Comments on: How to Choose a Thoroughbred Horse

on 11/22/2005 To say that Thoroughbreds are clumsy and have bad attitudes is an opinion held by people with limited exposure to this breed. I have known many Arabians, Quarter horses, Standardbreds, and Warmbloods that are clumsy and have bad attitudes. I have been around Thoroughbreds (and horses in general) for 30 years. My current Thoroughbred is off of the track. He was so easy to train. I converted him to a Hunter/Jumper and have started Dressage with him. My 5 year old daughter rides him, and all the children in the neighborhood venture into the pasture to visit with him. He has never bitten, kicked, or bucked. I can lead him around with a bit of his mane. I have ridden him bareback with only a halter over fences and on trails. He is 16 hands tall. It is true this breed is very hard to maintain. It takes a lot of good quality feed, and a lot of green grass to keep them in weight. A good supplement, which has kept weight on my horses, is rice bran and wet cobb. Just keep in mind, don't believe the stereotypes about this breed. They are sensitive and (if off of the track) can be high strung. Off of the track they are not for novice riders. A Thoroughbred trained from birth for riding is a great horse for a novice. They are kind and intelligent and can be very loyal and loving.

on 11/22/2005 I would recommend to have any horse schooled by a professional trainer. I now know to get professional help before buying any horse. A Thoroughbred can fool anyone, you have to be able to have the right people to help you with your new Thoroughbred, or you can hurt yourself. Get a professional to help you out, it well be for the best. Once you get over the hurdle, you are on your way to having fun, fun, fun! Enjoy your Thoroughbred.

on 6/11/2007 Thoroughbreds are by no means clumsy, and by no means do they have a bad attitude.

Yes, they are bred to run fast, and if you hop on a Thoroughbred that was trained for racing (and nothing else), you will have your work cut out for you. However, a Thoroughbred trained as a hunter/jumper/dressage (or even for the Western disciplines) will not be fast and out of control unless it was, in fact, trained to go fast and out of control.

I have ridden and competed in hunters and jumpers all of my life, and some of the smartest horses I have ridden have been Thoroughbreds. They learn to pick up on your cues incredibly fast.

Thoroughbred racehorses are high-strung, but please do not get them confused with all the other Thoroughbreds out there. As with any breed, there are the exceptions, but to generalize my experience with Thoroughbreds, they are very smart and therefore relatively easy to train, very laid back when treated properly, and they are some of the most sensible horses I have ever worked with - regardless of breed. Thoroughbreds are also very versatile. The Thoroughbred that I currently own started off as a racehorse, then became a hunter, and now, in addition to that, he is ridden Western on the trails. To say that Thoroughbreds are spooky, high-strung, or dangerous for beginners or children to ride is a totally false statement.
A well-trained Thoroughbred is just as suitable for your child's needs as any other well-trained breed of horse.

on 11/22/2005 Some Thoroughbreds have difficulty gaining weight. If they are left in a pasture with another horse for a few weeks, they tend to lose more weight. After 25 years of experience with this breed, I have realized that after you give your Thoroughbred a little more food, if there is still no improvement, you should have your vet check it out. It might be a worm or digestive problem.

on 2/12/2007 Always know what you are getting into with thoroughbreds. Most thoroughbreds are clumsy and generally have bad attitudes. They are not recommended for the novice unless they're properly trained.

on 11/22/2005 TBs can be the hardest breed to ride because they're high-strung and were bred for fast sports. They are not for novices or nervous riders. If you're frightened, they will scare you to death. If you ride well, there's no better breed for fun and speed.