Origin
England
History
The Thoroughbred evolved in 17th- and 18th-century England to satisfy the enthusiasm of the gentry and their kings for horse racing. The world "Thoroughbred" appeared in 1821, in Volume II of the General Stud Book, which contains genealogical records for British and Irish Thoroughbreds.
It is customary to trace origin of the Thoroughbred to the importation into Britain of the three famous foundation sires: the Darley Arabian, Byerley Turk, and Godolphin Barb. This view is generally accurate, but takes no account of the existence in England of a long-established base stock of "running horses"largely held at the royal studs. That stock, crossed with imported sires of eastern origin, was able to produce a race of horses superior in speed and power to any other.
Henry VIII founded the Royal Paddocks at Hampton Court with horses from Spain and Italy, which were influenced by the Barb. These horses were crossed with the native running stock. Principal native influences were the swift Galloways of northern England, the ancestors of the Fell Pony, and the Irish Hobby, forerunner of the Connemara.
Later monarchs maintained a strong interest in the running-horse studs, and a new impetus was given to racing and breeding with the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.
The breeders who created the Thoroughbred used eastern horses because their prepotency enabled them to breed consistently true to type. It has been established that 81 percent of Thoroughbred genes derive from 31 original ancestors, of whom the most important are the three founding stallions from whom all modern Thoroughbreds descend in the male line.
The Darley Arabian, foaled about 1700 was brought to England directly from the Syrian horse market at Aleppo in 1704 and was certified to be of the best Maneghi blood, a strain used for racing. However, Maneghi blood is known to have always carried many Turkmenian crosses. When mated with the mare Betty Leedes, he produced the first great racehorse, Flying Childers. His full brother, Bartlettīs Childers, sired Squirt who sired Marske who, in turn, produced Eclipse, who was unbeaten on the turf. Eclipse founded the second bloodline, and some of the most influential lines of the 20th century descend from him.
The Byerley Turk founded the first of the four principal bloodlines. This line starts with Herod (foaled in 1758), who was the son of Jigg by the Byerley, and traces to horses such as Tourbillon and The Tetrach.
It is generally agreed that the Godolphin Barb, often referred to as Godolphin Arabian, was in fact a Barb horse from Morocco. Brought into the stud of Lord Godolphin about 1730, he was first used only as a teaser. His real worth was not realized until, mated to the mare Roxana, he produced Cade, who founded the Matchem line. He lived to thirty years and although he did not cover vast number of mares, he too had a profound influence on the Thoroughbred breed through his grandson, Matchem.
The principal areas of Thoroughbred breeding on the UK are now situated around the racing centers of Newmarket in Suffolk, Lambourn in Berkshire, and Malton in Yorkshire, but Thoroughbred horses are raised throughout the British Isles. By the beginning of the 20th century Thoroughbred breeding was being practised virtually worldwide, and it is now a multinational industry.
The English Thoroughbred has been used to improve or to help develop many other breeds of the world, adding refinement, endurance, speed and heart.
Description
- Head:
small and elegant with a straight profile, with well-proportioned, mobile and active ears; large and lively eyes - Conformation:
-quite long and gracefully arched neck
-prominent withers
-very well sloped and muscular shoulder
-high and wide chest in the sprinter, tending to be deep in the stayer
-usually long back
-strong quarters and loins to supply the power for galloping
-quite sloping croup-long legs with large, clean joints and small hooves - Average height:
15 to 17 h.h. - Colours:
bay, dark bay, chestnut, black or grey; roan are seen only rarely. White markings are frequently seen on both the face and legs - Temperament:
well known as a horse of great fire, endurance and agility - Today:
Horse racing, under the rules established by the British, is carried on in most countries throughout the world. Although the Thoroughbred is primarily bred for racing, the breed is also used for show jumping and combined training due to its athleticism, and many retired, retrained race horses become fine family riding horses, dressage horses, and youth show horses. The larger horses are sought after for hunter/jumper and dressage competitions, whereas the smaller horses are in demand as polo ponies.
