Rugged Lark (May 1, 1981 – October 26, 2004) was

Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at s ...

stallion A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded (castrated). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" nec ...

who was a two-time

American Quarter Horse Association The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), based in Amarillo, Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many competitive even ...

(or AQHA) World Show Superhorse as well as being a three-time AQHA World Champion. He is also the winner of the Silver Spur AwardMattson ''Real American Quarter Horse'' pp. 112–113

Life

Rugged Lark was the son of a

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

stallion Really Rugged and out of a Quarter Horse

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...

named Alisa Lark. Alisa Lark was a great-granddaughter of Leo and a great-great-granddaughter of both

King P-234 King (1932–1958), often known as King P-234, was an outstanding early Quarter Horse stallion who influenced the breed throughout the early years of the American Quarter Horse Association (or AQHA). Life King was born June 25, 1932, the offsp ...

and Joe Hancock P-455.
Rugged Lark Pedigree at All Breed Pedigree
'

Show career

Rugged Lark won the AQHA World Show Superhorse title in 1985 and in 1987. He also was an AQHA Superior

Western Pleasure Western pleasure is a western style competition at horse shows that evaluates horses on manners and suitability of the horse for a relaxed and slow but collected gait cadence, along with calm and responsive disposition. The horse is to appear to ...

Horse, Superior Hunter Under Saddle Horse, and Superior Trail Horse. In 1987 he was the World Champion Senior Hunter Under Saddle Horse. In 1985 he was the World Champion Pleasure Driving Horse. He earned AQHA points in Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Trail, Hunter Hack,

Reining Reining is a western riding competition for horses where the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. All work is done at the lope (a version of the horse gait more commonly known worldwide as the canter), o ...

, Working Hunter, Western Riding, Pleasure Driving, and

Barrel Racing Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. In collegiate and professional ranks, it is usually a women's event, though both sexes compete at amateur a ...

Breeding record

Among Rugged Lark's offspring are The Lark Ascending, Rugged Painted Lark, Look Whos Larkin – 1999 AQHA World Show Superhorse, Jolena Lark,Martindale and Swan (ed.) ''Legends 7'' pp. 225–227 Rugged Lark II and Forever a Lark. He is one of only two stallions to sire other offspring to win superhorse titles.

Death and honors

Rugged Lark was euthanized in October 2004 due to

colic Colic or cholic () is a form of pain that starts and stops abruptly. It occurs due to muscular contractions of a hollow tube ( small and large intestine, gall bladder, ureter, etc.) in an attempt to relieve an obstruction by forcing content out ...

. Rugged Lark was inducted into the

AQHA Hall of Fame The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum was created by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), based in Amarillo, Texas. Ground breaking construction of the Hall of Fame Museum began in 1989. The distinction is earned by people and ...

Pedigree

Notes

References

*
All Breed Pedigree Database Pedigree of Rugged Lark
' retrieved on June 27, 2007 *
American Quarter Horse Foundation – Rugged Lark
' accessed on September 2, 2017 *
AQHA Hall of Fame
' accessed on September 2, 2017 * *

External links

Rugged Lark at Quarter Horse Directory

Rugged Lark at Quarter Horse Legends
{{authority control American Quarter Horse show horses American Quarter Horse sires 1981 animal births 2004 animal deaths AQHA Hall of Fame (horses)