The NASTIEST and the nicest

[ejm]

[QUOTE=ravenclaw;2620439]
Seattle Slew used to be at Spendthrift Farm. When Spendthrift went under, he went to Three Chimneys. Three Chimneys has someone ride their stallions (what a COOL job that would be!!). So maybe there was a change in his behavior once he went to Three Chimneys and started with regular exercise. [/QUOTE]

When Seattle Slew retired to Spendthrift, the original owners stipulated that he be exercised under saddle on a regular basis. He probably switched riders when he went to Three Chimneys, but they rode him at Spendthrift, too.

Last time I visited Three Chimneys (before SJ retired), I was told that they rode all the stallions that were sound enough, weather permitting. They have a nice fiber jogging track that runs between some of the stallion paddocks.

When he stood at Gainsborough, Quiet American was ridden daily or near-daily including some dressage work, according to the groom who showed me around. Not sure what is going on with QA since he moved to Darley at Jonabell.

[claire]

Great Thread!

Does anyone have any stories about John Henry? Before he was gelded?

I saw him at the KHP and was just struck with the imperious attitude…
he KNOWS is one the greats!

[chestnutmarebeware]

I have to stand up for my Storm Cat granddaughter:) She’s four and the easiest, sweetest, most laid-back TB I’ve ever had. Just look at that face! She’s a big marshmallow!

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p122/kmclaughlin21/?action=view&current=Bo2.jpg

And this is heresay from Secretariat’s groom—who took me out to the field to meet the Big Guy when I was 10 years old—but he told me to be careful because Secretariat had recently gone for a reporter’s earring and taken part of her ear of with it!

[vineyridge]

Roberto and Halo are both by Hail To Reason, so you might draw conclusions from that. I’ve heard, though, that of the two, Halo was evil and Roberto was just difficult.

[juliab]

I’ve got a Storm Cat grandson by Forest Wildcat. He’s a breeding stallion and after reading this thread, I am even more impressed with his temperament. He is on limited turnout until I can get a field fenced for him and I just spent 30 minutes hand grazing him around my backyard. I always have a chain on him but most days are like today. I’d heard about the Storm Cat stories and was worried when I went to look at him, but he completely won me over when he poked his pink tongue out and looked blissful when I stroked his muzzle. Breeding didn’t change him at all. He has 2 foals on the ground so far and they are both easy and sweet. I WOULD look at a Storm Cat for an eventer - most definitely.

[JerseyHorseLover]

In harness racing there was a triple crown winner named Nevele Pride. He was a trotter. My horse is a grandson of Nevele Pride. Nevele Pride was a nasty son of a gun, and would bite everyone!! My horse is the opposite…very sweet.

[summerhorse]

In Tissar was as mean (and perhaps mental) as they come. They eventually built a system of chutes so they didn’t have to handle him at all.

Everyone was happier.

Forestry is a very kind sweet stallion. His son Forest Danger not so much. =)

Seeking the Gold is legend for his attitude although he seems to have mellowed a very tiny bit.

Foolish Pleasure was quite nasty as he got older until his last owner bought him and gave him a pasture and mares and he had a big attitude adjustment. Which makes me wonder how much of mean stallions are caused by heredity and how much by handling or bad experiences and frustration from keeping them cooped up in stalls without company?

Essence of Dubai is quite nutty. Like screw loose inside nutty. I know someone who had a filly by him and she wasn’t nutty, just mean as a snake. And she wasn’t badly handled either, just came out ready to fight. I wonder how she did as a racehorse?!

Gate Dancer was also a fruitcake. Not mean, just crazy!

Of course there was Aly T, Corslew and Festival Of Light who actually tried to kill people. The first two got put down, the last got gelded and someone tried to make a performance horse out of him. No word on how well that worked out…

Private terms was very friendly. Monarchos was quite pleasant too.

Pikepass mean.

rockport Harbor sweet, Holy Bull wants his homage but pleasant personality.

[haligator]

Well…

Hi All,
A friend of mine stood a stallion named, appropriately enough ‘Who’s For Dinner.’ Unfortunately, he lived up to his name.

River Keen is absolutely downright sweet - acts like a big dog who wants carrots.

I met Mr. Prospector and he was so kind with me - let me kiss his neck and pose with him.

Malibu Moon is a very full of himself stallion but I wouldn’t call him nasty - just knows he is special. But, I’ve never tried to pat him.

Unbridled was pleasant when I was introduced to him.

I’ve met a lot of stallions but I generally don’t pat them as I have a healthy respect for what can happen…

I’m about to buy into a syndicate on a well-known horse. When the papers are signed I’ll tell you about it.

Hallie McEvoy
Racing Dreams, LLC

[War_Admiral]

[QUOTE=summerhorse;2623336]

Foolish Pleasure was quite nasty as he got older until his last owner bought him and gave him a pasture and mares and he had a big attitude adjustment. Which makes me wonder how much of mean stallions are caused by heredity and how much by handling or bad experiences and frustration from keeping them cooped up in stalls without company? [/QUOTE]

It’s an interesting question. I don’t breed horses and have little experience with handling stallions, but a trainer friend of mine who does stand a TB, and keeps him at least somewhat more naturally than is considered the norm, claims that it makes all the difference in the world. Would be interested to hear comments from others.

[dr_j]

[QUOTE=hackinaround;2620448]
Does Three Chimmneys even ride the tuff ones like Dynaformer?[/QUOTE]

I do not think they ride Dynaformer.

He is an SOB.

[ivy62]

I met Seeking the Gold and they would not even open his top door so we could really see him, they said he was more then nasty and on one occaission actually killed a dog that went into his turnout!

Point Given also very nasty all he wanted to do was bite…
On the other hand Monarchos was charming and so was Pulpit both came out and played with you and let you pet them and take pics

[CherishtheMoment]

Ive got a double bred Mr. Prospector and Danzig mare. she is the sweetest thing around. She is only 5 and nothing bothers her, very laid back and quite a love bug. Although she is a drama queen if she gets hurt or isn’t feeling well.

Also, dating myself a bit here but the Broad Brush offspring have been from what I remember very decent and willing.

[grits]

Does anybody know anything about Nearco? I’ve always heard that his presence in a pedigree signaled a hot horse, but what horse doesn’t trace to Nearco? The word was to avoid him on both the top and bottom. I had a fabulous mare who was within 5 generations of him on both sides, and she exemplified the reputation.

[vineyridge]

This is a broad generalization, but just about every horse, mare or stallion, that Tesio bred and raced had a reputation for being nasty.

Nearco was the sire of Nasrullah, and he has one of the worst reputations around.

[DeeThbd]

[QUOTE=grits;2624569]
Does anybody know anything about Nearco? I’ve always heard that his presence in a pedigree signaled a hot horse, but what horse doesn’t trace to Nearco? The word was to avoid him on both the top and bottom. I had a fabulous mare who was within 5 generations of him on both sides, and she exemplified the reputation.[/QUOTE]

My older gelding has Nearco in his 5th generation top and bottom (Nasrullah and Nearctic)…he is a horse who is loving, intelligent and the best word I can find is passionate…he is very proud, and often when you want something, he expects a good reason for it (yes, he sounds human - and sometimes seems to be!)
Dee

[piccolittle]

My gelding has Nearco and Round Table all over his pedigree- he is most definitely not a hot horse, but can be a complete brat. He acts like a pony mostly, will put in a buck and often will bite my pitchfork or brush if I try to do his stall/face. He also bucks when he’s fed, and gets very protective of feed, sometimes downright nasty. Trots off with me if he’s not lead with a chain, and the most annoying thing is he’s so ridiculously playful and such a meddler! He took down our trailer canopy the other week on top of himself and another gelding! Other than that he’s a complete sweetheart and I loff him to bits. Interesting to hear what his breeding might have to do with his personality, though

[ejm]

@ivy62;2624153

Point Given also very nasty all he wanted to do was bite…

Interesting - the day I saw him, he was out in the paddock (early winter, before the start of breeding season), and the stallion manager climbed over the fence, walked out to him and led him over by the halter. I had always heard that he was tough on the racetrack, and was not expecting him to be as docile as he was that day.

[dunthat]

Storm Cat - Eventers

I have a Storm Cat Grandson, 4 this year and is the quietest horse. He has just started eventing. His nickname in the barn is Grandpa!

Very athletic and smart.

[vineyridge]

What was Hail To Reason’s reputation? It would seem that at least two of his great sons have not been easy to deal with and have passed that quality on to at least some of their get.

If I were in the TB industry, from what this thread implies, I wouldn’t want my horses at Ashmore.

[ivy62]

My horses Dad, Candy Stripes, spent most of his time in Arg and was told he was a bit difficult but his father Blushing Groom they said was easy to work around…Soemtimes I wonder if the environment they live in plays a larger role then we will give credit for…