A stallion used for breeding. Hundreds of years ago, this sport was for the exclusive amusement of gentry and noblemen in England. Only they could afford to breed horses especially for speed. Early English breeders found that the fleet desert horse, when crossed with their native mares, produced an animal with greater speed, good height and length, sturdiness and a longer stride. All Thoroughbreds today, and many other breeds, can be traced back to these three great sires.
Thoroughbreds clearly display quality and refinement in their long and muscular frame.
The handsome and excellent head, with full bright eyes, sits gracefully on a long slender neck. The chest is narrow, deep and well-developed, and the muscular shoulders are set at an angle. The back is short and strong, with powerful hindquarters for propulsion. Good bone structure supports long, clean legs, and the pasterns act as shock absorbers. The withers of this lean animal are peaked and higher than the croup, and the mane and tail grow thin and fine.