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