Work and especially (if trained right), anything to do with jumping. It takes me around a month to bomb proof one of these great animals. They can carry anyone of any weight and are amazing at cross country or trail. You can have your worm bloods, a good TB can out preform them any day. Rescue one, but take the time to learn and train them and you...

on 10/20/2008 i'm with skeeziks. What if you want a TB for pleasure riding?

on 2/26/2008 This is a stupid article. What about conformation? What about sources of unsoundness? What about suitability under saddle?

on 11/27/2007 There is such a stunning amount of misinformation in this article that it presents a clear danger to someone believing what is written here. Between Difficulty: easy and the last tip, hardly anything is correct. Use caution.

on 10/2/2007 what about a thoroughbred for trail riding and what about a heavy man riding htem? Are there things I should be aware of? so far he is sweet and kind and does not run away with us, but I worry my husband might be too heavy? email me with your comments if you wish. mammalbiologist@aol.com

on 7/18/2007 I am new to the English Discipline and have the opportunity to raise and train a 3mo old TB Filly. I am desperately trying to find unbiased information on how to determine if her conformation will make her a fantastic jumper. I want to start her slowly, very slowly, lots of ground work, I have my own arena and 10 acres of land but can only have one, maybe two horses due to financial constraints. I really want a horse I can grow with and eventually jump big. Your comments on TB disposition have really helped inform me -- I just don't know how to test a prospective horse -- thoughts?

on 6/18/2007 two years ago I adopted a 7 year old TB. He just happens to be 25% Secretariat which of course was an instant appeal. I talked with 6 vets about his twice fractured navicular and of course they all said I was nuts for even thinking about bringing this guy home. Call me stupid but I saw something in this horse that just wouldn't let me say no. It has now been two years and I made the perfect decision. This guy was looking for someone to teach him new tricks and I was that person. Yes, I was/am a novice rider but he and I bonded very quickly and the trust he has shown me has allowed us to make great gains both in the round pen and on the trails. I found a great teacher and she has helped us lose some of his old race habits and begin to build new calmer actions. I'm not sure who has learned more, me or the horse. We take small steps but steps non the less. TB's are intelligent and caring.

on 2/24/2007 how much should a 16.1 14yr TB ex- race horse weigh if she is on a fitness regime, mine weighs 75 stone is that too much?

on 12/31/2006 I rode as a child and rode Western. I am now taking English riding lessons. The first horse I started on was a pony, the second a quarter horse. I was a huge quarter horse fan and still remain so. My latest horse is a thoroughbred and is maginificent. He is the "Cadillac" of the stables. He is smart, he is sensitive and a pleasure to ride. As a relative beginner to English riding, I don't find him tempermental at all, he can be a big baby but he is also very kind and patient. I love to watch them run!!

on 8/31/2006 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!

on 8/8/2006 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.

on 8/8/2006 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.

on 8/8/2006 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.

on 8/8/2006 My Thoroughbred scared me to death when I first got him - I was petrified (I bought him because the previous owner was going to send him to the auction). He reared a lot, and frankly had a different look in his eye. He would constantly nip me. I was very nervous - knew I was in over my head (I'm still working through everything with a trainer and I still get scared sometimes). Through patience, love, consistency and help from an experienced Thoroughbred trainer, my horse has stopped nipping and has a very sweet soft eye. He no longer gives me the eye of contempt. He is very smart and very sensitive. I have almost given up a few times, but I know he is not a mean horse and I know he loves me as much as I love him. I have only ridden him a few times in the last eight months - taking it slow. I knew he wasn't a mean horse, but extremely sensitive and smart when a jockey jumped on him in front of me and rode him with no saddle or bridle - they did figure eights, stopping, turning, etc. all by leg commands. I am his fifth and final home.

on 8/8/2006 I have owed an ex-racer for 3 years now. My horse stands 17.1 hh at 1155 pounds. We have been doing playday events for two years now.

I had won 5th place over all at the last playday events with placing 1st place the first time out in five events. He is great at barrels, and my feet are above the barrels while everyone else has their knees banged up by hitting them. We have been through so much; as I was a beginner when I bought him. I had a trainer that helped me with him.

Now we are a team and loving every minute of it. We are doing our playday events again this year and can't wait for another buckle with our names on it with the word "Champions" at the bottom!

My advise is to get a professional trainer for the ex-racers as this will help you and the horse in the long run. And keep him ridden at least two -three times a week.