The word "stud" inspired Gerri Mattson. As we know horse breeders are very conscious of who they use for a stud.

The artist then thought about 5-Card Stud, a gambling game. So our "stud" is two-fold: a magnificent horse and a game. The mane is five playing cards - five cards that would make a great hand! On the pony's body all sorts of gambling games are depicted. A very ingenious Painted Pony.

The artist also created Wildfire, another Painted Pony. Artist: Gerri Mattson; Sponsor: Dorothy W. Queen & The Carlsbad Foundation; Location during 2002 Trail of Painted Ponies was Carlsbad, NM. Ceramic pony,

Five Card Stud was part of the Winter 2003 collection of Trail of Painted Ponies. It was retired over 4 years later in January 2008. The last numbered Five Card Stud Pony was #tE/153 - 50,153 ponies manufactured.