I know a Darn That Alarm mare and she is hell on wheels under tack. One of those mares that feels like you have a lit stick of dynomite under you at all times .
W: I’d luv to know the name of the DTA mare…I’ve been trying to gather information on the offspring in hopes of finding one of them that does the hunters (none yet 
)
“But some of the best racehorses make lousy pleasure horses precisely because they were good at their original job.”
Quite true-- but I think that’s most often less because of their breeding than because they’re horses who really put their whole hearts into their job descriptions and have a hard time figuring out that every time a rider picks up the bit it doesn’t mean run! I could see a lot of them as the sort who’ll complete a hunter course even when the rider falls off in the opening circle if that had been their lst job description.
Re: Slew: It’s a shame he ever got to that state (walking on his hind legs.) I’ve known Paula Turner, who broke him and rode him in his first gallops, for many, many years and the only problem she’s ever talked about having with him concerned his crooked front leg and “Baby Huey” klutziness and sweet innocent personality. She worked like the devil to build his courage, fitness and coordination, because she was so afraid that leg wouldn’t hold up… especially if he didn’t learn how to use himself properly-- so he got a lot of dressage.
Slew actually sounds a lot now like a huge, klutzy Barbizon colt I helped start for T.J. On the farm, he was definitely a “Baby Huey”-- tended to wander lazily around the track sucking on his tongue (you could see the pink edge of it on the front and right side of his muzzle and hear him sucking). I heard he became a terror when he moved to Calder: walking on his hindlegs to the track-- pretty scarey for a not terribly well coordinated 17hand 2 year old
Maybe those direct Storm Cat fillies are nice because Storm Cat attracts super nice mares?!???
Anyone know anything about the Robyn Dancer foals?
Friend has a mare - gorgeous mare, awesome mover - dumb as a box of rocks XP. I call her Blondie (no offense to smart blonds but seriously I’m thinking of dying this mare gold instead of bay).
Sidesaddle - my friend just bought (about 2 weeks ago) a Darn That Alarm gelding. He’s a 5 year old and just lovely - his name is Four Alarmer. She is an eventer but wants to do some hunter schooling shows to start out. She would love to hear from you! Feel free to email me for her email address!
mfiester0917@yahoo.com.
Yes TC is a SB grandson. But, I have worked with literal dozens of SC kids, grandkids & greatgrand kids. SC is not to be construed as totally innocent! 
Originally posted by Janet:
Yes, some TB lines are “known for being belligerent”, or hot, or whatever. But they are “known for” because people are looking for a reason/excuse for the horse’s temperament.
For every “hot” line, you will find plenty of laid back relaxed horses in that line too.
You can’t give all the credit to the mares either.
Look at this pedigree
Spy Illusion
Nasrullah and Princequillo twice each, plus another dose of Nearco through Royal Charger. A recipe for a “hot horse”.
But he is a complete pussy cat…
That’s because there’s a little of that precious Hyperion blood in his pedigree 
I have to agree with those who said that a horse’s handling can bring out certain personality traits. So many things go into the personality of a horse. Some folks get along with highly reactive horses and some don’t. And that’s how these reputations got started in the first place, IMO. These infamous stallions were loved by some and hated by some.
And accounts of the personality of a horse’s dam are (obviously) far more difficult to find. But famous broodmares like Cinderella, Canterbury Pilgrim, and Vampire have stories of their own!
The accident with Jeff Lukas and Tabasco Cat occurred when Tabasco Cat was 2 years old and got loose- I believe that Lukas tried to stop him and Tabasco Cat collided with him. I’ve read that Tabasco Cat settled down after he retired. He always sounded more nervous than ornery to me but I never met him.
Also wanted to add that I know a Saint Ballado son who is very sweet and smart.
And while I agree that horses who did well on the track sometimes are more challenging to work with in their OTTB careers, I also know of one horse who ran second to the mighty Cigar and became a lovely pleasure horse.
Tabasco Cat is the one who killed Lukas’ son, no? He’s got some pretty babies out there, but some of them don’t seem quite as sharp (intelligence-wise) as the other S/C babies and grand-babies.
As far as Apalachee… I’ve been around a few Apalachee broodmares, and owned one a few years back. Those that I was around were big handsome horses, not especially refined, but good-looking. My mare was a lovely mover, though she was older and used as a race-bred broodmare only when I got her. She could be tough but would do anything if you asked her in a way she found acceptable LOL.
Artax was out of an Apalachee mare, and he was one cool dude. Very smart boy… his bridle broke in the paddock one day before a race, and he waited calmly with reins around his neck until a replacement could be fetched from the barn 
Originally posted by Marli:
Bold Ruler? Well, I’ve had 3 geldings (Bold Ruler 2/3 generation) and all must’ve been oddballs! Mine all had a strong will and were definately beligerant in training.
My gelding Bold Thou Art is by Hail Bold King (who was by Bold Ruler). He is completely sweet and loving, but a pistol under saddle! He looks for excuses to spook and launch straight up in the air - but struts his stuff so nicely in the show ring and flys over jumps. Then there are those days you swear there is NO brain in there. He’s 17 this year (had him since he was 4 and off the track) and he STILL acts like a nutty 2 year old!
This nasty stallion was standing at Old English in Ontario California in the late 60’s.
Maybe he mellowed and maybe his get past the first generation did as well…but I can attest that he was one nasty customer at the time, so were his youngsters.
I have no doubt my gelding’s Mr. P side contributed more then the Bid side (including the lousy feet).
There is at least one successful Bid baby doing the Hunters.
Round Table? Remember that one and Olden Times as well-both tail female in my mare though too far back to mean anything.
My mare is a Storm Cat granddaughter. Tiny little thing too, barely 15.3 right now. She has no clue she’s little though. She is incredibly smart, and very sweet. She loves to be loved on, and is as willing as the day is long.
She thinks for herself, which I like. Not at all the “dumb blonde” type. If we get in a jam xc for instance, a bad spot/funny angle/whatever, I have complete faith in her to save my butt and get us out. But she’s willing to do what I ask, as long as its right! If I’m wrong, she lets me know. And she’s usually right. She’s only just now 5. She really wants to please, knows her job, and really seems to “want” it. Her work ethic is to die for, and she’s so talented. I loff her, can you tell?
She does have a hot streak in her, she is the stereotype “redheaded TB mare”. But I like them that way, I’m a glutton for punishment I guess. I like her little hot streak, it gives her personality and heart. I would pick up another SC baby in a heartbeat if they had the kind of heart and drive that TJ does.
I know of 3 other SC grandbabies who are similar to mine. One has zero hottness in him, one is just like TJ, and Perfect Pony has a little chestnut mare who sounds the same.
TJ’s pedigree:
http://www.pedigreequery.com/tejanos+sands
Originally posted by slow down:
My first horse was a stallion out of a full sister to War Admiral. The sire was Norseman. I got him as an eight year old and started him as a riding horse. He was never studdish and I saw no reason to geld him. He was never bred but did fox hunt and do some shows. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter horse. I would ride him bareback with a halter and rope on the trails. Even had an 11 year old girl showing him until we found out it was illegal for a junior to show a stallion. Had him until he died at 22. He never did change his personality from Mr. Sweet.
Was he Einar ?
Jeff Lukas was not killed by Tobasco Cat. He had dumped his rider during training one morning at Santa Anita and was haulin a** back to the barn, Jeff jumped out in front of him trying to catch him…But I do agree most Storm Cat’s are PITA’s. The fillies seem to be much worse. As for Jeff I believe he went on to work for Padua after his accident…well I guess maybe until before Satish and D Wayne had their big falling out anyhoo…
I have a filly by Cahill Road (full brother to Unbridled) Monster of a horse but an absolute doll to work with. Very calm and smart girl.
On the other hand I have a filly that is a granddaughter of Deputy Minister and Formal Dinner who is a freaking fruit bat. You look into her eyes and see they back on her head. No one is home. Very flighty and unpredictable.
The only truly dangerous one I have had was a almost coal black beautiful colt by Expelled who was as evil as they come. Would come after you with his ears up like he wanted attention and would then try to stomp you to death. Looked absolutely innocent and approachable until he got within reach of you. No pinned ears, no tail switching, no body language warnings. Would nail you with his ears up. I’m glad he is gone.
Both my mares are ill-mannered cows to work around but both have great hearts, performance-wise.
Now I am thinking the lack of manners is a reflection of their early handling (or lack thereof) than their bloodlines!
Phyllis (There She Was) has the Secretariat lines - out of a very undistinguished stallion - Cold Reception.
Perturbed has the Princequillo, Intentionally, Blenheim lines. Her sire was Tequillo - not sure what he did.
I don’t really know that much about bloodlines - I figure they are probably pretty diluted by the time those mares were foaled!
Does anyone know what War Admiral’s temperament was like? Just curious.
Originally posted by hcwells:
Tabasco Cat is the one who killed Lukas’ son, no? He’s got some pretty babies out there, but some of them don’t seem quite as sharp (intelligence-wise) as the other S/C babies and grand-babies.
As far as Apalachee… I’ve been around a few Apalachee broodmares, and owned one a few years back. Those that I was around were big handsome horses, not especially refined, but good-looking. My mare was a lovely mover, though she was older and used as a race-bred broodmare only when I got her. She could be tough but would do anything if you asked her in a way she found acceptable LOL.
Artax was out of an Apalachee mare, and he was one cool dude. Very smart boy… his bridle broke in the paddock one day before a race, and he waited calmly with reins around his neck until a replacement could be fetched from the barn
I have an Artax mare. Talk about in your pocket and nothing, I mean NOTHING fazes her. And she’s 4 and nearly 17.2 hands. Just a big love! 
The Darn that Alarm mare that I am talking about is Sunny Alarm. Nice race mare, but always has her ears pinned, is very dominant and will kick you in the stall. Never settles on the cross ties either. My SIL owns her and loves her to death, but she is a very hot mare and is full of it under tack. I’d never trust her, but then some of mine she wouldn’t trust either …
Originally posted by sidesaddle:
FLAbreds: Wasn’t Artax the horse that got bumped by the drunk spectator at the Preakness a few years back? I remember the news coverage of some drunk person who got on course during the race and somehow managed to not get killed. I thought the horse involved in the bumping incident was Artax.
Yep, you’re right. There’s a reason why I never go to Preakness, and that’s it. Too many drunken idiots.
The guy did have to do a number of days of community service after trying to punch Artax in the stretch. 
What a freakin’ fool.
Wasn’t that the year Red Bullet won?
Oh, and on Cahill Road babies, I have worked with a number of them after they came off the track. They were all nice horses to work with, decent movers, quite nice jumpers, all kind of heavier and not too tall (~15.2). Anyone else have the same experience?
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