The Thoroughbred Horse has a body built for racing. It has a very well-defined head with a lean body and deep chest. A short back, high withers, and long neck and legs are also characteristic of the breed. Thoroughbred horses can be seen in black, chestnut, gray, bay or brown. They are sometimes seen in palomino or roan although this is much less common than the other colors. White on the body is not common, but the lower legs or face may sometimes contain white markings.

The Thoroughbred is renowned for its speed, and is bred specifically for this purpose. Many breeders will have crossbreed the Thoroughbred in an effort to retain its strength, but introduce speed and lightness. They are very athletic, agile and fast which make them great race horses. Despite their sometimes racier personalities, they can be well suited for equestrian sports, particularly in the areas of dressage or jumping, where their boldness serves them well. They have long gaits, great speed and can jump very well.

Although the larger horses are used primarily for racing, the smaller ponies are often used in polo. Retired Thoroughbreds are also known to make great family riding horses because they are accustomed to working with people.

The origins of the Thoroughbred date back to the end of the seventeenth century when Arabian stallions were bred to English mares. All members of the current breed can be traced back to three Middle Eastern horses: the Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian. The breed and its racing is highly regimented. Since the 1800s, a Thoroughbred must be registered in the General Stud Book or it is prohibited from racing professionally. The current breed also can’t be registered as a Thoroughbred unless someone actually witnesses the mating of a stallion and a mare under natural conditions.

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