September
2009
The Ruffino Story
Some of you may wonder where I came from, why my family
is so loud, and who the heck my friends are. Now that
International has passed me by, and my final speech
has been read I feel that filling in the gaps of my
youth will solve a lot of mysteries.
It all began with a furry little red roan fart-blaster
named Ponytail and a three year old little monkey child.
He was the apple of my eye and was the fastest horse
in the Midwest, at a trot at least. We took Ponytail
to every open show possible and ruled the leadline
ring until one day a woman saw him and gave us Eulah
Gahwiler’s number. She just opened Pandora’s
Box on the P.O.A. circuit. We trailered down to Eulah’s
that very next weekend, and so began my show career.
After being in the show pen for about a year I decided
that Ponytail’s lack of skill in the walking,
trotting, cantering, and backing up departments was
getting on my nerves, so my parents decided to upgrade
to I’m as Cute as a Bug (A.K.A.
Bugsey). The new apple of my eye...or so I thought.
The key to Bugsey was that you had to know how to sit
or else. Many will ask or else what, the consequences
are too gruesome. After Bugsey I moved on to Tee’s
Lucky Dude and S.A.S. Black Jack. This dynamic duo
brought me to the high point of my P.O.A. years. I
won high point multiple ponies at the 1999 International
and won every single game class except
Handy Horse (Kylee I was proud of you). Then all the
fun was over. I moved to 9- 12 with Tee’s Sassafras
T. Sassy taught me so much, but the main lesson was that mares that are bred to do
games could do pleasure they just don’t want
to. I loved her all the same and still show her today,
games only. I then moved on the Pride of Prince the
most amazing show pony I have ever showed. Pops brought
the heat and was undefeated in the stallion stakes
at the International and never walked away from a show
without a high point. Unfortunately, my little man
became too little and I had to move on to the Creeper
(A.K.A. Pride’s Maid to Pleasure). Potter has
taught me a lot, but mainly patience. She is one in
a million with looks and personality. All of these
horses have taught me so much, and I love them all
in a very special ways.
Now for the thank you’s. There are so many people
that I would like to thank, and so many friends that
I have made that I cannot possibly thank them all.
So to P.O.A. I say thank you. All of the great friends
we have made from the east coast to the west...it’s
been a great ride. |
Pony Of The Americas Club, Inc.