by Shawna Valenzuela
People
are always asking me, "Who is the most fun Peruvian you have ever
ridden?" I usually answer that question. Are you asking which one
I feel was the most fun or which one was the "best"? The smoothest
Peruvian I have ever ridden was a stallion by the name of "Hierro".
The most brio was a stallion named "*HNS Aureo", the biggest
thrill was always "*HNS Domingo", the strongest was "*Dominguito",
the most noble, "Romancero TB"...... the list can go on forever.
But only one horse stands alone as the "Most Fun" Peruvian I
have ever ridden. That distinction goes to my darling, incorrigible, always
overweight, goofball of a gelding by the name of "RDS D'Artagnan".
RDS D'Artagnan, or "Darty" as I affectionately call him is a
14 hand fireball of a gelding with a definite "Napoleon complex".
From the time he was first started under saddle, he thought he was "the
have all to end all"! Unfortunately, his less than smooth gait and
less than ideal conformation dictated otherwise. Even though he managed
to pull off quite a few championships as a stallion it was decided it
was definitely to the breed's advantage to not use Darty as a breeding
stallion!
her
to go ahead, "Just don't plan on winning any National Championships
with him", I smirked. Dianna saddled him up and went for a ride and
came back and smugly stated that "she" was going to make him
a National Champion!! Well, after I finished laughing (which was quite
a long time) I looked up to see my husband Jorge standing there nodding
his head in agreement with Dianna. Against my wishes and much to my chagrin,
Darty was loaded in the trailer, along with our best and was off to the
Nationals in Reno, Nevada! Well, needless to say, and due solely to Dianna's
exceptional riding skills I'm sure, Darty came home the 1993 U.S. National
Champion of Champions Pleasure Gelding. However, I would be kidding myself
if I were to say that anything other that Dianna's riding skills were
the reason for that title. I was in the same class with her on a "truly"
pleasurable gelding of ours named "Estanciero TB". Estanciero
performed flawlessly. I watched in awe as Dianna managed to canter, rear
and back into the gazebo with D'Artagnan, all unintentional of course,
and NEVER ONCE did the judge catch her in the act!!! I'm convinced that
she deliberately let him act up when the judge wasn't looking so he would
behave when he was!! 
It
took little effort on Jorge's part to refine his abilities and because
it was what the horse loved and Śwanted' to do, it was no time before
he was cantering in place, changing leads, doing a levade, and all kinds
of other "fun" but not necessarily 'pleasurable' things! So
"Darty" was promoted (or demoted, depending on how you look
at it) to the position of 'ranch dancing horse', a job he definitely excels
at. For years now this has been his specialty. We have hauled him all
over the United States for exhibitions and he's always a crowd favorite.
His presence and love of what he does is apparent to all that see him.
Not only is he fun to watch but he shows people that Peruvians can do
what other breeds do and do it well. This year, at 14 years of age, we
once again decided to show Darty in a National competition. He hadn't
been shown in a National show since 1993, and he was 14 years of age,
so we really had no hopes of winning anything but figured since he was
there for the musical exercise class we might as well show him as well.
Once again he astounded me by first winning the qualifying class for Performance
and then going on to become the 2000 U.S. National Champion and U.S. National
Champion of Champions in the Performance Division!! His great strength,
heart, and willingness to perform, has made him one of my all-time favorites.
No, he's not smooth. No, he's not always co-operative.... But he's ALWAYS
100% FUN!!!! And I love him.
Shawna Valenzuela
Rancho Santa Vicenta
P. O. Box 159 33350 Newport Rd.
Winchester, CA 92596
909-926-9637
e-mail: sahara@pe.net
