War Emblem to Old Friends

BaroqueAgain1 · Fri Oct 23, 2015 9:24 pm

In almost every recent photo I've seen of him where there's a human around, he has his ears back and that grumpy look.

I get the impression that he likes people even less than he liked all the potential mates that were parked in front of his unwilling nose.

Northport · Fri Oct 23, 2015 10:41 pm

The more I read about him and see photos of him, he seems like the last horse you would want to ship back across the world to live at a public, touristy place like Old Friends.

sweettalk · Fri Oct 23, 2015 11:13 pm

i thought he looked content and just fine at his home in japan. he's been there most of his life, bringing him back seems kind of... i dunno.

Flanders · Fri Oct 23, 2015 11:15 pm

BaroqueAgain1 wrote:In almost every recent photo I've seen of him where there's a human around, he has his ears back and that grumpy look.
I get the impression that he likes people even less than he liked all the potential mates that were parked in front of his unwilling nose.

Northport wrote:The more I read about him and see photos of him, he seems like the last horse you would want to ship back across the world to live at a public, touristy place like Old Friends.

I found this in an article from right before his Belmont Stakes run, seems he hates everything:

When Baffert takes hold of the fiery War Emblem's shank, he needs a flak jacket and industrial-strength sunglasses. He doesn't call his Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner Hannibal Lecter just to get a laugh. War Emblem likes to bite other horses, people and any object that he feels might get in his way.

The morning after his Preakness victory two weeks ago, War Emblem spotted a bale of hay in a corner of the barn. With several ominous snorts, he lunged in front of Baffert, who was walking in front, and sank his teeth into the bale and threw it to the ground.

Treve · Fri Oct 23, 2015 11:49 pm

He's the Gregory House of horses. Misanthropic (And Mishippo-ic?) curmudgeon.

EquineAnne · Sat Oct 24, 2015 2:22 am

LostADream wrote: Gotta love that 'tude, but something tells me he's not going to be one they encourage people to pet and feed over the fence...hope they've reviewed and strengthened their liability insurance!

Do you think he's worse than John?

Retrospectiv · Sat Oct 24, 2015 2:05 pm

sweettalk wrote:i thought he looked content and just fine at his home in japan. he's been there most of his life, bringing him back seems kind of... i dunno.

I think the word is selfish.

Selfish on the part of those who pushed for him to come back. I agree...he looked just FINE where he was. That's been his home longer than over here was. Certainly doesn't seem the type to enjoy that type of environment at ALL. He's been on a more secluded part of a farm. Quiet, NO other stallions around, just mares. I wonder if they'll go and stick him in a paddock surrounded by other stallions now.

I guess time will tell though. He's stuck there now...

Flanders · Sat Oct 24, 2015 2:58 pm

Retrospectiv wrote:
sweettalk wrote:i thought he looked content and just fine at his home in japan. he's been there most of his life, bringing him back seems kind of... i dunno.
I think the word is selfish.

Selfish on the part of those who pushed for him to come back. I agree...he looked just FINE where he was. That's been his home longer than over here was. Certainly doesn't seem the type to enjoy that type of environment at ALL. He's been on a more secluded part of a farm. Quiet, NO other stallions around, just mares. I wonder if they'll go and stick him in a paddock surrounded by other stallions now.

I guess time will tell though. He's stuck there now...

Blowen already said he was putting him in a paddock by Sarava. I don't know if that will happen. I do hope they put him somewhere he is happy and not miserable.

lurkey mclurker · Sat Oct 24, 2015 4:38 pm

Would there be any benefits of gelding him now/at this age, if he clearly isn't interested in breeding...?

Retrospectiv · Sat Oct 24, 2015 4:48 pm

lurkey mclurker wrote:Would there be any benefits of gelding him now/at this age, if he clearly isn't interested in breeding...?

Unless there was a health issue (testicular for example)....nope.

Been a stallion all his life, bred a fair number of mares (even if not by popular TB stallion standards). Many of those behaviours are as much learned as hormonal. He's been the aggressive, not so social type all his life. Gelding wouldn't change that to any extent at this point and sometimes gelding later in life can be a bit more risky surgery wise. He'll also not likely ever be turned out with other horses so again pointless.

LostADream · Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:13 am

EquineAnne wrote:
LostADream wrote: Gotta love that 'tude, but something tells me he's not going to be one they encourage people to pet and feed over the fence...hope they've reviewed and strengthened their liability insurance!
Do you think he's worse than John?

Hard to tell without hearing much about him since he went overseas, but the stories that have come out are similar and I'm sure we'll be getting quite a few more now that he's home. He certainly seems to be just as intelligent, which makes it worse...those are the kind that wait for just the right moment to get you, and make it good!

lurkey mclurker · Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:41 pm

Didn't see this posted yet...

Victor Espinoza ‏@EspinozasVictor

Long time no see, visiting my first @KentuckyDerby winner #WarEmblem.

https://twitter.com/EspinozasVictor/sta ... 5242808320

Treve · Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:48 pm

First pic of him interacting with a human/living thing where he doesn't look angry.

I wonder if he recognises him/cares? I've visited horses from my past years after and they definitely recognised me, but might depend how much time Victor actually spent with WE.

Insane Crazy · Mon Nov 02, 2015 12:22 am

Very worried about Victor's fingers in this photo.

Private Thoughts · Tue Nov 03, 2015 4:19 pm

Found this article from a few weeks back with some pictures. He looks pretty good in both pictures.

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2015/1 ... d-friends/

tachyon · Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:59 am

lurkey mclurker wrote:Didn't see this posted yet...

Victor Espinoza ‏@EspinozasVictor

Long time no see, visiting my first @KentuckyDerby winner #WarEmblem.

https://twitter.com/EspinozasVictor/sta ... 5242808320

as he won at Churchill Downs, May 4th 2002.

LostADream · Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:40 am

Hey look, his ears do go forward!

Insane Crazy · Thu Nov 12, 2015 12:13 pm

That photo looks straight out of a shoot for the cover of some YA horse book. How windswept you look, WE!

Starine · Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:11 pm

Insane Crazy wrote:That photo looks straight out of a shoot for the cover of some YA horse book. How windswept you look, WE!

Yes. That's really the first and only photo I've seen of him where he looks he looks beautiful to me.

lurkey mclurker · Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:04 pm

Gorgeous headshot!