Stallion temperament or personality

[TapitsGal]

My friend has a Off track thoroughbred filly by Race Day. She's heard that like his daddy Tapit Race day inherited Tapits feisty and sometimes unpredictable temperament..her filly however although she can have moments being unpredictable but is mainly very sweet. Do you know of any other CURRENT stallions who can be difficult to handle. I believe I heard into Mischief can be quiet temperamental...are there any stories out there of stallions who sired offspring but didn't pass on all the personality traits? Or the foals have a completely different personality from the sire?

[CorridorZ75]

Dynaformer could be downright dangerous, but I have not heard about his progeny being particularly difficult to deal with.

[ThreeMustangs]

Dynaformer could be downright dangerous, but I have not heard about his progeny being particularly difficult to deal with.

Old Friends resident Nicanor is a sweetheart.

[Ridan_Remembered]

According to the National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, scientists estimate that 20 to 60 percent of temperament is determined by genetics. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/temperament

That, of course, pertains to human beings, but I raised German Wirehaired Pointers for show and hunting in the late 1970's through the early 1990's and can tell you with absolute certainty that temperament is inheritable in animals.

Take the question out of the realm of humans and their pets and livestock for very clear examples...honey badgers, wolverines and the like. They are invariably fearless and nasty because it is a survival strategy. Wild herd animals are invariably hyper flighty as a survival strategy, but are capable of attacking viciously when necessary.

Humans have tried to breed docile temperaments into their livestock and pets for obvious reasons, but not always. For example, breeds of dogs used for fighting, war and policing often have unpredictable temperaments. The Pit Bull is an obvious example.

Thoroughbred racehorses appear to be bred only for speed with little or no consideration for other qualities, so it is not surprising that some families tend to be more hot-tempered that others. For example, Nearco had a fiery temperament that has been passed down through many of his descendants.

Here is a non-scientific article that discusses a number of the Thoroughbred stallions who had difficult temperaments. This article has a mixed view of the question, "inheritable or made." https://www.sportingpost.co.za/2011/12/ ... ereditary/

[Kurenai]

Although not current, Storm Cats had the reputation to be high strung and difficult to deal with. Not true at all. Personally I found Secretariats offspring horrible to be around. I only have a small sample size, since I'm from Europe though.

If we compare it with dogs, of course you won't get a couch potato if you have a border collie litter from working lines. From experience there are some characteristics that get inherited, but it's all with how they're brought up and how those traits are channeled. Even within a litter you have a whole bunch of different characters.

[Private Thoughts]

From my experience not only genetics, but how horses are treated when they are foals. Some farms handle foals from day one, and treat them with kindness, but set guidelines. These guys usually grow into sensible adults.

Other farms are rough, or just total are devoid of human contact. These foals grow into flighty and difficult to handle yearlings and adults. Downright dangerous. So much do the farrier and vets would not touch them until we had dosed them up with some Ace. It’s really a shame cause some of them could have turned out to be nice runners, but were basically just head cases. And they went to good trainers such as Lucas and McPeek among others.

[prides2259]

I Have to Say Laoban @ Sequel Stallion s in NYS ( near My home )
he is a Living Doll and after a Couple of Breeding Season s He
Remains a Living Doll a Lap Dog Type ( I pass By Throughout the Year)
When I Get By His Pasture I Call him He Never Fails to come to the fence And Pose for a Pic
If Anyone is Local Sequel Is having Open house 1/19/2020 12 to 4 pm

[Mylute]

Very interesting topic. Temperament and personality go hand in hand, and it is also possible to have a stud, or any horse, with a friendly personality that can be stubborn and prone to nip when under tack.

Tapit has been named as a producer of headcases, but does anyone know if Tapit himself has a certain temperament? And of course the mare's temperament can also influence the kiddo.

Nice to learn that Laoban is a sweetie pie. IRRC his name actually means crazy, though. Could be wrong.

EDIT: Nope, his name means Old Boss in Mandarin. Anyone know what horse I'm thinking of?

[Flanders]

My uncle's old horse was incredibly smart, nice, and had the biggest personality that I've personally ever seen in a horse, but he was the most skittish and flighty horse I've been around. The skittish and flighty part could make him incredibly dangerous to be around because when that switch flipped he just didn't think, it was RUN.

[Slewfan2]

I’ve heard that my baby, A.P. Indy, is a sweetheart...and that another son of Slew, Slew o’Gold, was so friendly and easygoing that kids could be put on his back.

I haven’t heard anything indicating that Tapit has any meanness in him; he no doubt gets his feistiness from his own sire, Pulpit - who wasn’t nasty either.

[Retrospectiv]

Tapit has been named as a producer of headcases, but does anyone know if Tapit himself has a certain temperament? And of course the mare's temperament can also influence the kiddo.

Tapit likely gets it via Pulpit, and his dam Preach. Preach was a hot headcase and Pulpit ran hot and exciteable as well.
Just runs prominent in that particular line.

[Flanders]

Tapit has been named as a producer of headcases, but does anyone know if Tapit himself has a certain temperament? And of course the mare's temperament can also influence the kiddo.

Here is an article about Tapit from 2016, where his daily routine and personality is discussed:

https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/arti ... ble-tapit/

[Mylute]

Based on what Barbara Livingston said on twitter, the late The Lieutenant was a really fun dude who loved people. Hopefully he passed on his temperament to most of his kids. RIP.

[prides2259]

Met The Lieutenant at the 2019 Stallion Show at Sequel
He Must have Not Been there Very Long Before the Show
He was a A Bit High and Was Fussy But Nice Conformation
Beautiful Head Well Put together
Will Ask When I go Over There 1/19/20 if it Will be Possible to
Be Permitted in the See his Only Crop and Get Some Pic s

Dam shame He Is Gone God Speed Boy