English Thoroughbred Horse

Intro

Few breeds, (besides perhaps their fathers, the Arabian and the Andalusian) have traveled as far and as wide as the English (or British) Thoroughbred animals have. While racing horses has been a sport for as long as we have been on their back, the British took horse racing to another level entirely.

Origins

The Thoroughbred breed comes from three famous foundation sires that were imported into the UK early in the 18th century, The Darley Arabian, Byerley Turk and Godolphin Barb. These were crossed with mares whose blood came from imported Iberian Andalusians, African Barbs and Turkish animals.

The exact bloodlines of the foundation sires is shrouded in mystery and hotly contested. It has always been believed that the two Arabians imported were of meticulously pure lines. However, pure Arabian horses were difficult to obtain due to political reasons and because good animals were only sold when necessary. Chances are the three foundation studs had bits of other genetic material in their makeup. The Godolphin Barb came directly from Morocco and was at first only used as a teaser. Even after his value as a stud was proven he was not bred into the line as often as the Arabians.

Over the centuries different breeds have contributed bits and pieces to the lineage of modern day Thoroughbreds and some say that without new blood the breed tends to degenerate.

Three Basic Types

Sprinter – Tall with a long body and very fast.
Stayer – Smaller with a shorter body and more staying power.
Middle Distance – Well-sloped shoulder and shorter back, well suited for cross country events.

Features

Average height 15 – 17 hands

Physique

Head is small and elegant with a straight profile
Ears are well-proportioned and active
Eyes are large and lively
Neck is usually long and may be slightly arched
Back is long
Tail is set high
Chest is high and wide
Legs are long with wide, clean joints
Hooves are small