buying a TB

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SAL66

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Hi I'm looking to buy a new horse having been away from the scene for a few years and have been sent quite a few details of hourses that are Tb's not TBx, and I have little expereience of these, people tell me they are prone to back and feet problems , not much bone and am better looking for a ID*TB.

I am confused so any ones experience ot thoughts will be great.
 
All horses are prone to something! I wouldn't worry about sweeping generalisations like that, just worry about the individual horse - it's conformation, temprament, history, vetting etc.

You need to go & view a few animals & see what you think - prefably with your instructor & certainly get the horse vetted prior to purchase. If you like an advert, like the photos & everything sounds right on the phone, go & view & don't worry about the breeding - maybe even look at a cob! Do prepare for the phone conversations though - make a list of everything that is important to you & ensure you ask all the right questions (don't be frightened of sounding pushy - a caring owner will want to know that you are looking for a long-term relationship with their horse!)

As you are a bit rusty, you may find a TB a bit much - they CAN be sharp - that said, I refer you to my first statement!
 
My mare has tons of bone, excellent feet and never had back problems!
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I wouldn't swap her for the world. She has fantastic conformation and is a very good looking horse. She is out of a National Hunt stallion rather than a Flat one and I think that's where her depth of body has come from (as a guess!).

Physically she's fab but she is a slightly sensitive soul temperament wise but I have learnt to live with that. However there is good and bad in every breed, just take a knowledgeable friend with you when you go looking.
Hope that helps!
 
Have two TB Mare and never had problems with feet or backs, the are different from each, one is an ex-flat racer, not alot of bone, the other one has slightly more bone, wouldn't swap either of them, also have Welsh D x TB and ID x TB, again wouldn't swap these.......
 
zakkie is a tbxcon but mostly tb, and i have only had to call out the vet once in the whole time ive had him!!(not including jabs obviously)Tb's may have a couple of quirks (in my case getting over excited) but they are fantastic-its just a general conception that tb's always have problems-its not all true!!I say if you see the horse and like it dont worry if its a full tb. good luck x
 
Check the feet carefully. Both my TBs are flat footed and need careful shoeing. Having said that, as long as you manage it properly you shouldnt have any problems.

My TB did have kissing spines however and that is quite common in the breed. She had to have surgery which cost and arm and a leg, so just be aware. At the end of the day however, some horses are always lame etc and you need a bit of luck too!
Good luck in finding your new horse!
 
I have known TB who are as quiet as anything and a welsh cob who was a conplete nutter!! It really depends how they have been brought up etc,
 
There are so many different types of TB that I'm sure you'll find something to suit you. I went for an Irish TB and although he has his quirks, when he's being ridden everyday he's a pretty sane well behaved horse! He's got excellent feet and touch wood has been lame once - due to an old injury.

Really depends what you want to do though....good luck with your search!
 
One of my tb's is fairly chunky even though did flat racing? The other one has very poor feet and do need a lot of care, but both are good temperment wise. Good luck with your search!
 
I have 2 tb's and both very different. one good feet one bad.
Both are ex- racers.
TB's are not everyones cup of tea. I orignially went out looking for a welsh cob, and ended up with something very different. Not to put you off but your Ideal horse may be something that you never dreamed you would look at so have a good look and try plenty of horses
 
TBs often get a bad press.

When they are racing fit and full of oats they can obviously be hot, but in a 'normal' environment they often have fantastic tempraments (there are exceptions to every rule of course).

They are prone to bad feet, but as someone said above, all breeds are prone to something. You can only assess the horse in front of you at the time.
 
One thing i will add - for most TB's I've known it's about the right environment. My boy has had a personality transplant since we moved. He's happier being in 20 hours a day and being ridden everyday than being in a yard where he's out all day but can't be ridden all the time cause the schools flooded!

Alot of horses will make do anywhere but they do tend to be a little more sensitive to their environment and need stability and a good routine!

PS - I hadn't ridden for 15 years and brought a TB, we had our ups and downs but now I wouldn't have any other breed!
 
We have only ever had TB (all have been out of racing)
and would never have anything else. Have 3 (alhough one is out on loan) at the moment and each one has their different quirks but i wouldn't swap them for the world.

One is bare foot and still hacks out, and even in the dry weather they aren't cracking. I know a IDxTB that has terrible feet, when you would expect them to have really sturdy feet.

Every horse is different, any horse could have a bad back... In all honestly, like SillyMare said, TB do get bad press, but everyone has different views on what sort of horse they like.

Good luck and let us know how you get on
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Try loads, of every imaginable breeding, and eventually buy with your head as well as your heart, with expert support, and you stand as good a chance as anyone.
As everyone else has said, there are good and bad ones, regardless of breeding. TBs do tend, often, to need a little more careful attention than a rugged native type, but that's to be expected and if you're a "TB person" you'll never want to ride anything else.
Be honest with yourself.
 
Every breed has its problems but not all TB's have bad backs, dodgy feet etc.!

I think you need to work out what you want to do with the horse and what breed would suit you most. Obviously TB's are generally more high maintenece with regard to rugging, feeding etc. If you're looking for a general pleasure / hack horse then you'd probably be better going for a TB crossed with something like an ID. But then again, some TB's are wonderful calm horses (they're not all loopy!).

If I were you Id work out what type you want and then go and see as many as possible!
 
I have a thoroughbred x (very new!) and he is the most laid back character going, he is quite flat footed but already the farrier has made a vast improvement to that and he commented on how good the horn was.

On the other note be prepared to buy the opposite of what you expect, I went out looking for a small-ish (14.2-15) native x with very well established schooling and bought a 16.3 thoroughbred x who doesn't know what circles etc. are! His temprament and character did it for me!
 
I had an ex flat racer tb on full loan before the horse I own now and she did have lots of quirks but was a beautiful horse and lots of fun and very safe in most situations, her feet were fine and she was in good health just very unlucky and accident prone.
When looking for my own horse I set out hunting for another 16hh + tb and came home with a 15.1 cob!! This cob has grown into a huge 16.1 beast with even more quircks then the tb, he is a perfect saint loved by all but is a handful to ride alot more so then the always snaffle mouthed tb! He also has bad feet! So, just shows how different they can all be and echoes everyones point of trying all sorts out you never know what you may fall in love with!!!!

Good luck in your search!!!!
 
Thanks for all your comments, I went to see a horse last night and boy has it knocked my confidence, it head shaked threw his head round and generally fought you all the way and this was described as a novice ride.
Its true that you have to try lots before you click with the one thats meant for you.

Yes although I have been riding horses for more years than I care to remember and had several of my own, having been away from horses for a few years I am little rusty but don't want to buy a plod that I will get bored with nor do I want to buy a little hotty that puts me off.!
 
Your perfect partner will be out there somewhere.... if you go with an open mind and an honest list of requirements you may find that the perfect individual is in the most unexpected of packages!

I wish you luck on your hunt and lets hope you do not get too many knocks to your confidence.
 
you cant beat a good TB they are the best! i have two ex point to point horses and they are safer then any of my others. neither of them have had bad backs (touch wood) and their feet are quite good but obviously not as good as my welshs feet but shes a native ! i make sure i use a very good farrier and he does a great job of them and ive never had a problem. if you gat a good TB then u wont want to live without one.
 
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