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RAINTREE MORGANS AMHA Breeder's Hall of Fame Induction As anyone knows, Barb Rudicel has no problem making something of nothing.
With innumerable contributions to the Morgan breed despite some rather severe setbacks,
Barb has proven with courage and the simple belief in your endeavors, that accomplishments are forthcoming.
She has turned her hobby into one of the most successful Morgan farms in the Midwest. Her farm, after suffering a
devastating fire in 1982, started anew, and became a prevailing force in the Morgan world. With breeding and raising
just two to four foals each year, Raintree Morgans has developed an impressive list of more than 50 Grand National
and World Champions. And as anyone knows, Barb can get even the most reticent auction bidder to bid higher
(as we will all see tomorrow night!).
Many stories in the Morgan world begin with a young girl's dream of owning a horse. This story starts no differently, but this dream came to life. After pestering her family for years, Barb's father finally yielded to her wishes, when at age 13, Barb received a Saddlebred she kept at a boarding facility and cared for after school. Her father may not have realized it at the time, but he played an instrumental role in teaching Barb a lesson: if you want something bad enough and don't give up, you just might get what you ask for. Her teenage years brought other activities, later on college, a husband, two sons, the busyness of family life, and teaching at Ball state University. But the desire to have horses again was never far away, as the Rudicels had purchased six acres with the thought of building a horse barn. Barb was drawn to the beauty and disposition of the breed after watching "Justin Morgan Had A Horse" on television and thought it would be perfect for her young family. Barb found her first Morgan, Black Ayr's Baroness, at Bud DeBaun's farm in Indiana. Max knew he was in trouble when instead of coming home with one horse, Barb purchased a yearling chestnut colt for a "good deal" too. With two young sons, Barb bought these horses with the intent of involving her family in an enjoyable hobby,
but no thought was given to creating a breeding operation. So how did this woman with a casual horse hobby turn her
barn into a full breeding operation? That first broodmare came carrying the first foal born with the Raintree prefix, Raintree Sparkler, who enjoy countless successes in the show ring. Barb's goal when she started breeding was to produce pretty horses with excellent dispositions, a goal that has not changed since the operation's inception. Among the list of champions Raintree has produced, raised, and shown with the Raintree prefix through the years include Sparkler, Royal, Revelry, Nomination, Superette, The Raintree breeding program came to a halt in 1982, when a devastating fire occurred at the farm that winter. Fourteen horses lost their lives including world champions Zephyr's Ebonnette, Raintree Superette, many broodmares, a couple that were in foal to Waseeka's In Command , and a couple yearlings by In Command. But every cloud has a silver lining; her stallion, Raintree Revelation, was stabled nearby, and several people in the Morgan community stepped up to help Barb get back on her feet again. But probably the greatest encouragement came from her husband Max, who despite being a non-horse person, has supported Barb and her equine passion these 40-plus years. Remember Barb's Midas Touch, turning nothing into something? Barb can be single-handedly credited for the success of the World Morgan Futurity, a rewards program she has served at the helm of since 1987. She has served on numerous show committees and clubs and is a welcome asset to any group she joins.
Past examples of Barb's perseverance through some extremely rough circumstances proves her father's adage that by never giving up you can achieve what you want. For its great accomplishments in the breeding shed and the show ring, AMHA is pleased to induct Raintree Morgans into its Breeder's Hall of Fame. | ||||
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Barb & Max Rudicel ~ 6839 W. Isanogel Rd.~ Muncie, IN 47304 ~ (765) 288-3558 ~ e-mail: brudicel@aol.com © 2002-2012 Raintree Morgans ~ Website design and maintenance by Masterworks |
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You know Barb; she built a barn with six stalls and only two were full.
It would be a shame to leave four stalls open, right?
Revelation, Command, Replica, Night Song, Endeavor, Reignman, Main Attraction, Sam I Am, Valedictorian, Let's Dance, Picasso, Celine, and Rebecca, not to mention other horses such as Kickapoo Kracker Jax, Zephyr's Ebonette, Burkland Sweet Music, Legacy's Desert Rose and Southern Rhythm.
Although Barb has been seen in the show ring many times through the years, and is an accomplished driver, her first love is foaling time. Along with her own horses, she has had a hand in raising a myriad of Morgan champions, Saronno, RWF Over The Rainbow, MSV Maximus, MSV Miss Belle, MSV Dreamer, MSV Genuine Risk, MSV Shooting Star, He's A Heartbreaker, Graycliff Go Navy, Graycliff Tony, The New Millennium, Step Right Up, Jaklee Bravo Papa, Jaklee Bravo Juliet, and Stand In Tribute, to name just a few.