English Thoroughbred

The English Thoroughbred is a composite breed that can trace its history back to just three stallions in the seventieth and eightieth centuries although over the decades many strong stallions have influenced the breed to produce champion race, dressage, show jumping and hunting horses.

The Thoroughbred is now bred on all the continents as a race horse.

The English General Stud Book classifies Thoroughbreds as horses that “must be able to prove satisfactorily some eight or nine crosses of pure blood, to trace back for at least a century, and to show such performance if its immediate family on the turf as to warrant the belief in the purity of its blood.”

This “pure blood” over the centuries has produced a horse that can both run faster and longer than any other. These qualities make it a consistent winner at the racing track.

In general the Thoroughbred characteristics are that its coat can be of any colour but are usually bay, dark bay, chestnut, black or gray. White markings are occasionally seen on the head and legs.

The head is refined, neck elegant and arched, withers pronounced and the shoulder very sloping. Its legs are strong, with tendons visible and obvious muscular quarters. The back is short with large ribs that are well sprung with a high croup. Their temperament is best described as brave, fearless and lively in nature.

Thoroughbreds are widely used as studs to improve other breeds.