NCSU DARK AND RUGGED "Leo" : A registered AQHA gelding born at the NC State Equine Educational Unit by My Rugged Destiny out of NCSU HpnotiqNTheDark. He is a well-balanced gelding with nice profiling. He is straight and smooth over the top and shows a more powerful top line coupled with a wider chest and prominent muscling. He shows good breed character about the head and neck with a nice sloping shoulder allowing for a lower head and neck carriage. Leo has a gentle appearance and is clean about his hocks and knees. His build and bloodlines give him potential in AQHA western pleasure, AQHA performance classes, and AQHA hunt seat .

He has also been used for teaching purposes in multiple classes at NCSU and NCSU CVM including ANS 411: Management of Growing and Performance Horses taught by Dr. Paul Siciliano (recipient of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) and the Equine Science Society (ESS) 2017 Equine Science Award). This course is an overview of scientific applications used in management of growing and performance horses. Topics include: nutrition and feeding, disease prevention, exercise conditioning, and methods of evaluation and selection. Leo has been an asset to the classes where the students come in with limited horse experience. Students spend many hours working hands on with all the horses in the two classes and with the regular volunteers. Leo has been desensitized and taught how to lead, load and unload, and stand for a farrier.

Leo is eligible for the AWR ( American Warmblood Registry) registration and is by My Rugged Destiny - a son of Rugged Lark (two time AQHA World Show Superhorse and three time AQHA World Champion).