Lipizzan Legacy Smokey

Smokey is a Lipizzaner stallion who will always be remembered for his life of kindness, spirit, inspiration, forgiving nature, love for children, intelligence, noble beauty, competitive dressage performance, and his contribution as an ambassador for the Lipizzan breed and a foundation sire of so many
(at least 97!!!) outstanding offspring since 1984.

During Smokey’s life with me, even while competing and breeding, he gave lessons to countless people, including children (not for money), inspired many riders, artists and others, loved trail riding even at night, was a passionate yet gentleman breeder, and taught me and others the finer points of riding in harmony. I even learned tempi changes and canter pirouettes from Smokey after his show career ended. Smokey always earned 8’s and 9’s on his canter pirouettes, even from the toughest international FEI judges.

Since 1982, Smokey was trained by four outstanding riders over the course of his career: Karl Bergman at Tempel Farms, and in California, Bobbie Paulk, Tracey Lert, and Jennifer Roth. Smokey placed nationally for every USDF level he competed, First through Intermediare.

In 1989, Jennifer and Smokey won the USDF Horse of the Year Reserve Champion for the Intermediare Freestyle in the same season that they began learning Intermediare movements. The hundreds of other horse breeds around the country who were also competing at that level were a hand or two taller than Smokey and had probably been training Intermediare for several years. Smokey made me, and surely all of those who own and love Lipizzans, extremely proud.

In February 1991, as he was preparing to advance to Grand Prix, Smokey’s show career ended as a result of life threatening injuries that resulted after a car flew off the highway and ran through his paddock when Smokey was home from training/showing. Smokey overcame all odds and survived. After surgeries, medications, therapies, and a year of stall rest, he also overcame the most pessimistic veterinary prognoses, and became sound for riding. Smokey soundness was not jeopardized by the rigors of competition training and traveling to competitions anymore, but he did perform at several exhibitions, one of which was for Dr. Oulehla and Lipizzan owners and fans at an event in Carmel Valley.

Smokey’s favorite things, besides impressing his mares, were: eating peppermints, PayDay candy bars, Dorrito chips, and pine needles; receiving hugs and belly rubs; rolling in the sand arena; being the center of attention & receiving applause from small or large audiences; Hawaiian and flamenco music; and being around little children.

I have never known such a trustworthy, noble, and gentle being, whether animal or human; one whom you could stake your very life on, or the lives and hearts of little innocent children whom you love, without the slightest concern that Smokey would do something dangerous or harmful. He was always wanted to please and demonstrated the highest level of care around others, whether human/horse adults or babies.

Laura Wiener-Smolka

More information about Smokey can be found at www.lipizzan.com/Smokey_September18.html. Smokey's 1990 Intermediare Freestyle ride can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txe972g2Pz0