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A graduate Suma Cum Laude of Duquesne University in Marketing and Business Administration, Marla Ruscitto, youngest of Lou and Carol’s children, is not only a learned horsewoman, but an integral part of the Empress breeding program and an accomplished equestrian. In addition to winning the Arabian Professional & Amateur Horseman’s Association Amateur Performance Horsewoman of the Year title in 2001, Marla’s accomplishments include numerous Scottsdale, Buckeye and Regional Championships as well as U.S. and Canadian National Championships dating from her career as a Youth rider up to and including the present day.
Marla counts amongst her most rewarding accomplishments in the show ring, her National Championship in Arabian English Pleasure AAOTR on the great Hucklebey Berry+/. Of that ride Marla says “I could not ask for a more exciting experience; winning was an added bonus."
Other memorable National titles include her unanimous Canadian National Championship with EA Mybey Berry (Hucklebey Berry+/ X Mahoganyy) in Arabian Country Pleasure Driving AAOTD and numerous other U.S. and Canadian Championships with “Bobbie”, both driving and under saddle. She can also list National titles in multiple disciplines with great horses such as Dutch Dolley+/, The Big OH+/, VF Society Miss++++, Jazzberry Bey and Lightnin Strikes.
Some of Marla’s most exciting wins have come astride Empress’s Five Gaited National Show Horse, Lady Chatterly. Marla and Lady have been awarded the National Grand Championship in the Five Gaited Amateur rider class a prestigious, and unparalleled, three times.
Marla is currently campaigning her Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure gelding, EA Words Of Wisdom (Phi Slama Jama X Pearl Of Wisdom). Having been awarded Championships in the Amateur Owner classes at both the Buckeye and Region 14 shows, Marla is looking forward to competing at the Arabian U.S. National Championship show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in October as well as exhibiting “Wisdom” in the National Show Horse Finals in Springfield, Illinois this September. Also be sure to watch for Marla and Mister Matrix+/ (Hucklebey Berry+/ X MWF Miska) at U.S. Nationals as well, competing in the Arabian Country Pleasure Driving AOTD.
With the support of her parents, Lou and Carol, as well as her horse trainer, Chad Judy, Marla maintains incredible balance between work, finding time to ride and show horses and be a mom to her beautiful (and horse crazy!) daughter, Marleea.
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