"Meanest Stallions in History" thread ...

[TrueColours]

Some really interesting reading on this thread:

http://thoroughbredchampions.com/forum/index.php?topic=39006.0

I dont know whether we dont see as many mean TB sport horse stallions or mean WB stallions as there are in the TB and SB racing world, because we tend to socialize ours more and dont segregate them as they do on large commercial breeding farms???

I know with my stallion he is among all of the girls in the barn, his paddock is separated by a 10 foot grass section but he is right beside them all day long and in short, he is treated like a “normal” horse in every way possible

If he was kept in segregation like a lot of these stallions mentioned and only got to see the girls during breeding sessions, would be be as equally miserable and grouchy as they are???

I wish I could remember the name of the SB stallion that got loose when he was being led in from the paddock by his groom and the terrified groom ran under a truck to get away from him and the stallion was down on his knees trying to get to the groom while he was screaming for his life underneath there …

Scary stuff …

[Dressage_Diva333]

Interesting…

I knew one Warmblood stallion who was a nasty creature, there was hot wire in his stall… not that I agree with that, but thats how it was.

He’s the only one I can think of ever being truely afraid of though? I think that potentially the early handling on the racetrack has a lot to do with the behavior of TB and SB stallions. They are right in their racing prime when the hormones really kick in.

We have three stallions on my property right now, seven broodmares, six geldings, and four weanlings. We’re in somewhat tight quarters, so my horses have to learn to be stabled next to others without disrespecting fences, etc… that’s just how it has to be.

My more experianced stallion, albeit an 11.3 hand pony, lives in a pasture with two mules, and two donkeys, and shares a fenceline (7ft high, electric, more for the mules that destroy fencing, he doesn’t touch it) with two pregnant mares and an open mare. There is no disruption, ever.

My new stallion who’s just learning the ropes of things, is living in a stall and paddock for the time being. His paddock is made of pipe panels. On one side is a pasture 4 geldings, and a two year old stud colt. Another side is the weanlings, and he shares a short fencline with two old geriatric geldings. He’s already used to it, and is polite with everyone. Eventually I’d like to turn him out with a gelding, but not until I know him a bit better.

The two year old that we will be standing next year (owned by my very good friends), is living with 4 geldings. No problem, he’s totally respectful of fencing, great with the other horses, etc… really a super guy.

I think socialization is KEY when having stallions. I don’t have the luxury of world class facilities, I work with what I’ve got. When the weather is really bad, I have all the stallions, and most of the mares in my little barn. Tight quarters, but they’ve got to make it work. And they do. They also must trailer together. I do have a stud divider in my two horse slant load trailer, but even still, the boys must trailer like respectable animals. We haven’t trailered the new stallion, or the youngster with another stallion or mares yet… however, my Section A will trailer with anything, no problem, no movement, no sounds. All is well. We even got in a pinch and had to trailer a mare in heat with him at one point. I agree with trying to keep everything as normal as possible for the boys. It actually breaks my heart to see stallions being labeled as mean and viscious animals, because in most cases, humans probably had a lot to do with that :no:

[Home_Again_Farm]

I remember seeing Dynaformer when the AHS annual meeting was in Lexington a couple of years ago and there was a tour of Three Chimneys Farm. We were told in no uncertain terms by our guide to stay well away from his paddock fence (at least 20 feet). It was sort of like looking at a very beautiful and hungry shark (just kidding).

On the contrary, Smarty Jones came out and looked like a total sweetie pie.

[Ladybug_Hill]

As a teenager, I worked at a farm that housed multiple stallions. They ranged from extremely kind and easy to dangerous. I was designated as one of the few that was allowed to handle the one. He attacked me twice over the two years I worked with him. I felt really sorry for him. I am sure that it is both nature and nurture that impacts these boys. All animals deserve kindness, discipline, and socialization. Unfortunately, once the harm has been done I think it can be very hard to undo.

[VirginiaBred]

I think that all animals are the product of their handling. I saw Dynaformer also and he was on his best behavior.

[rocksolid]

Bold Bidder was a nasty SOB. There was a stallion at Windfields in Canada named Menetier. Legend says that when he was brought out of his stall to breed, a man followed with a gun. If Menetier got loose, the man was ordered to shot him on sight. There was a standard bred stallion named Nevele Pride who was led out with a heavy halter, muzzle, chain through his mouth and the lead went through a 8ft pole to keep the handler out of “mauling” distance. I saw a picture of the get up on the cover of a magazine.

[Maryanne_Nicpon]

There was a Trakehner stallion named Jadegeist that was donated to Cornell University in the 80s. He reportedly had killed his previous owner. In short time he was deemed to dangerous to have at the research park and he was euthanized. I don’t know what people are thinking when they donate these animals to a teaching facility. Another Trakehner stallion with a well documented history of throwing Wobbler was donated to Cornell a few years after that. He was being bred for a while but has since died. Very scary.

[TrueColours]

Wasnt there an Andalusian or Lusitano stallion at a exhibition in MI a few years ago that turned on his owner, had her pinned down on the ground with his forelegs and the person that ran into the ring to rescue her also had the stallion turn on them?

[vineyridge]

Not only was Bold Bidder a nasty SOB, but his son Mount Hagen was, and so was Mount Hagen’s son Dickens Hill. OTOH, a lot of the reputedly nasty ones make excellent sport horse lines.

There is a mare who is still infamous for mean after well over 100 years. Her name was Vampire, and she was the dam of Flying Fox, Teddy’s grandsire. She is supposed to have been well named.

[Coppers_mom]

I’m kind of glad to see Halo was an SOB. I will never work with any of his foals again, and it’s nice to know it’s not my fault they were all batty.

[TrueColours]

There was a stallion at Windfields in Canada named Menetrier. Legend says that when he was brought out of his stall to breed, a man followed with a gun.

Isnt that funny … that name rang a bell and I looked up old records of a horse I owned years ago that was as mean as a snake but so pretty and damned flashy looking you always wanted to forgive him for trying to take your face off. He was by Menetrier so the apple sure didnt fall far from the tree with that one …

I heard the same with the Bold Bidder line as well. Just not very user friendly animals to deal with at all … :no:

If Galileo comes on she should know the answer to this as well, but I believe it was Ribot who would go insane if he saw any other horses from his paddock, so they had to construct 6’ high SOLID walls on his paddock so he couldnt see out.

What did he do then?

He’d “climb” a tree in his paddock with his feet and teeth trying to see out and he kept crashing to the ground. They thought he was going to kill himself falling out of the tree, so they had to finally cut it down …

[vineyridge]

There was a thread on this over on the Racing Forum a while back, and pretty much all of Roberto’s great sire sons were SOBs. He and Halo had the same sire–Hail To Reason.

Story about Ribot was that he had a brain tumor which was discovered after he died.

[Bravestrom]

I feel truly blessed with my guy - mind you he is only 2 1/2 - but he has bred already and knows what’s up.

Last night he was cuddling with me, he comes in the barn and visits the girls if they are in their stalls - he walks straight into his stall, walks out of his stall and out the barn into his paddock without issue. He is separated from the girls by hot wire on a vinyl fence and pastures with my gelding.

When I was young I worked at a barn there was a tb stallion that was kept in stall that was completely boarded up - when he was brought out of his stall everyone had to be out of the barn and no horses could be within sight. It was scary. Watching this horse made me really wonder about having a stallion.

But then I look at my guy and I just swoon.

[elly]

Danzig has somewhat of a reputation, from what I have been told

[ShannonD]

I had no idea about Bold Bidder-- funny, my old Trakehner mare’s dam had him not far back at all. She wasn’t so much MEAN as she was simply incredibly difficult to handle. She’s now owned by a man who’s just plain strong enough to handle her.

[LegalEagle]

[QUOTE=Coppers mom;4517188]
I’m kind of glad to see Halo was an SOB. I will never work with any of his foals again, and it’s nice to know it’s not my fault they were all batty.[/QUOTE]

Someone I know who was personally acquainted with Halo said he was just awful…wouldn’t you know I’ve got a Halo grandson now who is certainly not the nicest horse in the barn!

[Coppers_mom]

[QUOTE=LegalEagle;4517316]
Someone I know who was personally acquainted with Halo said he was just awful…wouldn’t you know I’ve got a Halo grandson now who is certainly not the nicest horse in the barn![/QUOTE]

Yup! Cute little things, but even the ones who weren’t mean found other ways to be complete pains in the butt. Cribbing, spastic tendencies, ugh.

[Home_Again_Farm]

@VirginiaBred;4517096

I think that all animals are the product of their handling. I saw Dynaformer also and he was on his best behavior.

All I know is what our guide told us and she seemed quite adamant that no one go within about 20 feet of the paddock. This was a group of real horse folks. No one likely to make the wrong move - try to pet horsie on the nose, etc.

I totally agree that horses tend to be a product of their handling. :yes:

[EquineLVR]

I have an OTTB that is out of a Kris S (Roberto) mare - he definetly thinks highly of himself… he has bit me several times… but under saddle he is a different horse. Thank God.

Just bought this one: http://www.pedigreequery.com/rockywithattitude

He has two crosses to Hail To Reason - His owner says he also thinks highly of himself so we shall see. Although on a high note - Viney will appreciate this - he has ELF in his pedigree!!

I worked on a pretty famous arabian farm in Phoenix called KARHO - there was one liver chesnut stallion - cannot remember his name - but he was flat out dangerous - hardly could go in his stall as he would try and pin you and then kick you to death… I am sure most of it was due to being in his stall 24x7.

[TrueColours]

Its interesting how some quirks and idiosyncracies can get passed down to the offspring as well

Prosperous was another TB stallion who wasnt dangerous - just quirky - and he would stand 24/7 and kick non stop. You could always tell a Prosperous offspring at the track as you would hear wham!!! wham!!! wham!!! as you were walking up shedrow. Kicking chains didnt work and the only time they stopped was when they were sleeping and most lived in rubber lined stalls

Prosperous himself ended up dying when he kicked through a stall wall and severed an artery and bled to death before anyone found him

Ive always wondered how something as different and quirky as that trait got passed down to his offspring on such a consistent basis …