TB Stallions with the BEST and WORST temperaments!

[Texarkana]

@ASB Stars I don’t miss stallions like that! When I was about 17, I was cleaning the stall of one of the farm’s more unpredictable arabian stallions. I turned my back to him and he literally picked me up by the skin at the base of my neck/above my shoulder blades… almost like how a cat lifts her kittens. He threw me out of the stall by my skin and ran me over as he took off. I still have the scars. That was certainly a life lesson!

A few years later I laid up this particularly aggressive thoroughbred colt (He was an Honor Grades son out of a Kris S mare). I knew I was in over my head when I went to clean his stall the first time, but I was still young and prideful enough not to wait for someone to help me with him. I got him tied to the wall (barely), but he still managed to aggressively trap me in the corner of the stall. Then he proceeded to fire his back hooves at my face, his left foot hitting the wall millimeters from my head, rapidly followed by the right foot doing the same. Time stopped; I thought I was a goner. That horse was wicked smart, though-- if he had wanted to make contact with me, he would have. It was all a game with him. We figured out each other’s boundaries and got along incredibly well in the end. But it was pretty funny-- when it was time for him to start back into work, I moved him to the other barn on the property that my boss managed. I dropped him off in his new stall and was heading back to my barn when I heard my boss (a lifelong brilliant horseman) screaming my name. I ran back to find my boss had gone in with the colt and was now cowering, trapped in the back corner of the stall by the colt. Nice to know it wasn’t just me! :lol: It was a feather in my cap when my boss asked me how on earth I had been handling that horse alone for all those weeks. The colt was gelded not too long afterwards.

[Training_Cupid]

I love hearing these anecdotes!

RRP is creating a database where people enter their TB’s breeding, and personality and aptitude for various disciplines - in their own opinion so take with a grain of salt, but interesting to see. https://www.retiredracehorseproject…bloodline-brag

[Brigid]

@ASB Stars

It’s the reincarnation of PB…:lol:

What or who “PB”?

[ASB_Stars]

@Brigid

What or who “PB”?

Palm Beeyotch

[Brigid]

@ASB Stars

Palm Beeyotch

OK. I think I got it. (OT & FWIW, I LOVED the Dave C. show!!)

[SonnysMom]

Somebody I used to board with worked at New Bolton as a vet tech. Barbaro grabbed her by the collarbone, lifted her up and threw her across the stall.

[K_2]

Legal Jousting is nippy (he can’t help himself), but not mean. From what I’ve heard, his sire Indian Ridge had a nice temperament as well.

[On_the_Farm]

I saw Scarlet Ibis breed a client mare during the year when he bit off part of Dr. O’Cain’s ear. I told myself that if I had to deal with a horse like that on a daily basis, then I’d just quit and pick up cans and bottles off of the roadside for a living.

[Texarkana]

@SonnysMom

Somebody I used to board with worked at New Bolton as a vet tech. Barbaro grabbed her by the collarbone, lifted her up and threw her across the stall.

I was part of Barbaro’s dedicated nursing staff. I worked with him 40 hours a week for nearly all of his hospitalization. I am not calling your coboarder a liar because there was plenty of biting (I guarantee I know her, too), but I think that story has gotten misconstrued a bit.

Barbaro could be difficult. I still have a scar on my hand from him. BUT… it was more a matter of the situation than his baseline temperament being truly nasty. And the fact that a lot of the nurses were scared of him, which made the situation worse. He was smart and bored and got his entertainment from scaring folks. :lol:

Seriously, there were videos of the Matz kids loving on him in the pre-injury days.

[ASB_Stars]

@On the Farm

I saw Scarlet Ibis breed a client mare during the year when he bit off part of Dr. O’Cain’s ear. I told myself that if I had to deal with a horse like that on a daily basis, then I’d just quit and pick up cans and bottles off of the roadside for a living.

But, was he OK to handle to breed?

[Lauruffian]

@Texarkana

I was part of Barbaro’s dedicated nursing staff. I worked with him 40 hours a week for nearly all of his hospitalization. I am not calling your coboarder a liar because there was plenty of biting (I guarantee I know her, too), but I think that story has gotten misconstrued a bit.

Barbaro could be difficult. I still have a scar on my hand from him. BUT… it was more a matter of the situation than his baseline temperament being truly nasty. And the fact that a lot of the nurses were scared of him, which made the situation worse. He was smart and bored and got his entertainment from scaring folks. :lol:

Seriously, there were videos of the Matz kids loving on him in the pre-injury days.

Yeah, my thought was Barbaro’s time at New Bolton was not a fair situation to judge temperament.

My then-19yro mini mare had to go on 3 months stall rest when her laminitis came back a couple years ago. She is normally a lazy thing, but in a smart way, if you follow. When she was finally cleared for hand walking after all that stall confinement (and it’s a big stall, especially considering she’s 36" tall–it’s a 24x24), she was a real handful–she was like a hot 3yro TB being led to the starting gate. Snort, prance, dart, head toss, and very little actual walking.

It gave me new perspective on Barbaro in particular–that a young racing fit colt could be under such tight restrictions and not explode like a grenade every other day is testament to both his temperament and the care he received.

[Mara]

Changeintheweather was supposed to be meaner than hell.

Back to history - Hyperion was said by all to be a perfect gentleman. And when Richard Stone Reeves went to paint the portrait of another of the Aga Khan’s horses, he passed by Shergar’s stall. The farm manager’s kids were inside playing with him and covering him with bedding.

[RockyStar]

I’ve met many TB stallions over the years. I am not a breeder or owner (I have my riding horse, that’s it) but have always been a racing fan and visit farms when I can. I’ve met many stallions not listed here…

Pulpit: (deceased) very kind and stood forever while visitors took pictures and posed with him. Groom said he was always a pleasure to work with.

Blame: was very sweet and posed for pictures with me. Not sure how he is in the shed but was well behaved for visitors while on the shank.

Bernardini: groom said he’s a doll and stood quietly while I stood in a picture with him. Was stunning to look at. His

Animal Kingdom: tour guide said he could be high strong but I was still allowed to stand at his shoulder for a picture. He was stunning.

Smarty Jones: In my opinion lacked manners. We weren’t allowed to stand near him. I know a girl who worked with him while he stood at three chimneys and she said he’s a brat!🤣

Dynaformer: (deceased) aggressive/nasty disposition. Wore a permanent chain over his nose looped through his halter if that gives you any indication of his behavior.

Met/saw the Lane’s End stallions and all seemed well behaved, although not sure how they are in the shed. A.P. Indy was my absolute favorite and his groom, Asa allowed me to feed him peppermints. He was adorable.

Rachel Alexandra: not a stallion obviously but met her a couple times at stonestreet. She was a lady with impeccable manners. Stood still and let people fuss over her. However, the barn staff there said during her racing years she was a handful. Apparently on the farm she still knows she’s the queen tho.😎

Anyway, again this was my observation from the many I’ve met as a visitor to various farms. Studs can be so different once they see the ladies tho! Most of the grooms are experienced and don’t seem to let them get away with too much.

[On_the_Farm]

@ASB Stars

But, was he OK to handle to breed?

The mare was teased, washed up, and twitched. Then it was like a check off to make sure everyone was ready and word was yelled down the corridor to bring SI in. After the stall door opened all one could hear was SI screaming and he more or less came in on his hind legs with a stout country-strong man hanging on. They washed him up and he pretty much raped the mare. She didn’t take on that cover and when I brought her back a month later SI was wearing a muzzle after taking off Dr. O’Cain’s ear.

[twelvebelles]

I would say War Front is one of the friendliest, most gentle stallions I have met. I met him several times and Claiborne and both times he was the one they brought out and you could pet him, kiss him, feed him treats, etc. Blame was also very friendly and interactive, although higher energy. They said their resident “meanie” was Orb, who could be very aggressive. He apparently picked a guest up with his teeth, and was banished from tour viewings thereafter. I have heard his sire Malibu Moon can be nasty. Not sure where he got it from - AP Indy when I met him was very amenable to people.

I met Afleet Alex at Gainesway. He was friendly and came over to say hello to everyone. They told us to be cautious around Tapit and would not let anyone get too close for pictures.

More Than Ready and Distorted Humor were both dolls at Winstar. You could tell More Than Ready had a big personality and a lot of energy for an older horse, but he was not mean. Distorted Humor was very quiet. Tiznow they said could be mouthy, so we were not allowed close.

Giant’s Causeway was the horse we were allowed to interact with at Ashford. They said he was a friendly guy. They brought Fusaichi Pegasus out, and we were told to stand back. He was apparently not as nice.

Overall, the farms didn’t seem too concerned with too many of the stallions they handled. Maybe one at each farm could be a beast, it seemed like.

[Texarkana]

@twelvebelles

I met Afleet Alex at Gainesway. He was friendly and came over to say hello to everyone. They told us to be cautious around Tapit and would not let anyone get too close for pictures.

I had the privilege of being around both these guys when they were racing. While I have only seen them briefly at the end of a handler’s shank since retirement, it sounds like their temperaments haven’t changed. Afleet Alex was always very people-oriented. Tapit was always weird.

[ASB_Stars]

@Texarkana

I had the privilege of being around both these guys when they were racing. While I have only seen them briefly at the end of a handler’s shank since retirement, it sounds like their temperaments haven’t changed. Afleet Alex was always very people-oriented. Tapit was always weird.

Define wierd please!

[Texarkana]

@ASB Stars

Define wierd please!

Well, he’s not my horse and my contact with him was limited. Although I doubt anyone is going to be influenced by reading that in my limited interactions with him he could be temperamental (like, get the F away from me NOW) and quirky (like, I know I’ve done this 100 times in the past but today the answer is no).

[Mara]

@On the Farm

The mare was teased, washed up, and twitched. Then it was like a check off to make sure everyone was ready and word was yelled down the corridor to bring SI in. After the stall door opened all one could hear was SI screaming and he more or less came in on his hind legs with a stout country-strong man hanging on. They washed him up and he pretty much raped the mare. She didn’t take on that cover and when I brought her back a month later SI was wearing a muzzle after taking off Dr. O’Cain’s ear.

I remember reading somewhere that Scarlet Ibis’ sire Cormorant was pretty nasty himself. Anyone know how Go For Gin was to handle?

[Bluey]

@Texarkana

Handlers and location both play such a big role in influencing temperament, too.

Not to knock any professional stud farms-- it’s just different farms have different behavioral expectations and different management styles.

I’ve known stallions who went from rank and dangerous to bonafide pets with a change in location… and vice versa.

That.

Many trainers used to think if a horse was not a bit rank, they would not run their best.
Some even kept irritating their charges before races so they would be “sharp”.

Know of one that would stand there throwing pebbles at the door of the horses that were running that day “to make them mad enough to run hard”.
There are idiots every place, including handling race horses.

That is why some times you have to wonder if a horse was really rank, or just trained to be rank.