What do thoroughbred horses look like

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History and Origins. Breeding and Uses. Colors and Markings. Diet and Nutrition. Health and Behavior. Notable Horses. Thoroughbred Horse for You. How to Adopt or Buy. More Horse Breeds. Breed Overview Weight: 1, to 1, pounds Height: 15 hands 60 inches to 17 hands 68 inches Body Type: Deep chest; lean, athletic build; long neck; powerful hindquarters Best For: Owners and riders with some equine experience Life Expectancy: 25 to 35 years.

Featured Video. Related Topics. Horses Horse Ownership Basics. Read More. They are renowned as racehorses but also excel in many equine activities. Thoroughbred horses typically stand between 15 and 17 hands tall. They were developed for hunting, jumping , and racing. The breed origins trace to three foundation sires from which all modern Thoroughbreds descend. The history of the Thoroughbred horse breed and the evolution of its unique characteristics are well documented.

Each horse is named after its respective owners and came to England in the 17th century. The offspring of the three stallions and native English mares created the Thoroughbred horse breed.

The first foundation stud to grace the English shores was Bylerly Turk. He was ridden during the siege of Buda in Hungary in by a Turkish officer. Captain Byerly used his new stallion as his battle horse in various wars.

Captain Byerly, between battles, often raced his stallion, and in he won the top prize at Down Royal in Northern Ireland. The Byerly Turk began his stud career in England and stood until Byerley Turk mares were also much-desired horses.

Two of his daughters are considered Thoroughbred foundation mares. During Mr. He specifically wanted a horse with authentic Arabian bloodline from the Syrian desert because they were famous for their speed and stamina. A price was negotiated, and Mr. Darley bought the horse in either or for golden sovereigns. Darley never made it back to England; he died of poisoning during his return trip. The Darley Arabian stood at stud from to and produced some tremendous runners from Mr.

The Darley Arabian also sired some of the best studs globally, including Bulle Rocke, the first Thoroughbred stallion brought to the United States.

The legends of the Godolpin Barb include him pulling a water cart in the streets of Paris, being used as a teaser, and his fierceness as a battle steed. But none of these stories can be proven. He technically is a Barb but is often referenced as an Arabian.

Either because of his travels or sickness, the Godolpin Barb was sickly after he arrived in France. He was described as half-starved but beautifully made. The Duke of Lorraine obtained ownership of the Godolphin Barb and either sold or gave the horse to Mr.

Edward Coke. As the country developed so did Thoroughbred racing, spreading across the nation from coast to coast until today the volume of racing in America far outweighs that of any other country in the world. American bloodlines, too, have come to be respected in the four corners of the earth. What began as a pastime and sporting amusement for the wealthy has now become a worldwide multi-million dollar industry whose economic impact is widely felt at regional and national levels.

But this is relatively minor in comparison to the overall urban and rural economic contribution made by the wide and varied infrastructure of the racing and breeding industry as a whole. Responding to the aberration of mid's astronomic yearling prices which were fueled by European and Middle East racing interests, the annual North American Thoroughbred foal crop peaked at 51, in But adjustments were inevitable and the foal crop has decreased each year since that high point, with The Jockey Club currently projecting a registered foal crop of approximately 36, There are indications, however, that this necessary adjustment has more than served its purpose and that a rationalized and more stable breeding industry can once again look forward to controlled growth.

The average height of today's Thoroughbred is a little over 16 hands, as opposed to the hand average height of the horses from which the breed originated. But the key word is "average. The best guidelines for good conformation come from appreciation of what the body is required to do. Four slender legs must carry more than 1, pounds of body weight over extended distances, traveling at speeds of miles per hour, yet still have the strength and suppleness to respond to changes of pace or direction as dictated by racing conditions.

But, although mechanical and engineering formulae can be used to measure the most desirable dimensions and angles of the body's components, there is no way to measure the most important qualities of Thoroughbred -- its courage, determination and will.

If there is one place where these attributes are reflected, it is the shape and carriage of the head and the look of the eye. The head should be correctly proportioned to the rest of the body, displaying a good flat forehead and wide-set intelligent eyes.

Carried relatively low, the head should sit well on a neck which is somewhat longer and lighter than in other breeds. The withers should be high and well-defined, leading to an evenly curved back.

The shoulder should be deep, well-muscled and sloped along the same parallel as that on which the head is carried. From the point of the shoulder, the forearm should show adequate muscling which tapers towards a clean-looking knee which in turn tapers into the full width of the cannon. This in turn should be short and comparatively flat, with the tendons distinctly set out and clean.