Does Sports horse = TB blood?

[ruth83]

Do you think a sports horse (competition horse) benefits from TB blood?

I know there are obvious excpetions, eg endurance horses are predominantly (but not exclusively!) arab blood but it seems that even the WB horses seen in dressage have been influenced by TB blood in the past. (I understand some WB breeds were almost draught like until the introduction of TB blood).

Would the appearance/lack of TB blood influence your choice when buying a sports horse?

What benefits do you think TB blood brings to a sports horse?

What negatives do you think TB blood creates?

Tell me about your TB crosses (or purebreds) and what they do please!!!

Any input/opinions/discussion would be appreciated. I am not aiming for qualitative research, just some broad information to base a lecture upon.

Thank you!!!

 

[Ranyhyn]

Personally I'd always want some blood in my horse, I would not however go for a full blood horse. I think the pros are a better turn of foot and a quick thinking brain generally, I think the negatives are one in the same if I'm honest.

My Irish sports horse, by a TB stallion is not fast, nor is he particularly sharp, but he has an awesome shift for a big horse and he is smart enough to get himself out of sticky situations. I think one of the greatest crosses is a IDxTB.