Famous stallions' quirks

My Cruising horse (in avatar) was very spooky - a real spooky-spinner. He was 17 hh & would jump *anything* - I had never competed beyond British Novice on a ticket jumping, but with him in charge we got as far as 1 m 15 BS & were preparing to have a crack at Fox when he got sick & later died.

He was my horse of a lifetime, although he would also scare the living daylights out of me on a regular basis! But when the bell went sj, he'd be off & would try & jump whatever caught his eye first. It was like riding a rolls royce - so smooth & so much power...but you had to sit tight!

T x
 
Anyone have any horses by fraam? My boy is a real sweetheart can pull the odd face but he doesn't mean it, super temperament under saddle tries his heart out all the time
 
I have a Master Imp grandson (his sire is by MI out of a mare by Clover Hill), and bl**dy hell he's true to the "quirky but talented" byline! Totally switched on all the time, you can't take your eye off the ball or he'll whip out from under you. I bought him as a 6yo and he was wonderful, then became a nightmare almost overnight when he turned 7. He takes all of his confidence from his rider and worries about STUPID things - while ignoring genuinely scary things - but when he's moving properly he goes like a dream. Light in the hand, floats along like he's on springs, and so SO responsive. When you have his attention you have every single little bit of his attention; the trick has always been keeping it because he's got such a busy little brain! He's also the loveliest person to have around, he adores people and is just generally a delight to own and to handle.

On his bad days, he has me in tears. On his good days, I can fly.

I tried a mare by Ricardo Z (out of a mare by Touchdown) when I was horse hunting and she was just the most fantastic creature I have ever sat on.

My sister has a KoD great-grandson. He's generally lovely, but can be difficult to get going and is sometimes a bit of a thug on the ground. He's 17.2hh and has no issue pushing his weight around if he thinks he can get away with it.
 
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I've got an ISH gelding that has KoD lines on his dam side. He's definitely quite arrogant, not super forgiving and doesn't suffer fools gladly. But he also has a very sensitive hysterical streak that I think comes more from his sire line which is Oldenburg/Selle Francais.
 
This thread is so interesting and it is great to hear some well-informed and authentic opinions on progeny from various stallions/lines.

Does anyone have any opinion/experience on Stanhope Diddicoy-sired horses? I know he isn't as prolific as some of the others mentioned on the thread but thought it was worth asking. I met another SD gelding owner at a show a couple of years ago and it was interesting to see how similar our horses were in appearance and temperament.
 
Cruising horses are a bit notorious alright but he was apparently quite difficult himself. The girl who broke him said she spent most of her time on the ground - as in thrown there! I do know that his stallion son Beowulf is a nightmare. When the stable lads try to go into him they are greeted by the two front legs - they're scared of him. Also fertility in Cruising mares is not supposed to be the greatest.

Interesting about Cavalier Royales being tricky. He is the grand sire of two broodmares I have, by Garrison Royal, who are so quirky and funny. They don't walk anywhere only trot, especially if a little stressed. So instead of walking in a field to graze in another spot, they trot over there. Although it could be from the dam's side as she was known as 'the mad one' in her stud, and moved everywhere at speed! They also seem to get startled by invisible things, all the other horses will be totally chilled and they'll be staring at something and looking worried. They're lovely mares but a bit quirky!
 
Gamebird said:
My Mill Law's a thug! Extremely cheeky, don't leave him without a job for more than a couple of minutes or he'll find something to entertain himself. Quite sharp to ride at home but an utter pro to compete and a natural XC. I'd hesitate to say 'professional's horse' as I am far from a professional but I would say very much suited to a fairly intensive competitive program. No nastiness but a lot of joie de vivre and a total disrespect for your personal space, though this may have been his (lack of) upbringing ;).

Other Mill Laws that I know have certainly been best when kept occupied.

Anyone got any experience of Iroko or Voltaire/Furioso lines?
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I know the above was posted ages ago but my mare has Furoiso lines on her dams side (Sorry if its huge!). Very sweet mare, well put together, incredibly mannerly. However she worries about life, sharp to ride, can stress. Is this a common thing with Furoiso, Furoiso II types?

 
Damnation said:
I know the above was posted ages ago but my mare has Furoiso lines on her dams side (Sorry if its huge!). Very sweet mare, well put together, incredibly mannerly. However she worries about life, sharp to ride, can stress. Is this a common thing with Furoiso, Furoiso II types?

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Furioso is known for having a good temperament. Having had a French Buffet gelding and then researching later...I would point the finger of blame at him. Mine was also very very sharp. Got fed up with it in the end as he was relentless. Nice on the ground, good jumper but took over reacting to a new level.
 
Luci07 said:
Furioso is known for having a good temperament. Having had a French Buffet gelding and then researching later...I would point the finger of blame at him. Mine was also very very sharp. Got fed up with it in the end as he was relentless. Nice on the ground, good jumper but took over reacting to a new level.
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Thank you Luci07, she is a fantastic mare and I did consider breeding from her but I didn't want to risk a foal that would self combust!

I've never been able to find out much about French Buffet (barring he was a racehorse turned SJ'er) or what his breeding is like so its nice to find someone who knows about him!! (I know my mare is well bred down her dams side but no idea of her sire!)
 
Damnation said:
Thank you Luci07, she is a fantastic mare and I did consider breeding from her but I didn't want to risk a foal that would self combust!

I've never been able to find out much about French Buffet (barring he was a racehorse turned SJ'er) or what his breeding is like so its nice to find someone who knows about him!! (I know my mare is well bred down her dams side but no idea of her sire!)
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French Buffet stood in Holland and was used in the KWPN studbook. He also SJ'ed to GP level so had a good record. He went to Ireland when he was quite old so didn't sire much - maybe 3 years or so? He tends to throw stock which is short coupled and agile but as I said, sharp! Mine was a superb careful jumper once he got over his incredible loathing of fillers. That took forever to sort out and a lot of teeth grinding but once he got there he was superb. We felt he had been started badly over coloureds as was never a problem with XC. We did get there in the end but it was a lengthy job!
 
Luci07 said:
French Buffet stood in Holland and was used in the KWPN studbook. He also SJ'ed to GP level so had a good record. He went to Ireland when he was quite old so didn't sire much - maybe 3 years or so? He tends to throw stock which is short coupled and agile but as I said, sharp! Mine was a superb careful jumper once he got over his incredible loathing of fillers. That took forever to sort out and a lot of teeth grinding but once he got there he was superb. We felt he had been started badly over coloureds as was never a problem with XC. We did get there in the end but it was a lengthy job!
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Thats awesome, thank you Luci07, my mare's conformation is actually rather good (Hence breeding from her) but she is just such a worrier. She will jump anything and has jumped 1m30 with previous home. She was bred in Holland, and I don't know if she was roughtly broken in or what because she just panics under saddle so easily. No bucking, napping, spinning etc. But I CANNOT ride her with a whip. It took me 3 months to be able to lead her with one... At the age of 14 I doubt she is going to get much better :)
 
Not read all replies but anyone else with a 'For Pleasure' baby? Had mine just under a year and he is wonderfully talented but pretty head strong and likes things his own way when ridden. Very sweet on the ground though

My Armitage/Quick Star/Pilot baby was sharp with a very active back end! Amazingly talented with lovely straight movement but came to me with a note that read 'Good luck,' however after gaining his trust that horse would walk through fire for you if you asked him to. Sadly lost him to colic a year ago today at age 5
 
HashRouge said:
I know two geldings by Balou du Rouet and I totally agree. They are absolute superstars and real charmers. One is very quirky, which comes from his dam, but they are both delights to be around. I adore them.

The worst horse I've ever known temperament wise was by Warrant, so I'd be interested to hear if anyone has experience with any by him.
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Balou du Rouet - This is what I like to hear!
I have one due in 10 weeks time!!
 
ihatework said:
Balou du Rouet - This is what I like to hear!
I have one due in 10 weeks time!!
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I am ridiculously jealous haha! I honestly cannot emphasise enough how much I like both the ones I know and the younger one is the first thing I'd buy if I came into any money. They are both very talented and real stunners too. I adore them!

I hope you'll post pictures when yours arrives!
 
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Damnation said:
Thats awesome, thank you Luci07, my mare's conformation is actually rather good (Hence breeding from her) but she is just such a worrier. She will jump anything and has jumped 1m30 with previous home. She was bred in Holland, and I don't know if she was roughtly broken in or what because she just panics under saddle so easily. No bucking, napping, spinning etc. But I CANNOT ride her with a whip. It took me 3 months to be able to lead her with one... At the age of 14 I doubt she is going to get much better :)
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I have got a mare sired by French Buffet and she is lovely. Very willing and sensible yet a little pocket rocket as she is very short coupled.
 
Goldenstar said:
Does he buck ?
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He has done on occasion, I wouldn't say it's a habit though. It's only if he's upset/excited/impatient, and it's more of a little back hump than a proper buck. Sometimes he tips back on his haunches slightly first. He does absolutely massive twisty fly bucks on the lunge that I'd have no hope in hell of sitting to!
 
Zombie thread alert! Loved reading through this - can't remember how I stumbled across it now but has there been a more recent iteration?

If any has experience of my boy's Slip Anchor (Shirley Heights, Mill Reef) line or relatives I'd love to hear!
 
Esme said:
Zombie thread alert! Loved reading through this - can't remember how I stumbled across it now but has there been a more recent iteration?

If any has experience of my boy's Slip Anchor (Shirley Heights, Mill Reef) line or relatives I'd love to hear!
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I helped start a Slip Anchor filly many many years ago - she came to us as a 2yr old to be backed before going into training. Lovely little thing, who was a real character. We discovered very early on that if you rode up next to her and said "One, Two, Three, GO...", she'd squeal, and clear off broncing like a good'un. Never put a foot out of line at any other time!
 
Auslander said:
I helped start a Slip Anchor filly many many years ago - she came to us as a 2yr old to be backed before going into training. Lovely little thing, who was a real character. We discovered very early on that if you rode up next to her and said "One, Two, Three, GO...", she'd squeal, and clear off broncing like a good'un. Never put a foot out of line at any other time!
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:D:D Brilliant!

Mine is the most loving and wonderful person to be around, with (for better or worse!) personality in spades.
 
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