I like Thoroughbreds, but I personally do find them to be a hotter breed than a lot of others, especially when they're off track. Doesn't mean they can't be retrained into an excellent horse in just about every disciple, but I've met more hot Thoroughbreds than calm ones.

One great thing about them is their versatility. They're excellent in so many different disciplines! I also personally like a horse with more "go" than "no", so personally, they're a good mount for me. I doubt I'd ever buy one (unless I found a gem like yours seems to be) but they really are an all around good horse.

 

Oh boy. Lol. Not a gem! We had one heck of a rough year this year. He kicked off the year with wonderful and dangerous temper tantrums, which he's never done before. But after we got all that straightened out, even though he's road safe and rarely spooks, that horse has no "whoa." He is like the energizer bunny and can be lunged for an hour and then rode for four hours and still be hyper after. I don't mind the energy, but sometimes it's a bit difficult to handle when you just want to have a nice, relaxed ride. He doesn't do that. Nor does he tie to the wall or trailer in anything other than a nice stock trailer. He's a total goof, but I love him. There are days when I think he's a gem, though.

 

I LOVE thoroughbreds! I think they are amazing horses, and they're just like huge puppies. A lot of them who are off the track are usually more aggressive or timid towards people because they weren't always handled correctly, or they've been abused. But once you start showing affection, they usually bond with one specific person. Horses are horses, they have personalities too, and I feel like you can't judge a horse by their breed, only by their training and how their story.

Also, I think thoroughbreds make beautiful event horses. A lot of the time if you can find one that really enjoys it, they can make it to the upper levels. Like clumsychelsea said, they are extremely versatile, so I feel like that's another reason to like them. Some people just have limited experience with certain breeds and that just go by what they hear, but it really helps if you experience it first hand.
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I've only known three crazy thoroughbreds. One belonged to the people who owned the barn my friend that I worked for leased. He was hot, but not overly-crazy. Another belonged to the people I free-leased my old gelding from. He was just bat-crap crazy. We'd put him on the hot walker and he would spin in small circles until he was all lathered up. Only myself and my friend were allowed to handle him. Then there's my best friend's gelding. Again, just bat-crap crazy. Love the old man to death, but he's crazy.

On the other hand, I've known several TBs who were amazing horses. One was a mare who let her owner's 3yo son lead her in from turnout and followed him like a puppy. Another was a horse I desperately wanted to buy, but he wasn't for sale when I was looking. A couple of years ago he came available, but I couldn't afford a second horse. Cried when I had to tell his owners no. He was just a sweet, amazing guy. Another was a horse we used at the Girl Scout horse camp. A little forward, but an absolute sweetheart. My old BO's son's horse was an old TB and he was just a sweet, steady old man. Then there was a TB on the BO's dude string who was everyone's favorite horse. He sadly died of a twisted gut (no one knew anything was wrong with him until he went down and didn't get back up...he died on the way to the vet's...nuecropsy revealed a severely twisted gut with several feet of dead intestine).

So, all in all, I think it depends more on the individual horse than it does the breed. I also think that if it's an OTTB, it seriously depends on how they're let down from the track and what they're fed. The three bat-crap crazy TBs I know were all OTTBs and were/are all on fairly high-energy feeds. They also weren't let down from the track properly (especially my best friend's gelding...he had a month off, then she started riding him and running him on barrels...he never learned what "stop" was).

 

I've only been up close and personal to one thoroughbred and there were a lot of negatives about him but he had one huge positive that made up for the negatives and then some. Keep in mind I am only speaking of one individual within the breed and am not lumping the whole breed in the same category.

He was an OTTB that had been donated to hubby (only boyfriend at the time) to use on the department's horse patrol (the officers used their own horses, the dept. didn't own any). When we joined forces not just with ourselves but our horses too his TB made me crazy.

He fell in love with my mare and had to be touching her at all times when they were in the pasture. Aggravated her too and she kicked the snot out of him more than once. Which leads to the other thing I hated about him...He was dumber than a box of rocks. He could never remember which feeder was his at meal times, couldn't learn to respect my mare's space, had no social skills (I figure that was more due to his upbringing), no personality and stood around with this blank look on his face all the time, and he could think of nothing but eating. Even his walk was bone jarring when under saddle. He'd cross to the other side of the trail so that he could trip over a rock. There was not a thing I liked about him.

Then one day hubby had a neighborhood meet & greet sort of thing to go to for work. I went along and got my eyes opened to how awesome that TB could be. He let endless kids sit on him without moving a muscle. There were sirens going off, people everywhere, a huge fake dog walking around (one of the officers in a McGruff costume lol) along with real dogs from the K-9 dept., balloons, smell of smoke from the grills that were going, just a general loud party atmosphere. That horse was a Saint on that day and I had a new respect for him but he still got on my nerves at home.

 

i rode two Thoroughbreds, and one thbd x warmblood cross.

all were good horses, but two were more reactive to things, and all had kind of weak hooves.

one of them, the first one, was OTT, and he was a superb trail horse. man, so fast, so sure footed, so much fun. his owner would take him to Arizona and go "fox" hunting across the sagebrush plains at full tilt. he was a great horse, but he was occasionally spooky and explosive.

 

all had kind of weak hooves..

I've noticed that too! All but one of the TBs I've dealt with had to be shod or they were lame on flat dirt. So frustrating.

 

90% of the horses i have been around are OTTBs, including my first lease, first horse, and current lease. I never had much to compare them to until i recently started riding my friends Quarter Horse. I thought the Thouroughbred attitude was just a horse thing because of my lack of experience with other breeds. Through comparisons though, a TB is still my top choice. Then again, I haven't worked with anything but the common breeds (Thouroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians, Paints, Appaloosas, and Mustangs)
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I have owned several TBs & TB crosses over the years and personally I find TB's no hotter than any of the Warmbloods I've worked with. I do find the average TB or Warmblood is more sensitive than the average QH or Draft, although, ultimately I believe it is all about the training and bond. If the horse feels comfortable knowing you are going to keep both of you safe then they will not feel the need to spook/bolt often. I think the environment and overall genuine happiness of the animal definitely plays a role too.

As for OTTB's, I don't think they naturally feel the need to bolt more than other horse's simply because they used to race. This is just from my personal experience and I have only worked with a few OTTBs before. I also rescued an OTTB, he was a sad situation and had been abused by 3 homes over his 12 year life span. He was starving and alone in a field when I found him. I knocked on the door and asked if I could have him and the lady was so pleased to be rid of him. She didn't know anything about horses and she was quite old. He had been abandoned on the property. Apparently he cribbed, bolted, and there was no way you could take him anywhere close to water. About 4 weeks later he was starting to gain weight, I could have my hubby get on and we would ride up & down the road, and I could walk him through puddles and spray him with a hose.

 

I've ridden 3 thoroughbreds in lessons. Two of which were ottbs.

First one was an ottb, around 24-26 years old if i remember correctly. He had enevr gotten to the track as he was too slow. He was probably the calmest horse ive ever been on, it could be thunder storming and he would act as though it was a bright sunny day. He wasn't a very good mover, and had a few leg issues, but otherwise, a very sweet horse. All the beginners loved him. Unless someone told you he was an ottb, you would have never guessed. A 28 year old arab was wilder than him.

The second wasnt an ottb, i think he did eventing at some point. He was very fat, and was a terrible mover (not leg issues, just not very nice paces) but he was very sweet. He acted up more than the ottb, but he was generally very safe. I loved riding him, though he was tough, he was great to learn to trot on. He gave me my first jump

The third i rode recently, i actually ride him now. Hes a 10-20 year old ottb, no idea of his age but I'm estimating. Hes great to ride, very responsive, great mover, wonderful horse. Out of the three thoroughbreds ive ridden he acts the most racehorsey. While tacking up and ridding hes fine, but when i walk him through the stables, he will flip out. He wont always, but often enough that you have to be weary. He will spook a bit, but not badly, he will just stop and maybe jump around a little.

Overall i like riding thorughbreds. Have never had one that acts really racehorsey, but i. Sure ill encounter one at one stage.

 

Tb's are looked down upon where I live. People look at me like I'm crazy anywhere I take him. They all have their bulky saddles and qh's, so when I come up riding a huge tb in an English saddle I get some weird looks. I really don't care though because I love him and tb's in general. I get along with them way better than any qh I've ever been around.

 

I have a TB and he's great. A little antsy at times, but not to the point where its dangerous.

 

I am having quite the interesting time owning my first OTTB, I must say. I have owned a lot of horses, but since I was doing ranch work with them, most were stock horses. I've had a handful of Arabians, too, but no Thoroughbreds. He is wonderful for the most part in the ring and over fences, but I think I would have killed him by now if I needed to do ranch work with him or cover a lot of miles out in the open. He gets very hot out of the arena and spooks and bolts at everything. He's probably the worst trail horse I have EVER ridden. It's lucky for him that I'm planning on mostly doing dressage. I can completely see why the trail rider I got him from didn't want him. The poor guy just gets so nervous once he's a certain distance from the barn and he just loses his little mind.

The other TBs I have ridden, either that belonged to friends or the university program, were also all pretty hot. They certainly do not ride at all like stock horses. I'm not saying that I would never have another one. The TBs I've ridden try their hearts out at whatever you want them to do. My TB is much better at both dressage and jumping than my old QH mare was, and my trainer and I both agree that the spookiness in the open will probably mostly train out, it just won't happen overnight.

I like TBs a lot for the English disciplines, but I think unless I came across one that was really special, if I were going to ride western again, I'd go back to stock horses.I think understanding what the strengths of these horses are is important. I know some people use them as western horses, and some of them aren't hot and reactive, but on the whole you are much more likely to get a hot and reactive TB than a stock horse, and a hot horse is just an enormous pain for all around ranch work and trail riding.

 

my first expierence with and OTTB is the one that is being boarded at my place by a friend. She is an absolutely wonderful horse really nice movements and a great trail horse but you can tell she was raced she has speed that none of my horses can even touch while very controllable she is just unbelieveably fast. often when we go out on a trail ride there are a couple of fields we like to race through and if she isnt in front the OTTB kicks up into a speed that you didnt even know she had and gets in front as fast as she can and she puts her whole heart into everything she does. though the bad things are she can be a bit witchy saddling and her feet are absolutely terrible I say all the time I wish she had my mustangs hooves

 

TB's are probably my least favorite breeds of horses. I have worked with many OTTB and not. I find them to be very fractious and light boned. I know there is a lot of great TB's out there. However, how they look, how they ride, how they feel, how they think about things, just isn't my cup of tea.

 

I personally LOVE thoroughbreds I have an OTTB and she has her hot moments (she is a mare) but she puts her heart in everything she does she gives you her all. She's an awesome girl and wouldn't trade her for the world.
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I love them and I think they are beautiful horses. My OTTB does spook a little more than the Appy & QH, but it's because no one took the time to expose her to different things. She has made great progress with us, good trail horse, great with kids and beginners. She has good bone, an easy keeper, decent feet and is not hot at all. A few people told us we were crazy for buying a TB and an Appy. No regrets here!

 

I really like thoroughbreds as a breed, and I find that OTTB's are usually very well-rounded horses with a good foundation on them already. They're already used to being handled and they have been exposed to so much on the track. I have never met an OTTB that would not stand politely for the vet, farrier, bathing, clipping etc. And because of their time on the track, they tend to take to chaotic show scenes well. I have known some to be a bit sensitive and flighty about some things, but it's possible to train a lot of that out.

I do agree about the hoof thing though. I have known a lot of thoroughbreds with some terrible, weak hoof walls, and chronic lameness problems. Some are super strong and sound, and others are just not, so you have to be careful with what you buy and make sure they're going to hold up in your discipline. However, this is true of many breeds.

I also prefer a horse with a bit more substance. This is why prefer a TB/draft cross (particularly 3/4 TB and 1/4 draft). There are some nice, big, almost warmblood-type pure thoroughbreds out there too. I would have to hunt for one of those if I were shopping for one.

My grandfather's oldest OTTB is a nice, big girl. I would claim her in a heartbeat if it weren't for the cyst in her throat that makes it hard for her to breathe during exercise.

 

I've noticed that the 'crazy' throughbreds are the ones who don't get enough turnout. For instance, there's a lady at my barn who has two. Both were on inside board and were hot, spooky, excitable and honestly just terrible all around on the ground and saddle. At the request of me (a groom) and my boss she switched them to all outside board and now they're as placid as anything else. Don't have anything against the breed but I always make sure the ones in my care get enough turnout (which in my case amounts to 24/7) :lol:

^obviously this isn't true for ALL of them but just something I've found is a pretty big factor.

 

This is true of a lot of breeds though. We have 8 horses in our barn, 2 TB's, 3 Appaloosas, 2 Gypsy Vanners, and 1 Shire/TB cross. All of our horses go a little stir crazy if they have to be inside for a day or two due to the weather, even the gypsies and apps. The only one that I have never seen get excitable without turnout is the Shire cross. She couldn't care less where she's housed, as long as she has food. lol.

 

I love my thoroughbred and all of the other thoroughbreds I have leased, owned, or ridden. All have varying degrees of "hotness" but they are all smart. My boy, Crown, is OTTB and raced for 3 years. He is the calmest horse I have ever met. He lets beginner friends and family ride him, rides on the road, can be tied for hours, etc. I think that TBs could have a little more longevity bred into them, but I love them all the same. They can kick some serious butt. I've ridden more TBs on the AA circuit (even hunters) than I have warmbloods. TBs used to be the really common and popular horse of choice in hunters and jumpers actually.

 

Love them. I've been around a lot. Some are more high strung, some are more calm. Depends on the horse.

My TB is both lol. Some days he is super calm and other days he spooks at every little thing.

 

Here's my TB doing his polo thing. Just at a practice (hence the jeans, etc.)

Here he is after being ridden three of four days on a bull gather. I can use him to doctor cattle. Friday he was ridden in a bosal. Today in a curb. His former owner used a spade for western. The wife played polo on him.

 

A thought hit me too late for an edit.

In the northern plains and Rockies, TBs are preferred over QHs for ranch work because they have better endurance for miles and miles. Off track, home bred, show rejects, we don't care. They are good at travelling.

 

:lol::lol: I grew up riding TB's most of which were from the track, what do I think...well the ones that are spooky, spook well, those who are quiet are dead quiet. LOL, much like any breed you can find the whole range of types within the TB type.

 

I have an OTTB. I got her 2 months fresh off the track. She is the first horse I ever truly owned, and the last horse I ever thought I would own. I love her to death, and although we had a rocky start, we have finally gotten in tune with each other.

Other TBs I met were really tall (like 16 - 17 hands) or were just plain spooky, so I had it set in my head that I wouldn't ever own one. And I have met my fair share after working at a stable a while ago.

I had never been on anything taller than say 15 hands, and Summer is 16.2. I enjoy the height and the feeling I get of being really, really short after I dismount from one of our longer rides.

I never thought I wanted a TB because of their flightiness or their forwardness. Summer isn't flighty, but she has her moments of spook, which have calmed down to a small startle. She is forward, which I realized I preferred rather than something that has no go. She can be hot... Oh yes... When given straight sweet feed... But on regular grain, she is anything but hot.

She is basically everything I ever wanted in a horse. Except for the withers when I ride her bareback. I don't really care for those... lol - a bareback pad will fix that issue ^^... If only I can find one in purple.

 

a bareback pad will fix that issue ^^... If only I can find one in purple.

https://www.horseloverz.com/product...product/technically-advanced/884688-best-friend-english-style-bareback-pad.html

Ask and ye shall receive! Comes in purple.

 

The OTTB's that I've known have all been incredibly desensitized straight from the track. Not necessarily to being brushed, tacked up or petted all over, but as far as taking them out on trails or driving cars and tractors around them, the ones I've known didn't bat an eye.

 

Boots--He looks like he's really enjoying his job <3

Overall, I really like TBs. But I don't often meet a horse I don't get along with xD