Thoroughbred Horses - History and Uses

Thoroughbred Horses

Thoroughbred horses are well-known for horse racing. Their genetics allow them to be agile and fast, which is why they are considered as hot-blooded horses. Their roots date back to the 17^th and 18^th century. They are mainly used for racing, but are also bred for other disciplines like show jumping, dressage, polo and fox hunting.

Nowadays, they are very famous because a lot of people like to bet on them. A lot of events that are being held even have designated betting areas. In Ireland, there are tons of different betting options. Since the horse racing is most famous on their turf, the betting is really well organized. There is a special guide for Irish casinos [1] and its options, just so you will not be confused.

By the end of the 18th century, horse racing developed a lot in the UK soil. The different types of races led to changes in breeding practices. With the change in racing distances, breeders started to categorize them by age and condition. This selective breeding improved their qualities for different types of races.

An aspect of the modern British breeding establishment is that they breed not only for flat racing, but also for steeplechasing. Up until the end of the 19th century, Thoroughbreds were bred not only for racing but also as saddle horses. When the American breeds started being popular, UK authorities put the Jersey Act together, which prohibited registration of American – bred Thoroughbred horses in the British General Stud Book.

Although the Thoroughbred is primarily bred for racing [2], the breed is also used for show jumping and combined training because of its athleticism, and many retired and retrained race horses become fine family riding horses, dressage horses, and youth show horses. The larger horses are sought after for hunter/jumper and dressage competitions, whereas the smaller horses are in demand as polo ponies. Some of them are even called at the Olympics for some competitions.

They are also highly expensive horses, depending on their age, pedigree, and other market factors. Some of the most expensive Thoroughbred horses have been sold for more than $10 million. For example, The Green Monkey was sold for $19.9 million in 2006. The average price is different, and it varies from year to year. Last year, the average price was $65000. It is interesting to note that the price keeps growing every year.

But because of their style of living, Thoroughbred horses often have health issues. One tenth of all Thoroughbreds suffer orthopedic problems, including fractures. They also tend to have smaller hooves relative to their body mass than other breeds, leading to foot soreness. The inbreeding can be a problem as well. Some veterinarians think that the selective breed for speed cannot always cope with the horse’s anatomy. Some of the horses even receive excessive training during their young age, which leads to creating a muscle mass that is not correlative to the bone structure, leading to excess in stress and higher chances of a fracture.