Hidden on the back roads of Roopville, on a 62-acre ranch, lives a horse named Perfect Luck.

Perfect Luck is not just any horse. The Dutch Warmblood thoroughbred was recently named KWPN North American Champion, or in other words, considered the best hunter in North America by the Dutch Warmblood society.

Perfect Luck lives on Double D Ranch, a joint business venture by Donna Fiducia and her fiancé, Don Neuen.

“She has phenomenal breeding to begin with, she has Kentucky Derby winners in her lineage,” said Fiducia, about her prized mare.

Fiducia explained that unlike race horses, hunters are judged by the style with which they are able to jump. When judges from Holland came to inspect American hunters, Fiducia took Perfect Luck to Birmingham to be appraised. “She had to be 100 percent sound and she did it beautifully,” Fiducia said about her 12-year-old horse. “She got first premium, which is the best they could get, and she was number one at the AL inspection.”

Not knowing the impact her horse had had on the judges, Fiducia happily took home her blue ribbon, only to hear later that Perfect Luck had made the top 5 for Hunter Mares.

“I was thrilled because there were hundreds that were presented,” Fiducia said.

For the past 20 years, the athletic horses have been coming from areas in Europe like Hanover, Germany, Sweden and Holland, and American equestrian enthusiasts have been taking the business seriously.

Toward the end of last year, Fiducia received a call about getting pictures taken for a magazine. Her horse had been named number one.

“For a 12-year-old horse, that was unbelievable, that’s what makes her so special,” she said. “It’s like an 18-year-old Miss America contestant competing against a 60-year-old contest, and the 60-year-old won. IT’s one of the most stringent inspections that are out there. That horse had to perform just like a younger horses.”

Following Perfect Luck’s win, Fiducia received several phone calls about whether her horse had any foals for sale. She explained that unlike jumper horses, for whom the goal is to jump hurtles in a certain amount of time, hunters have to have style. Distances have to be just right and it has to look effortless.

“A jumper is like a hockey player, it doesn’t matter about the form, but a hunter is like a figure skater, it’s the style.”

Apart from raising award-winning horses, Fiducia and Neuen use their ranch to breed and board and to teach lessons to the community.

“We have a Hanovarian for sale right now. We’ve got three or four really nice ones that will be nice hunter prospects,” Fiducia said. “I’m not a pro, I’m a horseman by trade.”

Though Fiducia is originally from New York and spent a good deal of her life as a journalist both for radio and television, she admits that her passion now is for her ranch and her horses.

“I blame my fiancé for that one. I love it down here, I love the people, I love the area. It’s a beautiful state, a beautiful area. I’ve always loved horses and I’ve always loved the country.”

Her commitment now is to maintain their ranch at its present size to keep the personal touch. Fiducia and Neuen currently own 14 horses, a few of which do barrel racing. The ranch has an arena with lights, lots of grass and the best of feed.

“We’re in kind of a remote area, it’s amazing though, that basically the best horse in the country lives here in Roopville,” Fiducia said.

The ranch encourages anyone interested in breeding, boarding or lessons to contact Fiducia directly at 770-845-2202