I can buy an “off the track� Thoroughbred or Standardbred for a few hundred dollars, or even adopt one for free. Do they make good cavalry horses?

The short answer is, usually not. The racing bloodlines of any breed- and this includes not only Thoroughbreds, but Standardbreds, Quarter Horses and Arabians as well- tend to be high strung. The mental traits that contribute to winning races (a strong competitive instinct, sensitivity, and a massive adrenaline response) make these horses much more difficult to handle.

They can be explosive and unpredictable. Worst of all for the cavalry reenactor, they often have difficulty settling down in groups of horses. It’s no fun fighting with a horse that has to be in front all the time, and it can be dangerous.

There are always exceptions: some racehorses wash out because they are not fast or aggressive enough to win races. (One of the best rides I ever had was on a horse like this, an uncharacteristically uncompetitive Thoroughbred who was trained for fox hunting. He didn’t mind at all hunting in the back of the field, and would jump any fence you put him to with the greatest nonchalance.) ... more.

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