There are probably more people who have had their first horse be an off the track something than not if you were to actively go back in time and figure that out. The OTTB acronym is a double edged sword in my opinion. It has definitely helped increase the popularity of TBs as a whole and given people a subset of classes and shows that are open to them but it has also drug out some people whose best match in a horse would be a coin operated one. In the end, they are horses, horses who have a very strong work ethic and require a lot of calories which in turn create a lot of energy. Choose wisely, get a good trainer, turn them out and you will be fine.
There are probably more people who have had their first horse be an off the track something than not if you were to actively go back in time and figure that out. The OTTB acronym is a double edged sword in my opinion. It has definitely helped increase the popularity of TBs as a whole and given people a subset of classes and shows that are open to them but it has also drug out some people whose best match in a horse would be a coin operated one. In the end, they are horses, horses who have a very strong work ethic and require a lot of calories which in turn create a lot of energy. Choose wisely, get a good trainer, turn them out and you will be fine.
There are probably more people who have had their first horse be an off the track something than not if you were to actively go back in time and figure that out. The OTTB acronym is a double edged sword in my opinion. It has definitely helped increase the popularity of TBs as a whole and given people a subset of classes and shows that are open to them but it has also drug out some people whose best match in a horse would be a coin operated one. In the end, they are horses, horses who have a very strong work ethic and require a lot of calories which in turn create a lot of energy. Choose wisely, get a good trainer, turn them out and you will be fine.
Yeah I agree, I hate that people assume all Thoroughbreds are explosive and wild, I will take a 4 year old Thoroughbred over a 4 year old Warmblood any day.
My first lesson horse was an old OTTB and my first horse when I was 12 was an OTTB as well. They were both EXTREMELY well suited to their jobs and talented at being kids horses, they both spent about 3/4 years on the track. There is nothing inherently wrong about an OTTB as a first horse, there are Thoroughbreds that would be bad first horses but there are also Quarter Horses and Warmbloods that would be bad first horses, breed has nothing to do with it, temperament does.
My current horse raced till he was 9, won a butt load of money, and is a completely different story. He is perfect for me, crazy brave, sensitive to aids, and fast. He would be a terrible kids horse, but he’s perfect for me because you’d have to pry my love of hot horses out of my cold dead hands. 
My friends first horse was a Quarter Horse and he was nasty, he would rear constantly undersaddle and strike and kick out often.
So I’ll reiterate, breed does not determine suitably as a safe/sane/beginner horse, there are good ones and bad ones in any breed. The mare in question sounds just fine, just because she came off the track 3 years ago doesn’t mean she’s inherently a bad horse, or unsuitable for a beginner.
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Didn’t you mention in another thread that your trainer absolutely despises TBs in general and won’t take them on?
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If that’s true I can’t imagine why these horse didn’t work out. (Sarcasm, lots of sarcasm.)
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OP I struggle to understand why you would start a thread like this after reading your other thread. https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/off-course/10508129-note-about-confidence.
As you advise, concentrating on your own life and your own riding is the best path to happiness and progress. Considering how sensitive you say you are to criticism (real or imagined) , pointing out how “BAD” your kind barn mate’s equitation was when she was an absolute beginner is very unkind and unnecessary.
There are plenty of intelligent and cool headed Thoroughbreds. Don’t worry about it. That’s the trainer’s job.
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Ah I didn’t connect the OP to this other thread.
It’s pretty standard though for folks especially kids who are hard on themselves to also switch around and be judgemental about other folks. In the other thread it’s clear OP is also another beginner rider who suffers from too much social anxiety and competitiveness, worrying how they compare to their peers constantly. If you are in this mindset sometimes your comparisons are negative to yourself and sometimes to others
As I said early on this thread, asking if a TB can be a decent beginner horse is not in itself a bad question coming from a beginner rider who doubtless hears all kinds of NQR advice from their peers. The part of this question that makes us all uneasy is hint of judgemental cattiness or envy even in the description of the kid who is getting their own horse.
Something about the post makes it sound like the OP doesn’t think the other kid deserves a nice horse, and maybe would like to invite us to help trash the other rider. That may not have been the intent of the OP, but perhaps they can learn from this thread that that doesn’t really sit well with the adult riders on COTH who understand every one was a beginner once.
Also I’d add that everyone deserves a nice horse. Unfortunately when you’re a kid not everyone has parents that will buy and support a nice horse for you, so you have to make do with the basic unfairness of life until you are yourself an adult with a job.
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Lots of good and helpful info in previous posts. I currently have an Appendix QH (26yo, I’ve owned him since he was a twinkle in his mother’s eye), a 5yo OTTB, a 12 yo unraced TB and a 7yo Warmblood. I show hunters and I foxhunt.
The OTTB is hands down the calmest and the second horse I’d put a beginner on. In a year or two he’ll likely be as close to bombproof as any horse ever gets. The only reason I’d put a beginner on the QH first is because he’s 26 and has always been a great babysitter. However, he is a PISTOL for an advanced rider. Not bad, but if you don’t follow his rules he can be a bit hot. The unraced TB and the Warmblood are both not suitable for an unskilled rider because they are sensitive.
My point is that you have to evaluate the horse in front of you. It really grinds my gears when I see people looking for a horse with a modest budget but REFUSE to consider thoroughbreds. There are plenty of hot and sensitive warmbloods and quarter horses and thoroughbreds. One huge advantage of the thoroughbred is they usually have an insane work ethic, this is why they are so successful at eventing. Don’t discount any horse because of their breed.
The only horse I refuse to consider is a grey/white one. Because I just don’t want to spend all that time cleaning the dang thing!!!
One of the laziest horses I’ve ever ridden in my life was an OTTB. The only real danger he presented was whether he’d trip over his own feet. I’ve ridden numerous good OTTB lesson horses who knew that their job was tootling around crossrail courses with some kid flapping away on their back, and would have been perfect first horses.
