Agility and speed are the two characteristics that make the English Thoroughbred Horse unique , making it known and recognizable especially when it competes and gives its all to excel. This is a breed originating from Great Britain but that we can also find in Italy and other countries of the world, and it is a breed that has been selected with care and attention so that it could be successful in all the gallop race competitions in the racecourses.
English Thoroughbred Horse: Origins
The geographical origins of this English thoroughbred are quite clear but let’s get to know the historical ones, more intricate and which explain its characteristics better. The official date of birth of the modern version of this breed is 1793 because it is reported in the Stud Book , the book of origins or genealogical book of racehorses. In this precious document we find that the breed originated from 50 indigenous mares, the Royal Mares , and from three oriental stallions : Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Barb, from which all modern racing Thoroughbreds descend in the male line. In truth it is also necessary to add a fourth stallion who has genetically contributed to the formation of what the English thoroughbred is today, his name is Curwen’s Bay Barb.
This is what is officially told, what we read in documents and registers, but in truth the selection carried out to obtain this breed began much, much earlier, in Roman times, when this powerful people arrived to conquer Britain, automatically bringing their horses up there too. In particular, the Berber horse that was used in races in the Circus Maximus, so it already had in its blood the speed and agility that we also find in our English Thoroughbred.
From that time onwards, many oriental horses arrived in England, especially during the period of the Crusades or through the trade that existed with Italy , a land where many races and Palios were held in the Middle Ages, and which therefore had several breeds of horses, all very lively.
Among the fastest mares we can remember for example the Royal Mares of various origins (Berber, Turkish, Syrian, Arabian and crosses between these breeds) that had been selected for their sprint over the 400 m, but there were also others, always of similar origin, that lead us to say that the English Thoroughbred has clear oriental origins, even if the careful final selection was carried out in Great Britain.
English Thoroughbred Horse: Characteristics
The body of a horse of this type is clearly a body suitable for running. They are animals defined in English as “thoroughbred” and are “created” specifically to successfully participate in gallop races, therefore studied almost at the table to be very powerful and fast. By carrying out the selection with these priorities, horses with morphological characteristics that are not too homogeneous have been obtained and which have been grouped into three precise subcategories.
There is the “stayer” which is the tallest and most slender horse, often used for races between 2100 and 3000 meters and beyond, then there is the “sprinter” which is a small and compact horse, used for races between 1000 and 1500 meters, and finally the “intermediate” which is characterized by a sloping croup, a sloping shoulder and a rather short back. The latter is the best in races between 1500 and 2000 meters.
Let’s now see some characteristics that these horses have in common even if their dimensions can vary a lot, just think that the height at the withers goes from 147 to 173 cm, with an average of around 162 cm and their weight consequently goes from 350 to 500 kg.
They are dolicomorphic animals with a head well proportioned to the body, with small ears; large and sweet eyes, supported by a long and straight but muscular neck. The withers are prominent and the dorsal-lumbar line is rather elongated while the shape of the rump can vary greatly: depending on the subcategory it belongs to, it can be more or less oblique. The chest is rather broad and deep while the tail is set high. Let’s move on to the limbs which are extremely important for a racehorse. Those of the English Thoroughbred are long with a short and very muscular arm and equipped with wide and dry joints as well as the tendons which are evident. The leg is also long and muscular but with thin shins and small, well-made and robust feet.
As for skin and coat, the first is really very thin so much so that it lets the superficial veins show through while the coat is very thick bay, dark bay, chestnut, only occasionally you find some black, gray and roan specimens but rarely. The horses can also have white markings, they are accepted anyway.
English Thoroughbred Horse: Character
The athletic and fast physique of this horse is accompanied by a slightly nervous character , so we certainly do not have before us an animal suitable for beginners. His only other qualities, he excels in galloping but also in horse riding, and he knows how to prove himself courageous, reliable and affectionate towards the owner when a good feeling is created and they form a winning team.
English Thoroughbred Horse: Breeding
Even in Italy we find English Thoroughbred breeding and we owe it to one person who allowed the breed to remain here in Italy: Federico Tesio . We owe it to this Italian breeder and politician, almost all the modern English Thoroughbreds that therefore descend from the horses bred at Villa Tesio, near Dormello, on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Tesio is in fact called the ” wizard of Dormello ” and in his life he dedicated himself with passion to the study of the breed together with his wife Lydia Fiori between the beginning and the middle of the twentieth century. He created real champions who raced for the Dormello Olgiata stable including Apelle, Ortello, Donatello II, Nearco and the Italian pride Ribot, nicknamed the horse of the century.