My time in Presidente Prudente, the birthplace of the Brazilian Quarter Horse, was nothing short of spectacular.
The night I arrived I did a presentation on my first journey for the members of the Quarter Horse Ranch, where the mares were resting. Everyone was excited about the talk and when I finished I was given a standing ovation.
“Your trip seems like a Hollywood movie Filipe, it’s hard to understand that you actually did it,” Heitor, the president of the ranch said after the talk.
Because I was only 60 kilometres from the state of Parana, I needed to get the horses health exams in order. Every time I cross a state line in Brazil, I must get the animals tested. This caused me to layover in Prudente for an entire week as I awaited the mares blood work to return from a lab in Sao Paulo.
The entire week I was taken to different Quarter Horse Ranches where I met some of the best animals in the country. It was such an extraordinary opportunity for a lover of the breed like myself. But the most special ranch I visited that week was 4M.
Owned by Adilson Jose de Almeida, the stunning property is home to some of the best cutting and barrel racing bloodlines in the country. Over a delicious BBQ, Adilson showed me his grand stallion Tilly Playboy.

“I spent over 100 000 Reais on this stud more than 10 years ago. Everyone thought I was crazy but he became the highest earning cutting stud in Brazil,” Addison told me with pride as the majestic horse ate alfalfa.
After getting on Tilly bareback and taking some photos, Adilson and his friends walked me to the front of his home. Standing there chatting, a worker appeared with a beautiful colt. He walked the animal to where we were and Adilson began telling me about the young horse.
“This right here Filipe is a very special colt. He is a son of Tilly Playboy with Sonora Song, the best cutting mare in Brazil. His name is Tilly Song,” he told me petting the horse’s neck.

I could tell something was going on that I didnt know by the whispers and laughter all around me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew something big was about to happen.
When Adilson finished talking about the colt’s bloodlines he paused for a second, looked over at me and said, “Filipe, Tilly Song is a present to you.”
I froze. My heart beating with force.
“What, you’re crazy,” I said.
“No, no I’m not. What you have done is not easy son, It shows how much dedication, determination and heart you have. You deserve this present,” he said as I gave him a tight hug.

In my world, Adilson gave me a Ferrari. This colt, only 1 year and 6 months old, is valued at 20 000 Reais. It is the son of the best cutting horses to ever exist in Brazil. And now he is mine. Even as I write this blog, I still can’t believe it!
I will never be able to thank this Adilson properly for this extraordinary present. Because the colt is too young, he cannot walk with us so my father will go get Tilly and take him to our farm to join Frenchie, Bruiser and Dude.