Welcome to Smith Show Horses!
We are located in West Fargo, ND! We have been raising Appaloosas
for over 30 years. Mark’s involvement started years before when his Grandpa Smith
put him on his first horse. Gail fell in love with Mark and his horses immediately.
They purchased the family farm from Mark’s Grandfather as newlyweds and had been
active in the local and regional level. Due to time constraints and jobs we had
not been able to go beyond that level, but we continued to build our breeding program.
Enter Dave Aasand… Long time friend and Appaloosa competitor, Dave Aasand
who spent months away from North Dakota approached The Smiths to become
partners. The first order of business for Dave and Mark was to find a GREAT
mare. She had to have a pedigree that not only included titles, but production
bloodlines, as well. We found She’s Pretty Fancy at Bob Kletchka’s AND she was
bred to The Secret, a syndicated Appaloosa stallion. This would be a foal from the first foal crop.
An Agreement was made and Mark and Dave brought their World Champion halter mare home and looked
forward to an April foal.
It was the consensus we all wanted a filly! Welcome to our world. A stud colt was born. BUT when Dave was called the description included adjectives such as Incredible, Awesome, COLORED, “a face like a deer" and the tiniest ears!
Congratulations to
Jan Phillips
the winner of the 2010
An Awesome Secret breeding
ApHC Museum Raffle
The plan was to get him ready for the World show, even though he was an April foal. He stood a respectable 3rd. The reaction from spectators and trainers at his stall encouraged us to get him ready for the National Show in 2004. About 8 weeks before the show our young stallion got hung up in the stall and he had major surgery on his front foot. He was never lame, but it prevented any “fitness program” before the major show. He stood a close 4th. At that time he
wasretired due to on-going treatment.
The cross worked, however that yearling injury turned out to be much more extensive than we originally thought, and it has made it tenuous in the breeding pen. An Awesome Secret has become known for his production consistency at a very young age. He has sired a top ten contender in performance and a World
Champion in Halter in 2008. An Awesome Secret was born in 2003.
As we evaluated future plans we were able secure another breeding to The Secret. We also leased our mare to a syndicate member. Pretty Inclusive shares the same dam as An Awesome Secret, Shes Pretty Fancy. She is by All Inclusive. All Inclusive
died at a very young age, but he left a a mark in the ApHC industry through his foals. His get have become well recognized for
their production capabilities. ...and the more we thought about it, we offered to buy Pretty Inclusive's foal before it was born*. The
colt was born on Valentine's Day. We knew, right from the moment he was born, this colt was the one that would be able to carry
on our dream if An Awesome Secret's breeding life were cut short. He would need a name of his own and stand on his own. We
named him Indelible Image. Ten days later Awesome started having trouble breeding and we realized just how fast things can
change. But we were a minimum of 2 years away from his first test breeding. We brought An Awesome Secret home from our
collection facility in Minneapolis, with a prognosis his breeding days were over. We were devastated. Earlier injuries revealed he had fractured a vertebrae at the base of his neck, possibly when he freed himself from the leg injury, but in any case his days
as a breeding stallion were over, according to Anoka Equine.
Never give in and Nevergive up! Since that horrible diagnosis, we
have been able to rehabilitate An Awesome Secret to be used
in a limited breeding program, but the doctors told us, it is a matter
of time when it cannot be "fixed". It could be tomorrow or next year, at some point we will not be able to
manage his pain. We have contracted with Northstar Stables, Georgetown, MN, which is much closer
to home, to be our collection and shipping site. We have learned that nothing is forever and anything
is possible through this unexpected adventure. Currently, 2010, an Awesome Secret has seemed to
be getting stronger and gives us encouragement for a longer breeding life than we anticipated a couple
of years ago. We know it may come to a sudden stop. We are currently taking breedings on a case by
case situation, with the understanding he may not be able to collect the day it is ordered. So far he has
shown us he is ready and willing. Call us if you have any questions..
We are really excited about Indelible Image. His incredible production bloodlines should prove
to be as strong as An Awesome Secret's early accomplishments. He has the WOW factor, that
makes you look twice. He is balanced and has an easy going attitude. We will find out if he can
do as well as An Awesome Secret in production in 2011 after we have a mare bred.
Times change. As Dave anticipates retirement and cutting back on the number of mares, we have
evaluated the economy and realize that we, too, have a limited amount of mares and as people
are cutting back on the number of broodmares, that it is more economical to own a part of an
incredible stallion and spend the money to promote him to his maximum potential.
Indelible Image will not stand to the public. Instead, we are looking for a few more mare owners,
not unlike ourselves. Someone that has a couple of great mares and are looking to promote their
own stallion, but can't justify the investment to own a stallion like this. The racing industry has done
well with this concept and the number of people in the Winner's circle has grown. If you are looking
at getting in on the ground floor and experience the excitement of winning and promoting your own
stallion, but at a fraction of the price, browse through the site and take a look at his pedigree and
pictures. There will be a limited number of shares available in 2010 at a reduced fee. We are going
to have fun with this one, and there is always room for one more in the win picture.
*Our mare, Shes Pretty Fancy had a filly. So in this case, we gambled a little and got our replacement
stallion.
We Have Come Full Circle
Although, our friendship remains undivided, we and Dave have decided to dissolve our partnership. The mare that started it all is bred to The Secret ... just like the day we bought her. We are offering her for sale. She has established a strong breeding program for both of us. Dave will be keeping her daughter by The Secret and we, will keep An Awesome Secret, a son of hers and Indelible Image, a grandson of hers. We love this mare and recognize the the influence this mare has had in our breeding program in a few short years.Because of her tremendous production, two stallions and one mare of ours are direct descendents of hers. In addition to another mare of ours by Awe Striker, her full brother, we recognize the the depth of her value. This is the kind of mare that can do the same for someone else...or even put your own stallion's name on the map with a tremendous foal.Shes Pretty Fancy
This is one great producing mare. She will be offered for sale, but we haven't decided if we will be breeding her oor selling her open. Her foal is for sale as well. There is a possibility that we will sell her as a 3 in 1 package. If you are interested, drop us an email or check back.
Check out the the For Sale Page!
Shes Pretty Fancy
had a colored colt.
He definitely has
the WOW factor!
After reading the article above, I realize it is as much about a great mare as it is about us. This is the kind of mare that proves the value of a strong maternal influence. I better close now, before I change my mind about selling this member of the family.
