Thoroughbred to buy or not to buy?

Barry isn't a "typical" TB- he lived out all winter at the place he was at before I got him. He's got good feet ("for a TB" follows this sometimes), and he's a pretty good doer. He was a bit skinny when I got him, but I didn't have any problem getting the weight on... He's ex P2P.

He can occasionally wind himself up, but most of the time he's like a beach donkey.
 
I have a thouroughbred, average bordering good doer, average feet despite being white, easiest horse i've ever known on the ground. Sensible and friendly but can be a little sharp. Would have another in a heartbeat.
 
saddlesore said:
Had one many years ago, always lame, cost a fortune and I said I'd never get another. Fast forward ten years I got another one. Lovely boy but always lame, hard to feed and generally very expensive. He ended up with so much wrong with him that I made the decision to pts. 100% never again. Sorry :(
Click to expand...

Totally agree I had a horse exactly the same
 
Girlracer said:
I have a thouroughbred, average bordering good doer, average feet despite being white, easiest horse i've ever known on the ground. Sensible and friendly but can be a little sharp. Would have another in a heartbeat.
Click to expand...

Just to say that white feet are no different to any other colour feet... It just has no pigment and pigment is no indicator of hoof strength :)
 
Mum used to breed some lovely class TBs. They have stamina in spades and a turbo to boost. They'd tackle a hill when the WBs are phoning for a taxi. I think they tend to have the ability to lose it and go into panic mode more than other breeds but there are always exceptions. I have had some of my classiest rides on TBs. You feel like you've just sat in a Ferrari - unfortunately Ferrari's aren't cheap to run...
 
Hello, I don't have a TB myself I have a Welsh D. But my cousin has had her TB for years and years, she does have a problem with her windpipe, can't think what it's called now! I believe this is the reason why she wasn't able to make it as a race horse in her early years. But apart from that, she is a decent all rounder (and I must say a fantastic jumper!). I have never known her to be sick or sorry! I know she's pulled a few shoes off in her time but she's a beautiful horse, with bags of personality. It would be a shame to paint each individual of the breed with the same brush. But as other's have suggested it's good to do research into the breed, so you can at least be prepared. :)
 
Some TBs but some are amazing, never rule them out. They are cheap as people have a phobia about them. I was a die hard natives only and ended up buying a chuncky irish bred ex national hunt race horse. I actually was unaware he was full TB when I first saw him as he is a big boned TB. He is a complete star, my complete novice cousin (three lessons only before first ride) learnt to ride on him. You can take him anyway he hacks out, goes to competions does SJ and Dressage he is a true allrounder. Yes he has to be rugged up and fed more than the Cobs and ponies and kept in the stable at night at winter but a small price to pay. He cost me £550 4 years ago. I now have two more TBs and they are both working out well. I have a welsh cob who causes me far more problems than the TBs. They may not be for everyone and you need to know what you are doing as they are so intelligent but they are so giving and loving if you find the right one. Try a few out you may like them. One of mine is a bit high strung and windsucks and colics occasionally. All 3 are shod every 5 weeks and i wouldnt leave it longer than that. We haven't touch wood ever had a lame moment.
 
Definitely agree with everyone saying to judge the horse and not the breed.

I've had two thoroughbreds - one I couldn't manage for numerous reasons and vowed never to have another. This was until I got offered an 8 year old pointer. She had spent her whole life as a hurdler then a pointer and I got her straight out of training.

Within the month, I took her to Wales and West BS show - and my goodness, she was foot perfect. Showed up a lot of horses, even my friend's fancy showjumper!

She is now on loan, and I constantly get raving reports on how she is doing. Hacking with a 13 year old rider over Exmoor, improving in lessons and the most recent, having her mane pulled loose in the yard without even a flinch.

The downsides, she hates bad weather and will protest by giving a sorry looking face and standing at the gate and she does pick up cuts from nothing! However, she hasn't been lame.

Would I get a TB again? Well it depends on the horse.
 
I've worked with and ridden a lot of tbs, mostly national hunt bred. I find the stereotype fits the minority ime. Most are easy to keep weight on, easy to handle and easy to ride. If I didn't have my current cob I'd go for a tb or tb x, still not sure how I ended up with a cob anyway!
 
My boy is 20 soon and is an absolute gem. He's a delight to handle, better do-er than my pony, I spend most of the summer trying to keep weight off him. Has great feet. He's very kind - before he retired I used to let my 6 year old goddaughter ride him.

His downsides are if he doesn't want to do something he just won't. He was a horror to load, used to be awful with the farrier and won't let the dentist near him!

He also had that typical tb head which would go occasionally out riding. He never did anything horrid but would jump around and squeal when he got a bee in his bonnet and nothing would calm him down - I used to have to just sit tight and ignore him then suddenly he'd be fine again.

Health wise he has locking stifles which are really affecting him now, probably from being backed and ridden so early which is obviously a common issue for tb's who are racing training at 2.
 
Mine is wonderful. He's been the soundest horse I've had (not saying much tbh, and TOUCH WOOD) and although he definitely isn't a good do-er, we stay on top of his weight without too much trouble, and he's only fed once a day. I love tbs and would always go for another one :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top