Learning to love a TB!

JadeyB

JadeyB

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I know i might get in trouble for saying this, but I'm just not a fan of TB's, although i might need to find a way to love them seeing as my budget for a new horse will not be very big and they seem to be the only type that i could afford!

I'm sure there are some great ones out there, and my reasons for not liking them is probably due to me having a couple of nasty falls off of some ex racers in the past... but if anyone has any good advice/stories or comments on them i'd love to hear them! :)

Thank you!
 
What don't you like about them? Handling, I've found most to be real people horses and they like a lot of fuss. I haven't ridden one for a very long while but if restarted correctly they're a sane very comfortable ride with an extra gear that makes your eyes water. My friend has one that we hack out with, when having a canter he lobs along then she'll open up and they'll be gone while mine seems to be paddling on the spot in comparison. They eat an enormous amount though and seem to poo a lot more than a more hardy type, having shared a field with one.
 
I have a Tb ex racer, didn't go to buy him at all, went to buy a suitable for novice rider cob

tried 9.. 2 took there owners off and 3 well it didn't even make it out of the stable!!

Went to see a friend at the yard where her horse was stabled and fell in love with him

he is a very sweet horse with a lot to give, dont get me wrong he is not with out his problems (trying to put his ears up my nose tiles!)

but the 4 year old can lead him to and from the field and when i have a bad day he is always there ready for cuddles, and on the riding front it is taking time but its very rewarding
 
My daughter's tb mare and gelding have been both challenging and rewarding.
The mare- (if in regular, daily work) absolutely bomb proof hack, apparently easy to pull up in all situations, would jump anything anytime anywhere from any angle, fairly grumpy and impatient to handle but a gem with other horses. She was challenging in the school and a nightmare at competitions and to load though (that was our fault I think) Had a lot of pelvic issues and windsucks as well. If she had more than a couple of days off you could expect a bit of bucking on the first couple of hacks before she settled down

The gelding- brilliant to hack alone or with a quiet companion but a nutter in company, has to be in front and gets impatient if he has to wait for slower companions to catch up (which was always the case with me and IDx mare :) ) Was a gent at competitions and always tried his best and usually somewhere in the ribbons but had a lot of issues with back, sacroiliac joint and hocks so is now retired. He is a dream to handle, an absolute saint and very affectionate with people but can be narky with other horses if he thinks they'll let him away with it. Example, leading him in with my big lad, leading side by side but with Tb slightly behind, he will nip him on the butt so that the big fella runs forward and squeals and then the TB acts the innocent as if to say "well my goodness look at him being a big fool and me standing so innocently here waiting for you to open the gate- give me a mint!"

They are characters, but I have never ridden either of my two, I am too heavy for one thing but I think I'm more suited to a plod type anyway. They seem best suited to a a quiet and confident rider and I think with some of them you need to really give thought to their routine and management, but they're fine horses, I know a lot of people who wouldn't have anything else in their stable.
 
JadeyB, I was in exactly the same position as you. On my budget all I could afford was a TB, sadly there are just so many of them on the market. Although I no longer own him mine was a 9 yr old retrained racehorse. He was the kindest, sweetest horse to do anything with, hacked alone or in company, totally traffic proof, also hot air balloon, military helicopter and steam engine proof! Held condition really well and totally sane headed, as long as you didnt feed him any sugars. His only if was not being able to stable alone, you could travel alone, ride alone and tie him up on the yard alone, but if you left him in a stable he went bananas. I think as with any horse, if they have had a good education they are easier to manage than those that havent. Ex racers do tend to have seen a lot of life so, although there are some that are so highly strung they really dont suit the average leisure rider, most are great fun and very rewarding. I now own a highland pony, I wanted to be a bit nearer to the ground as I get older, but I do miss my little racehorse.
 
I am also not a TB person, northing against them or their characters I just prefer a cobby type or something a bit more solidly built. Why not look at welsh cobs or welsh part breds? There tend to be a lot of them around for not bad prices especially at cob sales etc :)
 
I vowed never to have a TB again after an exracer I had on loan, but I took one on four years ago and he's the best horse I've ever had.

Don't judge a book by it's cover is what I say. Go look and try. You'll know if it's right or wrong
 
They may be cheap to buy but they are not cheap to keep!

I'm sorry but I'm not sure getting a breed of horse you don't like, and that you haven't coped well with in the past, just because it's cheap, is the best idea? :p I would be more tempted to save for longer and get a type you really like, or perhaps think about a loan? What sort of thing would you have, if budget wasn't a problem?
 
Thanks all, I'm quite tall so am not sure i could get a cob/welsh type.

I'm used to very large and solid warmbloods but I have known one nice TB, well she was lovely to ride just a bit of a grump in the stable! I've just spoken with a lady who has 2 TB mares which she wants a rider for so i might go and check them out.
 
I love a big solid warmblood but they don't come cheap :)

Maybe i've just had a few bad experiences which aren't necessarily because of the breed... the first one i came off badly was a lovely kind boy but his owner did nothing with him so when i tried to get him out and about he panicked easily and went off at warp speed, then launched me into the schools rails. The other one was just nasty in every way.
 
TBs are just like any other breed - they're not all the same!

I've currently got a 7/8 bred, and have ridden a fair few ex-racers previously, and wouldn't hesitate to have another IF they were the right horse.
 
Having had my cob for 15 yrs, I took on a tb for my daughter. I admit I was expecting high (er) maintenance but in fact, he turned out to be a closet native and lived the same exact way that my cob did. Out 24/7/365, barefoot, a token feed and ad lib hay diet, safe as house to ride and an absolute character and joy to own.
I think it's just how they are treated...
He came to me, as a bit of a sensitive soul having cribbed all his life, crabby and angry and generally expecting a typical tb life. He'd been over stabled, over fed all the wrong things and probably over worked. He thought you had to bolt at jumps and general be an arse but he soon settled and became a Dobbin.
 
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At the age of 50 I've just bought a 4yr old ex racer. Dark bay mare.

I didn't look at TB at all. I viewed 33 horses in total. I had a dwindling budget that started off at £3800 going down rapidly due to failed vettings and travelling.

I went to view an Elementary WB 12 yr old. Owner was an elderly gent, an instructor originally from Holland.
When I arrived he asked me what was most important, winning or a nice gentle person. I said define try has to be my best friend. He laughed and said in which case you want the other (cheaper horse)
Turned out he had bought her to be a surrogate mom purely because of her temperament . However his health was not good so was selling up and going back to holland.
I fell in love when he opened the stable door and was greeted by a polite over grown puppy shaped like a 16.1h TB
I've had Daisy 8 wks now. She is the sweetest, most dainty, gentle horse I e ever known. She is into everything. I can't leave anything lying around or she gets if. Tries to play with zips/toggles etc

She is very very green but so honest and ground manners are awesome. She has no vices, will stable alone, turn out alone.
She does need more hard feed as has a very limited appetite for hay or haylage
so far I've only been walking her round once a week, but have help due to my own bad health, from a young lady that rides her 1 or 2 times a week including hacking and so far she has been no worse than any other young horse
she is a little lazy sometimes and has the attention span of a gnat. Very nosey. But she doesn't do anything bad, the odd little spook but that's all

I love her to bits

My sister who is none horsey and usually quite reserved with new horses and sees her once a week has also fallen in love, she gets her out the field, grooms her changes rugs etc

I really look forward to seeing her every day, she makes me smile.

Oh she does hate gale force winds, the other week it was awful, and she was running around shouting. I called her and she galloped to the gate and stood there shaking. I must admit to being nervous about trying to bring her in, but she was just as polite and calm as she always is. Despite visibly shaking from fear. Once back inside she was fine even though she was the only horse in.

If I disappeared she would call out to me bless her
 
soulfull said:
At the age of 50 I've just bought a 4yr old ex racer. Dark bay mare.

I didn't look at TB at all. I viewed 33 horses in total. I had a dwindling budget that started off at £3800 going down rapidly due to failed vettings and travelling.

I went to view an Elementary WB 12 yr old. Owner was an elderly gent, an instructor originally from Holland.
When I arrived he asked me what was most important, winning or a nice gentle person. I said define try has to be my best friend. He laughed and said in which case you want the other (cheaper horse)
Turned out he had bought her to be a surrogate mom purely because of her temperament . However his health was not good so was selling up and going back to holland.
I fell in love when he opened the stable door and was greeted by a polite over grown puppy shaped like a 16.1h TB
I've had Daisy 8 wks now. She is the sweetest, most dainty, gentle horse I e ever known. She is into everything. I can't leave anything lying around or she gets if. Tries to play with zips/toggles etc

She is very very green but so honest and ground manners are awesome. She has no vices, will stable alone, turn out alone.
She does need more hard feed as has a very limited appetite for hay or haylage
so far I've only been walking her round once a week, but have help due to my own bad health, from a young lady that rides her 1 or 2 times a week including hacking and so far she has been no worse than any other young horse
she is a little lazy sometimes and has the attention span of a gnat. Very nosey. But she doesn't do anything bad, the odd little spook but that's all

I love her to bits

My sister who is none horsey and usually quite reserved with new horses and sees her once a week has also fallen in love, she gets her out the field, grooms her changes rugs etc

I really look forward to seeing her every day, she makes me smile.

Oh she does hate gale force winds, the other week it was awful, and she was running around shouting. I called her and she galloped to the gate and stood there shaking. I must admit to being nervous about trying to bring her in, but she was just as polite and calm as she always is. Despite visibly shaking from fear. Once back inside she was fine even though she was the only horse in.

If I disappeared she would call out to me bless her
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That's so lovely, maybe the right horse finds you if you're lucky, i'll hope for that too :)
 
Whilst I agree that they are definitely not all the same personally I'd not really want a TB again either.
Mine was ridiculously cheap to keep though, lived on fresh air and hay ;)
Last year thinking I only had a TB type budget to spend I found my daughter the absolute best little horse in the world ever.
He had been for sale and sold at 3.5k but failed a flexion test.
I bought him for £1300 and he's just awesome. They have competed at hunter trials, dressage done a ODE quite successfully and show jumped but along with that he's just a lovely person and easy to have around.
*touch wood* we've had him 18 months and the hock that failed the flexion has never been an issue in the slightest.
 
I too- although well used to TBs from my younger years when they werent called ex-racers, or 'failed racehorses'but 'nice blood horses' having had many years off riding and age 60+ saw an advert for a scrawney, sad looking 6yr old TB. I saw him, didnrt even see him ridden, bought him to get him out of the place. I was thinking " hopefully I can find him a home, if hes no good I'l have him PTS, at least he wont be miserable cold and mistreated" and handed over £180.
A year later I have the most super horse, ok hes had a wind op, has a small sarcoid and a slightly sticky patella, but none of these affect him, he hunts, jumps, does prelim dressage and is an absolute gentleman. Love him to bits.
 
smja said:
TBs are just like any other breed - they're not all the same!

I've currently got a 7/8 bred, and have ridden a fair few ex-racers previously, and wouldn't hesitate to have another IF they were the right horse.
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I absolutely agree with this, I've also got a 7/8 bred TB, he's an absolute gent in every way, he's on a forage only diet and keeps his weight easily. he is quite a sensitive ride but he's straightforward and you know what mood he's in the moment you get on. He's the most affectionate horse I've ever owned and I absolutely adore him although on occasions he can be a bit keen to get home but only jogs a bit or chucks his head about impatiently. I've owned 2 TBS in the past and they were both pretty straightforward too TBH the trickiest horse I've had was a WB. Just like there's no bad colour, there's no bad breed they are all individuals!
 
I love TB's ,
And adore mine ,ok he's a brat and his bills for dentals are eye watering but he's a lovely horse and so so beauiful .
 
Goldenstar said:
I love TB's ,
And adore mine ,ok he's a brat and his bills for dentals are eye watering but he's a lovely horse and so so beauiful .
Click to expand...

I agree with Goldenstar, they are so beautiful. My idea of what a horse should look like. Some are divas, some very workmanlike, all with bags of character. I think if you are prepared to put the work in, they will reward you. You have to remember they are elite athletes and not just cheap horses but sensitive, intelligent and loyal. Wouldn't swap mine for the world.
 
I have a TB, ex racer, and I absolutely adore him. Happily lives out 24/7 in a middle weight rug. Fed ad lib haylage and an occasional feed. He keeps weight on, looks well in condition, with a lovely attitude. He is 100% on the road, to load, compete and travel. He can be left without riding for weeks an is still a sane ride. He can fly like the wind over the moors and i can stop him and walk when I want. He is ridden in the mildest of bits and is a total gentleman.He warms up in competition on the bit and calm. His only problem is......... he has a sense of humour, opens gates, stable doors, turns on taps, loves the ball cock in the water tank, wallows like a hippo and creates muddy wallows all over his field. His feet are great, he requires no special suppliments and he has the mane and tail of an exmoor pony. The key with the TBs I have known is not being too precious. They need fibre, loads and loads of it, and hard food has to be carefully selected if used at all. I have kept mine stabled at night, and he is fine with that, but equally fine being out. I found he was far far far happier on masses of haylage and thats his key, in or out.
 
I adore TBs! My first horse was a TB chestnut mare. She had a beautiful disposition and took wonderful care of me. Every photo I have of us, whether dressage, SJ or XC, she has both ears pricked happily forwards, with one just slightly turned to listen to me. The one time I came off, she came immediately back to find me! She really was the sweetest, most intelligent horse I've ever known. She was always keen but never silly, always calm and never delicate or lame and a pleasure under saddles and to handle. I could sit and hug her while she laid sleeping and dozed off more than once doing so. I went on to work with TBs and one day, I will have one again. In a nutshell, I've nearly always found them to be the most gentle, intelligent, versatile and healthy breed ��
 
Im not a TB fan either, beautiful to look at but after having one years ago with endless vets bills for tiny scrapes, I certainly wasnt looking to buy another. BUT after losing my hunter type boy I found myself in the scary position of buying again and had a disaster buy of a beautiful ISH, he totally wrecked my confidence which I never imagined could have happened and we parted company 6 mths later. I tried quite a few horses, being launched by one, did the shattered confidence great lol and then a friend shared a photo of a beautiful sports horse, totally not my cup of tea and not sure what hes crossed with but Id say definately 7/8ths TB as he is basically a TB to look at. He was only 6, forward going but so so brave and we drove away from viewing him with me questioning why I didnt like him as he hadnt put a foot wrong. Well I bought him and we've had a couple of soundness issues in the early days but we are up and going now, my confidence has returned and he is fab!! He has a proper attitude, is so clever, is very affectionate and a total star. Would I have another TB, yes of course.
 
I absolutely love Thoroughbreds. As someone else has said they epitomise everything a horse should be in my mind, but I think they need a patient, sensitive rider who is prepared to think outside the box. All of mine have been intelligent and quick to learn, and that raw power you feel when you take them out on the stubble is unbeatable- there's always another gear which feels so effortless. I prefer big strapping NH types, but in all honesty any Thoroughbred will do. I'm currently on my 4th TB and he is an absolute delight. He is so gentle and loving, anyone could handle him but to ride he has real presence without being stupid. Don't get me wrong, he has his moments as all horses do, but I know him well and I can see them coming a mile off. I get the impression that he thinks he was born to be a riding horse and he loves having a job to do. Yes he has the odd buck and spook, but I think he would be genuinely devastated if he ever got me off. I've had him 4 years and he's only 8 now but he's a real gentleman. I couldn't ask for a more noble, elegant beast-he turns heads where ever he goes. He knows he's beautiful, but he's quite modest about it if that makes sense?! OK he eats me out of house and home, but would I have another one? In a heartbeat.
 
I am 5 months into retraining my tb and it's almost like he has been here before. Never done any lateral work when I got him, picked up leg yield, shoulder in and turn on the forehand in minutes!! He tries so hard. I know it will be a long road to get him going properly but he has such a lovely personality and is so loving I'm sure he will be worth the wait!
 
My wee TB mare is definitely a self harmer, but is 14yo now so touch wood its been much better recently. She had a full set of 100% clear xrays in the summer and vet said they were fabulous for her age.

She hacks out with a novice rider and is bombproof in traffic.

Even as a youngster, she was sensible and was the first horse I backed myself..

She is very kind in the stable.

Would I have another?

Sure I would.

Fiona
 
Not necessarily FfionWinnie, cobs can get sick too, cobs dont give nearly such a nice ride, and the small bit extra feeding might cost with a TB is more than made up for in the pleasure they give.
But whatever you get, make sure you start with a healthy, sound one. Dont get one thats had a poor start in life because you feel sorry for it, worm damage can be permanent and cause problems later. Make sure feet and legs are good- they take all the weight. Make sure it hasnt got a scabby mane or tail- sweetitch can be an awful nuisance.
Good Luck horse hunting, its my favourite form of shopping....
 
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