Thoroughbred Horse

Most commonly seen on the racecourse, the Thoroughbred horse is considered a hot-blooded breed with spirit, agility, sensitivity and speed. Originating in 17th and 18th century England from three imported stallions, the Thoroughbred horse quickly spread throughout the world and today there are millions of this horse breed in existence.

While they are most commonly used in horse racing, Thoroughbreds are also popular for show jumping, dressage, hunting, polo and more. Their origins may lie in the UK, however today it is the United States which is the world’s largest producer of Thoroughbred horses.

Vital Stats

WEIGHT:	450kg – 550kg
HEIGHT:	15 hands – 17 hands
LIFE EXPECTANCY:	25 – 35 years
BEST FOR:	horse racing, show jumping, dressage and more
ORIGIN:	England

Thoroughbred Horse History

The thoroughbred horse has its origins in 17th and 18th century England, at a time when horse racing was growing in popularity and breeding horses to race was an increasingly common practice. To create the Thoroughbred, three stallions of Barb, Turkomen and Arab descent were imported from the Middle East to Great Britain and bred with native mares. These stallions were the Bryerly Turk, the Darley Arabian, and the Godolphin Arabian.

As a result of this practice of importing horses from Eastern bloodlines to mate with native mares, the General Stud Book (GSB) was created in 1791. Only horses who can trace their origins back to these three Stallions may appear in the GSB.

Improvement of the Thoroughbred for racing continued throughout the centuries, and the breed has also been crossbred to improve or even create other breeds, such as the American Quarter Horse and the Anglo-Arabian.

Today, the Thoroughbred continues its work on the race tracks as well as taking part in a multitude of other equestrian sports. There are millions of Thoroughbred horses across the globe.

SIZE

Thoroughbred Horse Size

Thoroughbreds stand at around 16 hands high, although it is not uncommon for the height of a Thoroughbred horse to range from 15hh to 17hh. Thoroughbred horses weigh in at between 450kg – 550kg.

APPEARANCE

Thoroughbred Horse Appearance

The athletic Thoroughbred has a tall, slim appearance with a broad chest and a short back. Bred for speed, this horse breed displays a number of physical characteristics which facilitate this such as a lean body, long legs and a chiselled head.

The most common Thoroughbred horse colours are black, brown, gray, bay and chestnut, while roan and palomino Thoroughbred horses are seen in the United States, albeit on a rarer occasion.

Solid coloured Thoroughbred horses are preferred by breed registries, which do not recognise Thoroughbred horses with more than one colour on the body; white markings on the face and body are allowed but uncommon.

DIET & NUTRITION

Thoroughbred Horse Diet and Nutrition

Thoroughbred horses are happy to eat a regular equine diet of quality hay, grain, vegetables and fruits. An athletic horse used for sport, the Thoroughbred has a fast metabolism and so can often require higher quantities of horse food to keep up with their high energy usage.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS

Unique Characteristics of a Thoroughbred Horse

Perhaps the most recognisable characteristic of the Thoroughbred horse is its impressive speed! These popular race horses can reach up to around 44 miles per hour, with a Thoroughbred by the name of Winning Brew holding the title of the fastest racehorse with a speed of 43.97mph over two furlongs.

Thoroughbred horses are also recognisable for their lean, athletic appearance; and solid colours.

TEMPERAMENT & BEHAVIOUR

Thoroughbred Horse Temperament and Behaviour

As a breed, Thoroughbred horses are intelligent and energetic, with a strong work ethic. They can also be bold and spirited, making them better suited to a more experienced equestrian rather than a beginner.

As well as excelling as race horses, the Thoroughbred’s temperament makes them great all-rounders; and they are also seen in dressage rings and out on the trails.

There is also a nurture element to the Thoroughbred horse’s temperament: due to years spent on the racecourse, they can be easily spooked and may require more work when retraining for general riding. However, there are organisations geared towards helping ex-racehorses find a happy home, including the RoR; and when managed correctly this can be incredibly fulfilling.

HEALTH ISSUES

Thoroughbred Horse Common Health Issues

Due in large part to their role as racehorses, Thoroughbreds are susceptible to a number of equine health issues. Pushed to their limits on the racecourse, the accident rates among Thoroughbreds are high, resulting in life changing and even fatal injuries. Accidents aside, many Thoroughbred racing horses are unable to remain sound and may develop stress fractures or bone chips throughout their careers.

Thoroughbred horses are also prone to health issues including bleeding from the lungs, which can be the result of excessive exercise or excessive inbreeding. Low fertility is also a concern, while some Thoroughbred horses have abnormally small hearts, or an unbalanced hoof to body size ratio which can contribute to lameness.

GROOMING

Thoroughbred Horse Shire Horse Grooming

When it comes to grooming a Thoroughbred horse, appearance is one key consideration – and performance is another. Following a regular equine grooming regime will keep your Thoroughbred horse looking glossy and healthy. Bear in mind that Thoroughbred horses tend to have thinner skin, so you may need to be more gentle when brushing.

Grooming a Thoroughbred racehorse often requires a stringent regime. Hoof care is key when grooming a Thoroughbred horse for racing: regular inspections are important to ensure hooves are free from dirt and pebbles, as well as to look out for signs of cracked hooves. It is also important to keep a Thoroughbred horse’s hair trimmed to an acceptable length, as well as to keep it out of their eyes when racing.

LIFESPAN

What is the Lifespan of a Thoroughbred Horse?

The typical lifespan of a healthy Thoroughbred horse is between 25 – 30 years.

Shire Horse Size

One of the Shire horse’s defining characteristics is its large size. The Shire horse is one of the tallest horse breeds in the world, with horses generally ranging from 16 to 17 hands tall, although it is not uncommon for the biggest Shire horses to reach 18 hands or more in height.

In fact, it is thought that the largest horse ever documented was a Shire horse: a gelding named Sampson, who was foaled in 1846 and measured a whopping 21.25 hands tall (and 1,524kg heavy!).

Shire Horse Appearance

Shire horses are usually black, brown, bay or grey in colour; and are recognisable due to their large size. They display feathering on the legs; a muscular build; large hooves; and a slightly Roman nose.

The Shire Horse Society stipulates that Shire horses must not be chestnut in colour, while Shire horse stallions should not be roan either; and should not have large white patches on their body.

Shire horses are often compared to Clydesdales, and it is true that Shires and Clydesdales share a number of physical characteristics; as well as both being draught horses. However, the Shire horse is generally larger; more muscular; and with fewer white markings on their body.

Shire Horse Diet and Nutrition

Shire horses are happy to eat a regular equine diet of quality hay, grain, vegetables and fruits. Due to their larger size, they may require higher quantities of horse food to stay healthy and maintain their energy levels, which can make them more expensive to keep.

Unique Characteristics of a Shire Horse

Perhaps the most unique and defining characteristic of a Shire horse is its size: they are known for being the tallest horses in the world. They are also incredibly strong: at a 1924 British exhibition, a pair of Shire horses is said to have pulled a starting load of 50 tonnes!

It is this ability to pull their weight (and then some!) that made them the chosen breed to deliver carts of ale from breweries to public houses in the 19th and early 20th century. While this is no longer a common use of the Shire horse, a number of modern day brewers do still use the breed to pull carts of beer for both practical and promotional purposes.

Shire horses are also recognisable for the feathering on their legs, their large hooves; and their Roman nose.

Shire Horse Temperament and Behaviour

Shire horses are known for their easygoing, calm and patient nature. They are docile and hard working, due to their origins as a draught horse; and are not known for behavioural issues as a breed.

Bred to work in a range of environments, including busy cities, the Shire horse does not spook easily, which means they offer a smooth ride. This is a calm, dependable and manageable horse breed which is great for riders of all levels.

Shire Horse Common Health Issues

While they are a generally healthy breed, there are a few health issues to watch out for with Shire horses.

Shire horses can be susceptible to chronic progressive lymphedema: a chronic progressive skin condition in some breeds of draught horse, which causes swelling of the lower legs. There is currently no cure, however management can help to slow the onset.

Shire horses may also be prone to polysaccharide storage myopathy, another condition which affects some draught horse breeds. Symptoms include sweating, sore muscles, muscle tremors and lameness.

Their heavy feathering also means they are at risk of feather mites and mud fever, so regular cleaning of this area is important to keep your Shire horse in top condition.

Shire Horse Shire Horse Grooming

Shire horses typically require a standard equine grooming routine, although you may need some assistance in the form of a ladder to help in your efforts due to their sheer height!

The feathering on a Shire horse’s legs also needs extra care and attention, as it can easily get dirty and become irritated or infected. Regular brushing and cleaning should do the trick; make sure to fully dry the feathering off after a bath to avoid the growth of bacteria and fungi.

What is the Lifespan of a Shire Horse?

The typical lifespan of a healthy Shire horse is between 25 – 30 years.

Why Choose a Thoroughbred Horse?

The most obvious reason to choose a Thoroughbred is for racing: these athletic horses excel in this area, and have been bred for this very purpose. They are incredibly fast, with an intelligent and hard working temperament which makes them easy to train in the right hands.

Aside from racing, Thoroughbreds are also popular in a range of equestrian sports including dressage and show jumping. There are also a number of charities set up to encourage equestrians to choose an ex-race horse such as a Thoroughbred: owning an ex-racehorse can be both rewarding and challenging, however with the right home they can find a new lease of life and are great for leisure riding, hacking, and companionship.