Ruffin Farms is a responsible breeder of gaited horses with an emphasis on the Spotted Saddle Horse based in Pushmataha, Alabama. We produce quality horses with a focus on temperament, conformation, color and structural soundness. We are members of the National Spotted Saddle Horse Association. We're happy to answer any questions you may have about the gaited horse. Thanks for visiting!

Two In the Making! 

Hey guys!

It’s been and minute,  but we’re still at it here at Ruffin Farms! We’re expecting two happy and healthy foals on the ground by May 2019! Our black and white Spotted Saddle Horse Bella is now 303 days pregnant with a very energetic little baby. She’s in foal to Thunder, a 16hh tattooed Standarbred stallion with top speed of 25 mph! We’re hoping for a minimally spotted well-gaited and fast paced racking horse. 

Duchess, our silver dapple Rocky Mountain/Spotted Saddle Horse cross, is in foal to Lucky, a powerhouse of a Spotted Saddle Horse with sound temperament and predictable gait. She’s now 317 and is expected to foal within the next 2 weeks! She’s a first time mom, so we’re praying all the right intincts manifest.

Stay tuned! We’ll have updates and pictures coming in the next few weeks!

Expecting....AGAIN! 

Well, as you know, you never really know what's going on in the world of horses. Back in September, we took our mare Bella to a stud farm to be bred to a 16hh powerhouse spotted saddle horse stallion. After 6 weeks on the farm, she was still showing heat and wasn't showing any signs of settling. A trip to the vet revealed she was indeed in heat, but we were confused by her not being pregnant after exposure to this stallion for 6 weeks. So a uterine culture and sensitivity swab came back positive for pseudomonas. Yikes! Pseudomonas can only be treated (or attempted to be treated) during an active heat cycle. As the days begin to shorten, Bella began to shut down and not cycle for the winter.

So here we are, 6 months later, March 28, 2016. My dad believes Bella's behavior over the weekend is an indication that she is starting to cycle again. We take her to the vet expecting to begin treatment for her pseudomonas. However, a relatively quick pass into her rectum reveals she's actually pregnant! Who would've known?! All the research says a "dirty" mare is difficult at best to settle. But apparently she was bred back in September when we cultured her. So she's 6 months pregnant now and seems to be doing well!

We pray for another safe delivery this August. 

Kick! Kick! And FLIP!! 

Today I felt Stormy's baby kick for the first time! It's Monday, January 18, 2016 (MLK Day), and Stormy is 197 days (6.5 months) pregnant by her last breeding date. Her expected due date this year is June 11, 2016. We continue to pray for a safe pregnancy and a healthy foal this summer!! 

Coming Soon!! 

This just in! After a relatively quick trip to the vet, we confirmed Stormy is in foal to Demon. 45 days. Expect a foal on the gound in mid June 2016! We're praying for a safe and uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery.

Extremely Late Update! 

Stormy had her foal on the afternoon of May 12, 2015. She had a little filly that was another mini me of Demon. Unfortunately, Stormy suffered from placenta previa and had an early placental detachment. The foal die only 15 minutes after delivery. That was a reality that crushed all of our hearts, but Stormy suffered most. She mourned over the loss of her foal until she literally couldn't stand anymore. 

It turned out that she had sustained a uterine infection which spread systemically and produced a subsequent flare up of her laminitis. She went downhill fast! I rushed her to the vet and we took several steps to get her rehydrated, douched, and put her front hooves on ice. It was a slow and tedious journey, but I'm proud to say that after a round of antibiotics, pain meds, ice and a new set of shoes, she's doing remarkably better! In just six weeks, she was virtually back to her old self.

She's now back out in the pasture with the other girls.

We don't know what next year may hold, but we are just thankful Stormy made it out safely and is thriving!

Somersaulting baby! 

Today, I felt the foal kicking! Well, it was really more like a somersault! I took Stormy out for a ride just to exercise her while I can. I stopped to talk to my uncle for a minute and just ran my hands over her belly. Around the 3rd time, I decided to feel under her belly. So I placed my hand under her belly, just left of her navel and then it happened! The baby went to jumping as though it was trying to escape from the feel of my hand! 

That feeling never gets old! To feel the presence of life, of growth! It's all a wonder and a beautiful part of raising horses!

I look forward to seeing a very active foal on the ground in May!

Another one on the way!! 

It's the craziest thing! Horses are quite resourceful and ours prove to be experts at making the best use of the time they've got! Back in June, we moved our mares and gelding down to a 50-acre pasture just under a mile from our house. There's ample space out there with a creek and two ponds, and we've divided it into 3 separate paddocks and pastures with the help of some underbrush and the creek. In a fleeting thought, we decided to allow our stallion, Bleu Demon, the luxury of a little fresh air and greener pasture. Not even 20 minutes after being there, he made his way through 20 yards of brush, a fence and a 10 foot creek to find Stormy, our grade TWH mare that was apparently in heat. Immediately, we separated the two bringing Demon back up to the house and allowing the mares to enjoy their new space alone.

We were not really concerned as it was only 10 minutes or so. Stormy's attitude began to change over the next 4 months. Typically, she couldn't care less about being doted on. She ducks and dodges you when she knows she's going to have to do some work for you. But all of that started to change around August. She's always been the dominant mare (she's 16.2 hh and every bit of 1100 pounds), but she started becoming outright bratty. Completely territorial now, she would pin her ears at and chase any of the others that vied for our attention. 

In December, I finally decided enough was enough and took her to the vet along with our filly, Mona, who had developed an abscess under her right hind hoof. I told the vet I just wanted her palpated to be certain there wasn't another cause for her attitude shift. With only one pass made into her backside, Dr. Seal confirmed she sure enough was in foal--6 months, in fact! We went ahead and gave her the 7-month pneumabort-k shot and put her on a more closely monitored diet (she foundered on grass about 2 years ago).

So now we're just watching and waiting! The foal is due to drop in May! Pictures of Stormy can be found on the Mares page.

Check back for more updates!

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