I'm losing my faith in TBs!?

Question

We get lots of donated horses at the stable that I work in (and some of them are very well behaved!), but we have had several donated thoroughbreds that are the most moronic equines I've ever met in my life. I will admit that they are not particularly well trained, and I don't know much about their stories or breeding backgrounds, but I have watched them jump forty feet in the air if they see a mouse, or suddenly bolt (for no apparent reason) with one of the horsemanship students franticly trying to stop. I have watched them break countless leadropes and halters at the drop of a hat. Personally, I don't even think that they are very attractive :P (pleeeeease don't bash me TB lovers! I love all horses, and I know that I haven't seen a very good selection of TBs in my little horse bubble) I am also fairly short lol. I am about 5'3" and our tallest TB is 18 hands! It's hilarious to watch me mount from the ground :D

What do you think? If you are a TB fan, could you give me a few little tips or helpful comments to see into the minds of TBs?

Answer 1

You know, I've always said that people only say that animals are stupid, because they themselves are the ones lacking in brain cells.



It is a very high strung breed, and they are very hot blooded. It also sounds like these are not trained very well.



Misbehaving =/= Stupid

Spooky=/= Stupid





Instead of telling yourself that they're stupid, go with the mind set that they just need more work, and proper training because if you think that they're stupid, and that they're going to freak at everything, and all the other crap that you seem to have decided about them, they will only ever be what you think.



You need to go with the attitude that they're going to improve, and everything is going to go well. Don't be oblivious, you always need to be alert when handling horses, but don't expect it to happen, because then it will.





I also suggest you go over what they're eating, and make sure that it isn't anything hot. Hard to do, because hot foods make it easier to keep weight on, and TBs are notorious hard keepers, but anything hot will just cause problems.





I love Thoroughbreds, and I live in Kentucky where I get to see them every day. I plan on buying a Thoroughbred some day, because they're a fabulous, versatile breed that can do many things if you let them.

Answer 2

I think you have just seen a bad batch which has spoilt your perception of the breed. Maybe one day you'll meet an amazing TB that will change your mind.



TBs are considered hot-blooded horses which often make them more skittish and nervous and spooky. I've seen TBs do nothing at a huge dog charging at them yet spook at a plastic bag lying on the ground. (and it didn't even move!)



As most TBs are trained in racing, no one really puts the time and effort in to training them correctly, as long they can gallop down the home stretch thats all anyone cares about. Also, a lot of the time, theses horses aren't handled correctly and grooms, who are often inexperienced, treat them very roughly and just throw tack on them. Some TBs are better behaved straight off the track, which are a rare few, while others still have not been trained correctly and still act like 'idiots'.



The best thing to do, is be aware of what a horse is likely to spook at but don't predict the spooking, AKA say, ya, you'll spook at the mouse, but I'm not gonna let you. Some horses need to relearn basic groundwork, how to lead etc. When it comes to leading difficult horses I use a halter with two lead reins, one attached to a stallion bit which is attached to the halter with bit attachments and one attached to the underside of the halter ring. I use the halter rope most of the time except when needing a bit more control, I give a small tug on the bit attachment and switch back to the halter. I also make sure I am infront of the horse at all times, so if need be I can use my shoulder to stop the horse. If a horse tries to run off, use a quick release clip rope and hold it on the clip, if the horse balks and tries to run, undo the clip to prevent breaking the rope and injury to the horse.



Oh and use a mounting block. lol.

Answer 3

Aha, here comes a TB fan (:



Well, reading some of this, makes me want to think some of them might be some OTTB's which especially if not trained right can be pretty stupid. But with some love and LOTS of work they can become absolute dolls! And granted, there are some TB's with not the prettiest looking builds, but there are some that are absolutely gorgeous. I think they are pretty, anyways.



Regarding seeing into their little worlds. Well, if you think about it ( I'm just going to assume they are OTTB's because I'm not super sure what to go on :P) they have been forced to run in a big oval since the beginnings of their life, and haven't exactly been taught any other way. They most likely haven't been taught the best ground manners in the world, and haven't exactly been really spook trained. Therefore, as an old horse quote goes, "Horses are scared of two things. Things that move; and things that don't." will really come into play.



The best suggestion I can give to you, is to give them more time and keep on working with them. Hopefully come around (:



Good luck!

Answer 4

They are only this way because of lack of training and, if people are not prepared to train them in the way they want them to go then, yes they will be as you said above.



I have jump racehorses and have had many horse, prior to them going racing and afterward, and, given the time to relearn the basics and understand what is wanted of them - and knowing how to ride them both for preparation for racing and retraining them afterwards, makes a big difference to their reactions to general life.



There is nothing bolder than a TB if it is trained correctly. I can ride one and pony another from any of mine. They do not spook or spin around. They all tie up correctly and, certainly do not spook at a silly thing such as a mouse!

When I was bringing in five unbroken youngsters a few summers ago, a hot air balloon came less than 50 feet directly over us with the flame blasting, Not one of them did more than look up. I was attacked when I was exercising (riding one and leading the other) by a plastic car cover blowing down the road at my head height and they both just stood still when I told them - fortunately the straps caught in the hedge so it never actually hit us but was billowing across the lane but both walked over it with no hesitation when I asked them.



As for mounting from the ground on a tall horse this is something that should not be done. You have to haul yourself up and this can twist the tree of the saddle and be detrimental to the horses back - especially the withers.

Answer 5

It has nothing to do with the breed. The problem is due to the humans who owned and abused and did nothing to train them during their lifetimes. They are reacting with extreme fear. If you think it is bad from your point of view, just magnify that by a million and that is how THEY feel. These horses have serious needs and there are very few people equipped and knowledgeable enough to help them. Sad for them, right? No one should be riding these fearful horses before they get an adequate foundation and basics. To do so will just be more harmful for them. I have worked with many of these horses and they are very challenging, but the most wonderful horses on the planet with more heart and more try than any breed I've ever worked with.

Answer 6

Most OTTB's aren't taught very good ground manners, so that could be part of it. But really, most of them aren't very spooky. They've been to massive racetracks with crazy amounts of commotion. My OTTB is the least spooky horse I've ever met. She had a huge tarp blow into her paddock and come right at her and she didn't move. She bent her head down to sniff a dog and didn't mind when the dog licked her nose. Its not like shes dead, shes very energetic. Just not spooky

As for them being ugly...well, I disagree. But I guess some people don't go for the lean, lanky kind of horse. And sometimes they're pretty beaten up from racing. There are pretty TBs out there. Obviously I think my horse is pretty, but I might be biased. http://s635.photobucket.com/albums/uu79/photographyclass_2009/?action=view¤t=IMG_2345.jpg#!oZZ226QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs635.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu79%2Fphotographyclass_2009%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DIMG_2357.jpg%26

Answer 7

TBs are *stupid* as you so eloquently and informatively put it because many of them are handled by incompetent idiots that do not properly detox them from the track or have one single clue how to start building upon their race training.



Sorry, I don't think your question is cute. To me it sounded uneducated, ignorant and based on stupidity. And I'm not even a TB person, my breed of choice is the Tennessee Walker (which I'm sure you have something snide to say about them too). But most of all I am a horse lover and can't stand when people spread ignorance about any breed, especially one so commonly mishandled and misunderstood as the Thoroughbred.



The only thing helpful I can say to you is to stay the hell away from them. You obviously do not have the skills, intelligence or knowledge to properly handle them. Perhaps you should stick with a dead broke old schoolmaster. Ah, but maybe not. You would be surprised at how many of them are stupid TBs. Do all the TBs a favor and keep your biased, ingorant self off their backs. You don't deserve what a TB has to offer if that is your attitude.

Answer 8

Bet most of them are off the track or from racing stables! A lot of them don't get the hands on and exposures that show or riding horses receive so they over react to stimuli. And it is hard for someone your size to handle 1200 pounds of excited muscle. Get them on a low energy feed and give them lots of slow non threatening exposure to things.And LOTS of turn out and exercise time

Their minds are like any other horse. Once you get them focused and used to a routine, they become very willing partners. Start them from ground zero and be patient.

Answer 9

Thoroughbreds are hot-blooded horses like Arabians and are thus prone to that type of behavior. This is why people value horses that are "warm" blooded which mixes the "go" of a hot blooded horse with a cooler temperament.

Not every TB is a as uppity as some, it really depends on the horse. They have a lot of heart, though, and many people including myself love their attitude no matter how difficult it is to deal with at times lol :) I think one of the best ways to respect them is to watch them in disciplines where they really shine such as eventing.

Answer 10

well, i'd have to say you're one of the most moronic people i've come across in the horse section in a while. and we've been flooded with trolls lately, so that doesn't say much about you.





How absolutely immature and ignorant of you. Thoroughbreds are ridiculously smart horses, and obviously yours have not been trained or handled properly. If trained properly, they're brilliant horses. This question is infuriating. It's disappointing that just because your TB's haven't been properly desensitized, you assume they're all "moronic". They're beautiful, intelligent horses, and i wish you would stop being so close minded.

Answer 11

I was never really a fan of TB's either, until I rode mine for the first time. TB's are high strung most of the time, spook at silly things aren are potentially crazy. However, not their fault. Their breeding intentionally brings out these qualities as they are bred to race. RUN RUN RUN.



The good things about them, is they have a heart of gold. They are one person horses and they would die for that person (or maybe kill them, but that's just me :)) I love my horse and would never give him up, even with all his little blips.

Answer 12

TBs are known for their racing... they do that sometimes. I have a TB named Belle, and she used to be PSYCHO. We've been through numerous halters and even a lead rope, but she's calmed down enough to be a statewide champion hunter. You just have to be patient and work with them...

Answer 13

I think most horse people just aren't give the opportunity to educate themselves in how to manage 'hot' horses (mostly because of a shortage of people willing to not only train those type of horses, but also willing to teach people how to handle them in a patient way). I have a TB mare I bred, raised, and trained. For two years (from yearling to 3 yrs) she was a nut, all spooky and jumpy. They are like the Border Collies of the horse world (if you ever had a BC you know they are incredibly smart and high energy but will do anything to please you if they aren't left to be bored.) They are smart, reactive (a condition of being a HORSE, a prey animal), and full of energy because for the last 200 years they have been bred to be very fast and fit over 1- 2 miles. My TB mare? She is now calm as can be, rarely spooks and has gotten us out of some tight spots on the trail. She's very handy and very fit (I work her to ride 50 mile endurance rides) and extremely well trained. I have another TB gelding, an OTTB and he was a nut when I got him. After 2 years of patience and him learning I would not react to his behavior and what I wanted him to do was FUN, he relaxed. He made an awesome stadium jumper for years and I had to retire him due to old racing injuries. But my point is they have big hearts and are bred to be true athletes (not counting the backyard bred ones, that's just sad) and if you picture a marathon runner when dealing with them you will discover they just need a person who is calm, doesn't put them in situations where they are likely to panic, and over time they can be as wonderfully dispositoned as a QH. But rarely do people know to or want to take the time for this. Therefore all the 'crazy TB' stereotypes. I have dealt with many breeds and the TB is one of my favorites for their huge heart, bravery, and athleticism. But then, I grew up with them so maybe handling them is more natural to me. I did spend some time on an Trakhener farm as a teenager and found those horses to be very strange. Also keep in mind, you said the TBs you get are donated... it is most likely they are the ones no one wanted to deal with so you just get the worst cases. Height is irrelevant to this topic you might as well be talking about drafts. If you want a short TB, they can be as short as 14.2h.



Advice: Don't ever tie them to anything until they have had time to calm down and be relaxed in their surroundings (and then introduce them to it slowly with a tie ring, hand pressure, and/or slip knot; they are aware of their strength), take your time teaching them things, they have to trust the person they are working with. Be gentle. While TBs tend to overreact it is mostly either from fear learned in the past or from being very sensitive. They are ticklish and sensitive and need calmness and kindness and do not react negatively to their outbursts... like a small child they will want the negative attention. Ignore bad behavior (unless dangerous like rearing or biting) and lavishly reward good behavior and make sure to set them up for success. So the right thing is the only choice they seem to have. You will see any TB can be re-trained to be behaved and eager.

Answer 14

sure , you're effective in God's sight . And He loves you precisely interior the comparable way He loves Jesus . you're too close to to devil and the underworld . the only element that could enable you is which you're making the truthful covenant with the father which you will constantly obey all of Jesus' sayings ( Greek text cloth ) no count what condition seem to dam your covenant . staying power , many times . you could desire to come to the only actual Church of Jesus Christ , it quite is in Independence , Mo.

Answer 15

I had one once and I thought she was well...dumb too. Just not so smart. Sweet as pie. Beautiful. Not a hot horse like everyone is saying, but dumb as a rock on the trail. Sorry. I wouldl never own one again. Troll or no troll that is my opinion. I'm sure they are smart in other areas.

Answer 16

I have an ott thoroughbred and hes the sweetest thing in the world. hes very placid,nothing at all scares him, i guess i just got lucky :)

Answer 17

I had a tb, he was nuts, but soo adorable and taught me lots! use a chain to lead them it helps alot!