Wanted to let everyone know that we lost Tuff today , he had to be put down due to complications from the Purpura. In October of 2005 Tuff won the ETI Trail Trial put on by Corral 9 with an almost perfect score of 2 points. This was only Tuff’s second Trail Trial, but what made it so impressive was that Tuff was only 2 and Trail Trials are usually won by older very broke horses not a 2 year old colt. His potential was unbelievable. Christy would often say that he must have been a horse in his past life because everything we ever ask him to do he did it with pride and style. The day after the Trail Trial he turned up sick. His legs were swollen to the size of telephone poles, so big that the hide split off in places. He had Purpura a follow on to Strangles that only 1% of Strangles victims will get. Purpura is the uncontrolled bleeding of the capillaries. After five months of daily steroid injections to control his capillaries, his immune system was shot and his body was riddled with infections and abscesses. His body couldn’t keep up with the infection and we had to put him down after a long hard battle. I wanted to take time to thank everyone who helped me though this ordeal. It made all the difference in the world having a support group to fall back on while dealing with his illness. A special thanks to my wife Christy who had to deal with all of my panic phone calls on “what to do now” and all of the nights that I woke her, when I went out to check on him in the middle of the night. To my mom for all her support and advise over the last 5 months and a to Dr Marteney and his staff Jennifer and Kathy, thanks for all of your help, advise and expertise. And a special thanks to Tuff! He taught me much more than I ever taught him. He taught me how to be Horseman and a lot about life in general. That little horse had more heart and try than any of us will ever know! Thanks Tuff, I will never forget you! There will never be another horse like Tuff. He had a way of touching everyone he came in contact with. He will be missed by all. When you think of Tuff, don’t think of him how he left us. But remember him has the Champion that he was. Because the last time “I” put a saddle on his back. “HE “ put a buckle in my hand!! Jim | 
