Why is the TB being replaced in the hunt field?

[JSwan]

Honestly I never put that much thought into it.

I just bought a nice young sound horse that was within my budget and fit my height/weight.

Then we toodled around until the light bulb went off in his head and then we did a little eventing and dressage and trail riding and stuff. Always intended to hunt - for many many years - but never could. Capped but that was it.

Then I took up hunting and the horse was a basket case until he settled down and now he’s a trooper. He keeps up just fine, is a sturdy healthy horse with a good temperament and I have no trouble with the full tb’s or morgans or whatever anyone else is on. I don’t keep score.

Not sure the “draft crosses are easier” is really true, by the way. I rode TB’s almost exclusively when I was a kid and I’d prefer a nice TB over a thick neck tank of a ticked off draft cross. (he’s off at training right now):lol:

The End.

[SEPowell]

[QUOTE=Trixie;3788898]
The bone issue in the modern TB is an interesting point and it’s a conundrum for the racing industry: breed for speed or for long term soundness? How long will a racehorse hold up on smaller, thinner legs (further, how much faster do they go anyway?)? For someone whose goals are hunting, how long will a modern-bred ex racer hold up over solid obstacles and trappy territory at speed? Where is the midpoint between FAST and sound (safe)? When you’re buying an OTTB, is this something that most foxhunters look hard at if the horse comes off the track sound and vets out okay?[/QUOTE]

I’ve seen tbs with twiggy little legs, but I’ve seen just as many with good bone. In fact, in my opinion, there are many tbs around with good bone, not as heavy as some of the warmbloods or draft crosses, but good enough to race and then hunt into their 20s. I think probably the most important thing for keeping a tb sound for hunting is fitness. Tbs generally won’t quit when they’re tired, and galloping hard when fatigued is the quickest way I know to break them down.

[starkissed]

I think for one, Tbs are kind of phasing out because they are harder to ride.
Most people really don’t know how to ride and train their horses anymore, and without constant schooling/riding and everything a thoroughbred can(not always) be too much.
I have one tb hunter and a tb cross hunter. My thoroughbred is actually pretty quiet and has kind of a low stamina, so he is any easy ride out in the field. But my cross bred mare is so delightful, she isnt a clunker by any means, but has more whoa than goes most of the time. My mom has a homebred tb hunter, who she loves to deal and he is talented as all get out, but he is just one heck of a lot of horse. So her tb cross bred is a joy to ride because he is just more mellow.

the staff at our hunt rides pretty much all tbs because they happen to be free and we get a lot of those around here, steeplechase people and the like.