Answer

By Your Horse

Instructor Alison Ritchie replies:

I’m a Thoroughbred fan too, and to some extent some of those things are true. However, just because a horse is a Thoroughbred, it doesn’t mean he will be highly-strung and difficult to keep weight on.
It depends what the horse was bred for. If he was bred to race, and did race, then he will have been taught that his job is to run as fast as possible, and he may be more excitable as a result.
If he was bred to be a riding horse, his temperament may be easier to deal with. All horses can be retrained, but some are easier than others – they’re all individuals.
In winter, you need to strike a balance between feeding and rugging to keep the horse warm.
If he’s naturally energetic, keep starch levels low and fibre high. Don’t be put off by other people’s views, but keep an open mind to part-bred as well as pure-bred Thoroughbreds.