| The thoroughbred breed was actually created during | | | | color only. |
| the 17th and 18th centuries when mares from England | | | | The ideal body of a thoroughbred has a short back |
| were bred with Arabian stallions brought to the | | | | with withers high near the neck base. The neck and |
| country. Later, the thoroughbreds were shipped to | | | | legs are long and the body is slender. These horses |
| other countries including America, Australia, Japan, and | | | | have a short back and deep chest. The personality of |
| Europe. Now close to 120,000 new thoroughbred foals | | | | a thoroughbred should be spirited. |
| are registered around the world each year. | | | | For racing purposes, the date of age of the |
| In addition to being used as a racehorse, | | | | thoroughbred has been set by the calendar rather than |
| thoroughbreds are also a popular choice for dressage, | | | | the actual birth date. When racing in the Northern |
| foxhunting, polo, and jumping events. In some cases, | | | | Hemisphere, the thoroughbreds gain a year of age at |
| the thoroughbred is crossed with another breed in | | | | the first of each year in January. If in the Southern |
| order to create a horse with certain desired traits. | | | | Hemisphere, the horses age a year in August. |
| Due to the exertion that thoroughbreds give during | | | | Depending on the skill and popularity of the particular |
| their workouts and sports, they often experience | | | | horse, buying a thoroughbred may be quite costly. In |
| medical troubles and injuries. The breed is also more | | | | 2007, the average cost for a thoroughbred foal |
| likely to develop complications such as low fertility, lung | | | | weaned from the mare was over $40,000. A |
| bleeds, and small hearts compared to body size. | | | | one-year-old thoroughbred costs around $50,000 and |
| The thoroughbred breed, often called a purebred, can | | | | two-year-old thoroughbreds averaged a cost of over |
| be identified by several distinct characteristics. They | | | | $60,000. A thoroughbred mare averaged just over |
| are typically a taller horse ranging from a little over 15 | | | | $70,000. Racing thoroughbreds with a good race |
| hands high up to 17 hands in height. They are usually | | | | record can cost over $1,000,000. |
| seen in shades of brown, black, and gray. These | | | | Thoroughbreds are considered a very valuable breed |
| colors include bay and chestnut. In rare cases, the | | | | of horses in many sports. However, purchasing a |
| horse may be seen in palomino or roan. While white is | | | | thoroughbred is not something to take lightly. Only |
| considered acceptable on the face and legs, it is not | | | | those experienced with handling, raising, and caring for |
| recognized by breeders as being an appropriate | | | | the breed should own a horse of this type. |
| marking on the body. The body is reserved for one | | | | |