Are claimed thoroughbreds always highstrung?

Question

I love thoroughbreds as well as mustangs. but thoroughbreds are a better choice for me. Where should i get one? a cliaming race? how about a rescue? I want it to be sweet, and since i am only a intermidate rider, i don't want it to have to much problems to work with.
Maybe some small jumping ability.

Answer 1

If you want a thouroughbred then you should get one, even if you are an intermediate rider, it doesn't really matter. Many people will say that they are highly strung and flighty horses, the honest truth is that they can be. When i say can be, i'm talking about the majority of the breed and this is where they get stereotyped as being flighty and unpredictable. However a minority of TB are far from flighty and unruley.

Iused to have four TB, two of which were absoulute nightmares, they were just so unpredictable that they made the ride unenjoyable, one was a dream horse but had joint problems at the age of 15 so had to be retired and the other i still have, because there was no other horse as perfect, not the one bit spooky or hard to handle even though she is 6yr, and i still own her! Know if you want an ex-racer they are the ones that want to run, but some just want to have fun and don't have a bad nature, but then others do. However once again not all racers are crazy, my friend bought a TB ex-racer, he was being retired from racing because he was too laid back, he simply wouldn't run as fast or sometimes even come out of the gate! But any Tb will do any jump as they are really atheletic and good sports horses.

Now i don't know much about mustangs, but i've heard they have similar temprements to a TB. But all i can say is no matter what people say about a horse and how many DONT BUY THIS HORSE or YOUR NOT experienced enough. Just ignore them because in every breed there will be a bad horse, but in every breed there is always a good horse! When going to buy your horse judge each horse you veiw on their individual personalities, don't worry about the breed stereotypes, just alsong as you can handle it! good luck!

Answer 2

I totally agree with CNS and either New Vocations or Canter would be ideal for you. Canter has the highest rate of adoptions which actually go through and the horse has not been returned due to undisclosed issues or for being too hot. They seem to be very good at pairing rider with available horses.
TB's don't have to be hot, they just need someone that knows how to ride them, work around their quirks and is prepared to put in the time and patience. One major factor people always forget too is when they come off the track, they are fighting fit. Turn them out, let them down and change the feed and this can change the whole picture.
I also have to second CNS because you are obviously aware of your capabilities and many people refuse to acknowledge that some horses are just too much for them - shows you are a responsible rider. Another thing, when going into a rescue situation, don't let people guilt you into taking something that isn't suitable. Those places are all no-kill and horses not adopted, just stay there. Shop around and take your time to find what you want and if you want to jump, get the legs x rayed before closing the deal because many horses will have closed injuries but there are those that came off perfectly sound, perhaps were just too slow.
Good luck!

Answer 3

If you want a sweet horse, don't get a thoroughbred!

I'm allowed to say this because I have an eventing tb (he's retired now). They're ... hard-headed, stubborn, spunky and I've won every informal race through the woods I've ever been in, but my horse (Toby) would never be called "sweet." (it's usually "grumpy old man," lol).

An off the track tb is almost guaranteed to have problems, also.

A good choice might be a percheron/thoroughbred cross - Perch's have a great personality. A thoroughbred isn't the best first horse, though it usually is a first horse because they're cheaper after they've lost a few races.

I've seen so many people get a thoroughbred for a first horse and be too scared to ride it, and it just turns them off horses forever.

Quarter horses are fast. Percherons are sweet. Andalusians have show-ring presence that will floor you but have an off-button when you're through. Warmbloods are jumpers. Thoroughbreds are good at everything but they need some real confidence sitting in the saddle, and someone at least as stubborn as they are and won't give in.

Answer 4

Some TB can be high strung, but there are a good lot out there that are absolute dreams. My TB is my absolute best friend and she's only 4 (well at least until January comes along.) She already knows everything, and she'll even deal with my beginning fiance taking her out for a bit. I'll give you that she has never been raced though. She is also an experienced fox hunter and eventer. Anyways back to the question. If I were you and dead set on looking for a TB I would check out private sellers online. You don't have to get an OTTB. Not all TB's are made to run in a circle. There are many sites online you can check out and your paper might have some in the classifieds.

Some of the sites I've used:
www.equine.com (this is where I found my horse)
www.horsetopia.com
www.equinenow.com
www.horseville.com
www.equinehits.com
www.dreamhorse.com

You can find more by googleing horses for sale.

The best thing about those sites is most of them have a skill search, so you can designate exactly what skill that horse has or is appropriate for

Answer 5

I didnt see this mentioned,if I missed it -sorry - But most horses that come off the track have NO undersaddle experience - let alone "small jumping ability".The walk & gallop.They dont understand leg aids, and the bit aids are also different from a school horse or otherwise broke animal.They might know left or right turning - but its not guarenteed.
They are incredibly kind intelligent and athletic animals.But they need a skilled rider to bring them along.
As an individual,you will not be able to walk into a paddock and simply claim a horse - you need liscences to be able to do so,and if you so much as tried to do that,you would be laughed at at the least,and possibly escorted off the property at the worst.
Rescues are an Ok place to start,but beware that they may be in a rescue for a reason -CANTER does an amazing job placing horses that are done with their racing carreers.Some trainers have the ability or foresight to start their undersaddle work - but its minimal at best - walk/trot/ left & right turns.But be aware that doesnt even begin to cover the training thats needed!
I love ottb's - I had one for 15 years that was amazing - and I started her off - she had an amazing mind & a good body -did everything with her - even mounted re enacting!
Why do those 2 breeds interest you so much?
Why do you NEED a thoroughbred right now,when there are hundreds of suitable animals out there that would suit your needs with out the baggage and training issues that come with either ottb's & rescues?

Answer 6

Here is the pave for you to get a good quality TB off the track that needs a good home!! www.canterusa.org The woman who started this organization is 2001 in the New England area knew what she was doing and wanted local TB "rescue" places (terrible terrible places) to be done away with. I'm sure there is a link for the CANTER org nearest you, or at least good advice!

I don't think anyone without an owner or trainer license can claim a TB. Not all TBs are high strung. Some race trainers even school them in the basics and start them older. One that is rescued or has been ridden under saddle (normal riding) for a bit has better potential. I thin CANTER has horses like this too. They will likely be project horses and you must try them before buying!

Answer 7

I REALLY wouldn't recommend adopting a TB to ride unless you are an advanced rider. You don't want to bite off more than you can chew... ESPECIALLY if you want a thoroughbred. A lot of thoroughbreds in rescues have leg issues, too. I also wouldn't recommend getting an ex-racehorse. My ex racer was pretty much INSANE. I couldn't get him to stop running, he always had to be in front of the other horses and would haul butt ahead of them when I was only looking for an easy canter, and he was terrified of horses along the trail and he panicked every time a man would get near him. He obviously wasn't treated well on the track. Thoroughbreds are high-spirited... they're bred that was to endure all of the early abuse (no offense to anyone) they deal with in the racing industry. Have you considered maybe a thoroughbred/QH cross? I had my mind set on a thoroughbred, too, for my first horse since I'm so tall. It ended up not being the horse for me. Good luck!

Answer 8

Don't buy a horse without trying it. 2-week home trial is best if the seller allows it.
Even for an experienced rider, a claiming race is not a good idea at all. You can't assess temperament or way of going. Rescue is not much better, no horse winds up in rescue if it is sellable - a rescue horse is guaranteed to have physical or mental problems.
Don't shop for a breed, shop for a horse with the build, mind, and training that you need.

Answer 9

I have a thoroughbred, he is 16"3 but he is a gentle, laid back giant, he jumps well, has beautiful paces and has good dressage potential, he was bred for racing but never made the grade, bless, they are hard to come by and yes, they do have a rather skittish reputation but find out enough and try before you buy in lots of different settings, i.e. jumping, hacking, schooling etc, you will find one that is just right, just as i did, good luck

Answer 10

A lot of people are going to say "no" OTT Thoroughbreds for intermediate riders, because they do tend to be hot.

So...I'd recommend this. Get a TB from a REPUTABLE (Caps, underline, bold, bold bold) rescue/rehabber where the horses are actually developed and evaluated before being offered for adoption.

New Vocations at http://www.horseadoption.com is such a place. These folks are absolutely the sterling ideal of rescue.

And how refreshing to see an intermediate rider who is wise enough to know their limitations...you get a cookie. (I don't know what's up with me and this "cookie" thing, it's something my daughter started and it's stuck.