www.IngaSmith.com

home of Wayne and Inga and critters

          WASPY LEO: A rare silver gene stallion 

 

 

Waspy Leo 2006 Silver Bay Stallion 
AQHA # 4886416
 

This stallion, born 5/25/06, has a great performance pedigree and carries the rare Silver gene. He has been DNA tested by UC Davis and confirmed to carry one copy of this color gene (designated as "N/Z"), so he has a 50% chance of passing it to each of his foals. He has great conformation, a wonderful personality, and is very sweet and manageable with a heart of gold. He is bred to excel in any athletic event such as cutting, reining, roping, working cowhorse, or barrel racing. This athletic horse is bred for agility and power. He is a product of proven cutting horse lineage (world champions & money earners) and his athletic ability and genuine willingness will prove him to be a superb all around horse. He is currently in training as a reining prospect to match his potential with Ingas' desire!




 

His dam, Champs Waspy Cat, is an own daughter of Bar U Champ Binder (the very first documented AQHA Bay Silver.) She provides his rare coloring, and her pedigree also includes King Leo Bar and Holly 4 Jinx.
His sire, Half Way Leo, has competed and is a money earner at local cutting and team penning events and has full siblings that have excelled in the NCHA. Half Way Leo is an own son of Doc Freckles Leo, and is a grandson of World Champion Freckles Playboy as well as Doc's Prescription, leaving all three of these great names right on Waspy Leo's AQHA papers.  





$48,669.46 NCHA dollars.
Awards:COA, Bronze 
1999 Breeders Classic Futurity Sire Award
1993 Canadian Non-Pro Champion 
1994 Non-Pro Reserve Champion 
Sire Record
NRHA Get Money Earners ($1949.64)
NCHA Get Money Earners ($96,385.00)

Dam of NCHA +/-$115,200
Pinch of Doc (NCHA = $70,128.29) 
TH Freckles (NCHA = $14,771.99) 

$59,975.59 NCHA dollars. 
Awards:COA, Bronze, Silver 
$39.00 NRHA dollars
1977World Champion Open Jr Cutting 
1978 Top 10 World Show 3rd Op Sr Cut
ROM Performance 1978 Open
Performance Point Earner
Sire Record 
World Champion Sire
Top 10 World Champion Sire
Superior Perfomance Sire
NRHA Get Money Earners
NCHA Get Money Earners
ROM Performance Sire
Halter Point Earner Sire
Working Cow Horse Get Money Earners
Hall of Fame Sire - NCHA 

$1,013.32 NCHA dollars
Dam Record 
Halter Point Earners
Performance Point Earners
NCHA money Earners ($55,480.84)
NRHA Money Earners ($857.48)

NCHA $106.95
NRHA $2378.79
Sire Record 
AQHA World Championship 
Show $21303.34
NCHA- $2,026, 856.93
NRHA - $2449.11
NRCHA - $6120.72


Let the SILVER fly ! 
Breed to WASPY LEO and
produce you own SILVER WONDER !

 LEO is the ONLY reg. Silver AQHA Stallion breeding to outside mares in CANADA!

    HISTORY OF THE SILVER DAPPLE GENE


  • Champagne and Silver dapple are extremely rare.  Horses now  have these colors noted on the registration papers.
  • In 2002, AQHA made the first notation of a silver dapple. The honor went to the Bow Champ stallion Bar U Champ Binder  (Leo's grand sire) owned by Leroy Vossler of Vanderhoof, British Columbia.
  •  Because both champagne and silver dapple are dominant, a horse carrying them has a 50 percent chance of passing on the color to its offspring.


   The Silver (AKA Silver Dapple) Gene is a dilution gene that      affects only black pigment. If a black horse has the silver modifier,its body color will range from a silvery gray to a dark chocolate. The mane and tail will be lightened but not necessarily the same color as the body.

 Silver is a dominant gene in the dilution category.   (Remember, dominant means you only need one gene to get a visible effect, and dilution type genes are those that cause the color to be lightened in some way.)  It is a simple dominant; there is no visual difference whether the horse has one Silver gene or two.  The symbol for this gene is "Z"

The Silver gene is interesting because, unlike other dilution genes such as Champagne and Dun, this one is what's called pigment-specific. Silver dilutes only black pigment. Thus, the Silver gene can be carried and "hidden" by a chestnut horse (since it has no black pigment to be diluted), and in this way it can appear to skip generations, even though, like any dominant gene, one parent must have the gene in order for the foal to have it.

How It Works

When a horse gets the Z gene, any black pigment will be diluted to a chocolate-brown, ranging in shade from taupe or "dead grass" color through mocha-brown to deep chocolate brown, often with a bluish cast. It can be hard to tell apart from a dark liver chestnut, but usually the dark chestnut will have reddish undertones and the Silver will not.  The gene tends to dilute the mane/tail much more strongly than the body, often to a silvery-white color, although this can vary and they may darken with age. Silvers often have a distinct "face mask" of darker hair which is helpful in identifying them. This "mask" generally covers the forehead, around the eyes, and down the front of the nose.  They also tend to have lighter hair on the lower legs, lightest close to the hooves. Foals often have hooves with a very strong and distinct striping pattern, and white eyelashes. These traits are helpful for identifying Silver in foals, but are gradually outgrown. 

 

Silver on Bay  

Leos agouti  tested as EE  and his  extension AA, so he will  throw  bay base foals regardless of mare color. This means that even if a sorrel or chestnut is bred to Leo, the result will be a bay point foal (black legs/mane/tail) The main body color will range from light gold to various shades of brown  (with darker legs/mane tail) with a 50% chance of  the bay points ( mane and tail) being silver. 

When the Silver gene is acting on a bay base color, the red pigment on the body is unaffected, while the black on the legs is slightly diluted and the black of the mane/tail is more strongly diluted. This gives the appearance of a horse that is not quite bay, and not quite chestnut either.  The mane and tail can vary from a platinum blonde, to a flaxen color, to just slightly diluted. Usually the legs are the main clue that the horse is not a chestnut -- they will be much darker than a chestnut, ranging from near-black to chocolate-brown, generally with lighter hair close to the hooves. They often show hints of sooty areas on the lower legs where black stockings would have appeared without the influence of the silver modifier. And again, when in doubt, testing will distinguish them from chestnuts. The most usual term for this color is "Bay Silver", but occasionally they are called "Red Silver" (reflecting the reddish body color), however, this is rather discouraged since to many people the term "red" means chestnut, and therefore "red silver" could cause confusion to those thinking that it means silver on chestnut.

 WRITE UP ON THE SILVER DAPPLE GENE IN THE JULY 2009 ISSUE OF WESTERN HORSEMAN MAGAZINE:

(to magnify print click on issue picture)

http://www.zinio.com/pages/WesternHorseReview/Jul-09/416087336/pg-26

 

 As Waspy Leo's DNA test reveals:

He is a carrier of the z silver dapple dilution gene.

         Leo has also been tested for color genetics and he is                                (EE agouti and AA extension)

This means Leo will reproduce bay point foals (regardless of mare color) with a 50 % chance the silver gene being passed on.

 

 

 

FULL  BROTHER AND DAM  OF WASPY LEO 

Chinky Silver, and dam Champs Waspy Cat

 

     Interview in Western Horse Review Feb 2010

 click on link below......

http://www.zinio.com/pages/WesternHorseReview/Feb-10/416114445/pg-16

                                               

Leo started under saddle 2009 by Mike Dodd 

 

    WELCOME LEO TO COOMBS, VANCOUVER ISLAND B.C 

Thank you for your interest in Waspy Leo. I am thrilled and excited to offer this stud for breeding 2010.  He is a versatile, athletic stallion with a quiet, willing personality and a heart of gold.  With his athletic ability and proven pedigree, (never mind his rare silver highlights) his offspring  will  surely be versatile and good natured and possibly silver. 

MANY THANKS  to all those that came to visit with Leo and I at the 'stud party'. It was good to see/meet you all.

He loved all the attention and is eager to meet your mares!

 

 

 
              Nov 22 /09 

Leos first (and only) 2010 foals are now born! His first colt has tested positive for the silver gene and we are awaiting results for the Buckskin filly.

!

NEWS FLASH!!

Congratulations to Pat Vossler , Leos first colt born May 2010! Pictures to follow. This colt is DNA confirmed Silver Z carrier and is offered for sale.

call Pat Vossler 250-787-1900



Congratulations  Mike and Gloria Dodd on the arrival of their new Buckskin (Dun) filly! Awaiting DNA results.

                                                    Sable

pictured at 1 month 

 

 MANY THANKS  to all those that came to visit with Leo and I Sunday.at the 'stud party'

It was good to see/meet you all.

He loved all the attention and is eager to meet your mares!

 
 
           Keep in touch.  Inga N Leo
 

  

                 Nov 22 /09 

 MANY THANKS  to all those that came to visit with Leo and I Sunday.at the 'stud party'

It was good to see/meet you all.

He loved all the attention and is eager to meet your mares!

 
 
           Keep in touch.  Inga N Leo
 

  

                 Nov 22 /09 

Our start in 2010:

 Our first show NVIHA in Courtenay April 25 

 

 

Mount Arrowsmith Quarter horse show June 5/6 2010

Open and Amateur stallion winner!

 

 

                     A story about Me 'N Leo

                  MY HORSE IS A DREAM                        

             by Inga Smith

 

 

  In the summer of 2007 I went to visit my brother Frank on his ranch in Fort St John. After chasing his cattle around for days, he knew he'd better try to save my sanity and introduce me to some 'horsey' people. We headed a few hectors over to his closest neighbors Mike and Gloria Dodd who bred and raised Quarter horses while managing the cattle duties on a big ranch.   After bumping across a cattle guard and through a gate, we came upon a rainbow of different color horses ambling along side the dusty driveway, grasping at any blades of green grass the sun had missed. There were buckskins, bays, sorrels, palominos ...every color imaginable but my eyes drew like a magnet to one in particular. I gasped in awe as he approached me. He was a gorgeous dark bay with 2 white back socks and a pretty white snip down one nostril. His mane and tail started black and then frosted with silver. Hanging like icicles, the silver dripped off his mane and splashed against his dark glistening coat. I soaked up his image like the warm sun as I had never seen such a beautiful horse before. He came right up to me and nuzzled me as if I were an old friend .That was my first encounter with the “silver dream horse” Waspy Leo.

right up to me and nuzzled me as if I were an old friend. 

That was my first encounter with the “silver dream horse” Waspy Leo. 
right up to me and nuzzled me as if I were an old friend. 
soaked up his image like the warm sun as I had never seen such a beautiful horse before. He came 

                                                                                                 -Inga Smith 

In the summer of 2007 I went to visit my brother Fran on his ranch in Fort St John. After 
chasing his cattle around for days, he knew he'd better try to save my sanity and introduce me to some 
'horsey' people. We headed a few hectors over to his closest neighbors Mike and Gloria Dodd who 
bred and raised Quarter horses while managing the cattle duties on a big ranch. After bumping across 
a cattle guard and through a gate, we came upon a rainbow of different color horses ambling along 
side the dusty driveway, grasping at any blades of green grass the sun had missed. There were 
buckskins, bays, sorrels, palominos ...every color imaginable but my eyes drew like a magnet to one in 
particular. I gasped in awe as he approached me. He was a gorgeous dark bay with 2 white back socks 
and a pretty white snip down one nostril. His mane and tail were coal black and frosted with silver. 
Hanging like icicles, the silver dripped off his mane and splashed against his dark glistening coat. I 
soaked up his image like the warm sun as I had never seen such a beautiful horse before. He came 
right up to me and nuzzled me as if I were an old friend. 

That was my first encounter with the “silver dream horse” Waspy Leo. 

After meeting all the horses and a tour of the farm, we headed up for a coffee. I sat and listened 
intently about this rare silver gene and how it had been only been discovered in 2002, when a a silver 
bay was found to be the offspring of 2 chestnuts. AQHA said it was not possible and demanded DNA 
testing and the dilute silver dapple gene was exposed. The silver gene was found to affect only black 
pigment , not red pigment (although red horses could still be carriers, as in this case) and therefore 
could only physically be seen on a dark horse. Leo was tested to be a N/Z silver gene carrier and he 
and his full brother became the only registered Quarter horse/silver gene stallions in Canada! 
Fascinated with this new silver gene horse, I called over my shoulder as we left (those famous last 
words)...” If you ever decide to sell that horse, make sure to let me know!” I sped back to my brothers 
computer where I could share my new discovery and sent pictures and explanations of this 'silver 
stallion' to my friends and family. 

About a year and a half later, out of the corner of my eye I saw a post on Face Book that Mike 
and Gloria were taking a couple of their horses to the Breeders Select Sale in Edmonton. Gloria had 
been badly injured under a heap of heavy fence panels and had been unable to work that past year. 
They were forced to relocate with their herd of colorful horses and could only find a suitable training 
facility in Alberta . My heart raced and my fingers quickly typed out the message “your not selling the 
silver stallion I fell in love with are you?” and breathlessly I waited for the answer. To my 
astonishment they had regretfully decided to part with their 'best' horse to make a dent in the mountain 
of expenses they incurred to relocate. Back at the computer I shared on face book my sadness and a 
final picture of my dream horse. My partner, in the mean time, was visiting with his sister when Leos' 
picture and my disappointment appeared before him on her computer screen. When he called me later 
I babbled on and on about this beautiful horse. Then I heard a slight pause and the words I hadn't even 
considered “why don't you just buy him?” My heart stopped, I almost dropped the phone. It was 
surely a voice from God. 

 I talked to Mike on the phone several times, Gloria was already underway with the two horses 
to the Select Sale....there was no turning back. I had called the Alberta Breeders Group to arrange a 
way to bid on him over the phone but as I could hardly hear myoptions through the crackles of bad 
reception, I knew I had to be there. I booked a flight and was on a plane for Edmonton the next day! 

I arrived at the hotel around midnight that night. The Friday night bar music vibrated the hotel 
walls and shook the floors but that was not what kept me from sleeping. My mind raced with hopes 
and fears, each battling the other for their place in reality. I closed my eyes.... 

“Soon I shall go to sleep, in hopes of seeing him again. His intelligent soft eyes, his elegant head. His 
soft heart, and his four legs. For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” 
~Lindsay Turcotte 

I had never been to an auction or sale before and didn't know what to expect. I know I should 
have just laid low, nonchalant, but the excitement and adrenaline had me asking a million questions 
and soon it was apparent to everyone that I intended to buy this horse. I spent all day with him, I think 
most of the people there assumed I was the seller, not the intended buyer! The Alberta Breeders Group 
and Mike and Gloria steered me in all the right directions and I could feel their energy teaming up 
with mine in hopes that Leo and I would somehow be destined to be together. 

When the first horse entered the ring, my heart started to pound. By the time Leo came up 
(number 9) my hands were shaking and my body numb....this was it. I stood tall, not to be missed, as a 
blur of words and numbers pulsed through my ears. They kept pointing, I kept nodding, not sure what 
exact price we were at or if I was the only one left bidding. Then, after what seemed an eternity (only 
minutes) it was all over. I heard the boom of congratulations from the auctioneer as he proudly 
announced the new owner “Number 5, Inga Smith who flew in all the way from Coombs, Vancouver 
Island B.C”. He was the highest selling horse and we were instant celebrities but all I could focus on 
was that the two of us were now together. “For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” and I 
knew my dream was meant to be. 

For more info on Waspy Leo: www.ingasmith.com 


              After meeting all the horses and touring the farm, we headed up for a coffee. I sat and listened  intently about this rare silver gene and how it had been only been discovered in 2002 when a a silver bay was found to be the offspring of 2 chestnuts. AQHA said it was not possible and demanded DNA testing and the dilute silver dapple gene was exposed. The silver gene was found to affect only black pigment , not red pigment (although red horses could still be carriers, as in this case) and therefore could only physically be seen on a dark horse. Leo was tested to be a N/Z silver gene carrier and he and his full brother are the only registered Quarter horse/silver gene stallions in Canada! Fascinated with this new silver gene horse, I called over my shoulder as we left (those famous last words) ” If you ever decide to sell that horse, make sure to let me know!” I sped back to my brothers computer where I could share my new discovery and sent pictures and explanations of this 'silver stallion' to my friends and family.

About a year and a half later, out of the corner of my eye I saw a post on Face Book that Mike and Gloria were taking a couple of their horses to the Breeders Select Sale in Edmonton. Gloria had been badly injured under a heap of heavy fence panels and had been unable to work that past year. They were forced to relocate with their herd of colorful horses and could only find a suitable training   facility in Alberta. My heart raced and my fingers quickly typed out the message “your not selling the silver stallion I fell in love with are you?” and breathlessly I waited for the answer. To my astonishment they had regretfully decided to part with their 'best' horse to make a dent in the  mountain of expenses they incurred to relocate. Back at the computer I shared on face book my sadness and a final picture of my dream horse. My partner, in the mean time, was visiting with his sister when Leos' picture and my disappointment appeared before him on her computer screen. When he called me later, I babbled on and on about this beautiful horse. Then I heard a slight pause and the words I hadn't even considered “why don't you just buy him?” My heart stopped, I almost dropped the phone. It was surely a voice from God.

   I talked to Mike on the phone several times, Gloria was already underway with the two horses to the Select Sale....there was no turning back. I had called the Alberta Breeders Group to arrange a way to bid on him over the phone but as I could hardly hear my options through the crackles of bad reception, I knew I had to be there. I booked a flight and was on a plane for Edmonton the next day! 

to the Select Sale....there was no turning back. I had called the Alberta Breeders Group to arrange a 
way to bid on him over the phone but as I could hardly hear myoptions through the crackles of bad 
reception, I knew I had to be there. I booked a flight and was on a plane for Edmonton the next day! 

picture and my disappointment appeared before him on her computer screen. When he called me later 
I babbled on and on about this beautiful horse. Then I heard a slight pause and the words I hadn't even 
considered “why don't you just buy him?” My heart stopped, I almost dropped the phone. It was 
surely a voice from God. 

 I talked to Mike on the phone several times, Gloria was already underway with the two horses 
to the Select Sale....there was no turning back. I had called the Alberta Breeders Group to arrange a 
way to bid on him over the phone but as I could hardly hear myoptions through the crackles of bad 
reception, I knew I had to be there. I booked a flight and was on a plane for Edmonton the next day! 

I arrived at the hotel around midnight that night. The Friday night bar music vibrated the hotel 
walls and shook the floors but that was not what kept me from sleeping. My mind raced with hopes 
and fears, each battling the other for their place in reality. I closed my eyes.... 

“Soon I shall go to sleep, in hopes of seeing him again. His intelligent soft eyes, his elegant head. His 
soft heart, and his four legs. For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” 
~Lindsay Turcotte 

I had never been to an auction or sale before and didn't know what to expect. I know I should 
have just laid low, nonchalant, but the excitement and adrenaline had me asking a million questions 
and soon it was apparent to everyone that I intended to buy this horse. I spent all day with him, I think 
most of the people there assumed I was the seller, not the intended buyer! The Alberta Breeders Group 
and Mike and Gloria steered me in all the right directions and I could feel their energy teaming up 
with mine in hopes that Leo and I would somehow be destined to be together. 

When the first horse entered the ring, my heart started to pound. By the time Leo came up 
(number 9) my hands were shaking and my body numb....this was it. I stood tall, not to be missed, as a 
blur of words and numbers pulsed through my ears. They kept pointing, I kept nodding, not sure what 
exact price we were at or if I was the only one left bidding. Then, after what seemed an eternity (only 
minutes) it was all over. I heard the boom of congratulations from the auctioneer as he proudly 
announced the new owner “Number 5, Inga Smith who flew in all the way from Coombs, Vancouver 
Island B.C”. He was the highest selling horse and we were instant celebrities but all I could focus on 
was that the two of us were now together. “For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” and I 
knew my dream was meant to be. 

For more info on Waspy Leo: www.ingasmith.com 


of expenses they incurred to relocate. Back at the computer I shared on face book my sadness and a 
and Gloria were taking a couple of their horses to the Breeders Select Sale in Edmonton. 
computer where I could share my new discovery and sent pictures and explanations of this 'silver 
stallion' to my friends and family. 

                                                                                                 -Inga Smith 

In the summer of 2007 I went to visit my brother Fran on his ranch in Fort St John. After 
chasing his cattle around for days, he knew he'd better try to save my sanity and introduce me to some 
'horsey' people. We headed a few hectors over to his closest neighbors Mike and Gloria Dodd who 
bred and raised Quarter horses while managing the cattle duties on a big ranch. After bumping across 
a cattle guard and through a gate, we came upon a rainbow of different color horses ambling along 
side the dusty driveway, grasping at any blades of green grass the sun had missed. There were 
buckskins, bays, sorrels, palominos ...every color imaginable but my eyes drew like a magnet to one in 
particular. I gasped in awe as he approached me. He was a gorgeous dark bay with 2 white back socks 
and a pretty white snip down one nostril. His mane and tail were coal black and frosted with silver. 
Hanging like icicles, the silver dripped off his mane and splashed against his dark glistening coat. I 
soaked up his image like the warm sun as I had never seen such a beautiful horse before. He came 
right up to me and nuzzled me as if I were an old friend. 

That was my first encounter with the “silver dream horse” Waspy Leo. 

After meeting all the horses and a tour of the farm, we headed up for a coffee. I sat and listened 
intently about this rare silver gene and how it had been only been discovered in 2002, when a a silver 
bay was found to be the offspring of 2 chestnuts. AQHA said it was not possible and demanded DNA 
testing and the dilute silver dapple gene was exposed. The silver gene was found to affect only black 
pigment , not red pigment (although red horses could still be carriers, as in this case) and therefore 
could only physically be seen on a dark horse. Leo was tested to be a N/Z silver gene carrier and he 
and his full brother became the only registered Quarter horse/silver gene stallions in Canada! 
Fascinated with this new silver gene horse, I called over my shoulder as we left (those famous last 
words)...” If you ever decide to sell that horse, make sure to let me know!” I sped back to my brothers 
computer where I could share my new discovery and sent pictures and explanations of this 'silver 
stallion' to my friends and family. 

About a year and a half later, out of the corner of my eye I saw a post on Face Book that Mike 
and Gloria were taking a couple of their horses to the Breeders Select Sale in Edmonton. Gloria had 
been badly injured under a heap of heavy fence panels and had been unable to work that past year. 
They were forced to relocate with their herd of colorful horses and could only find a suitable training 
facility in Alberta . My heart raced and my fingers quickly typed out the message “your not selling the 
silver stallion I fell in love with are you?” and breathlessly I waited for the answer. To my 
astonishment they had regretfully decided to part with their 'best' horse to make a dent in the mountain 
of expenses they incurred to relocate. Back at the computer I shared on face book my sadness and a 
final picture of my dream horse. My partner, in the mean time, was visiting with his sister when Leos' 
picture and my disappointment appeared before him on her computer screen. When he called me later 
I babbled on and on about this beautiful horse. Then I heard a slight pause and the words I hadn't even 
considered “why don't you just buy him?” My heart stopped, I almost dropped the phone. It was 
surely a voice from God. 

 I talked to Mike on the phone several times, Gloria was already underway with the two horses 
to the Select Sale....there was no turning back. I had called the Alberta Breeders Group to arrange a 
way to bid on him over the phone but as I could hardly hear myoptions through the crackles of bad 
reception, I knew I had to be there. I booked a flight and was on a plane for Edmonton the next day! 

I arrived at the hotel around midnight that night. The Friday night bar music vibrated the hotel 
walls and shook the floors but that was not what kept me from sleeping. My mind raced with hopes 
and fears, each battling the other for their place in reality. I closed my eyes.... 

“Soon I shall go to sleep, in hopes of seeing him again. His intelligent soft eyes, his elegant head. His 
soft heart, and his four legs. For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” 
~Lindsay Turcotte 

I had never been to an auction or sale before and didn't know what to expect. I know I should 
have just laid low, nonchalant, but the excitement and adrenaline had me asking a million questions 
and soon it was apparent to everyone that I intended to buy this horse. I spent all day with him, I think 
most of the people there assumed I was the seller, not the intended buyer! The Alberta Breeders Group 
and Mike and Gloria steered me in all the right directions and I could feel their energy teaming up 
with mine in hopes that Leo and I would somehow be destined to be together. 

When the first horse entered the ring, my heart started to pound. By the time Leo came up 
(number 9) my hands were shaking and my body numb....this was it. I stood tall, not to be missed, as a 
blur of words and numbers pulsed through my ears. They kept pointing, I kept nodding, not sure what 
exact price we were at or if I was the only one left bidding. Then, after what seemed an eternity (only 
minutes) it was all over. I heard the boom of congratulations from the auctioneer as he proudly 
announced the new owner “Number 5, Inga Smith who flew in all the way from Coombs, Vancouver 
Island B.C”. He was the highest selling horse and we were instant celebrities but all I could focus on 
was that the two of us were now together. “For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” and I 
knew my dream was meant to be. 

For more info on Waspy Leo: www.ingasmith.com  intently about this rare silver gene and how it had been only been discovered in 2002, when a a silver 
bay was found to be the offspring of 2 chestnuts. AQHA said it was not possible and demanded DNA facility in Alberta . My heart raced and my fingers quickly typed out the message “your not selling the
pigment , not red pigment (although red horses could still be carriers, as in this case) and therefore  astonishment they had regretfully decided to part with their 'best' horse to make a dent in the mo of expenses they incurred to relocate. Back at the computer I shared on face book my sadness and a final picture of my dream horse. My partner, in the mean time, was visiting with his sister when Leos'
final picture of my dream horse. My partner, in the mean time, was visiting with his sister when Leos' way to bid on him over the phone but as I could hardly hear myoptions through the crackles of bad

I arrived at the hotel around midnight that night. The Friday night bar music vibrated the hotel walls and shook the floors but that was not what kept me from sleeping. My mind raced with hopes and fears, each battling the other for their place in reality. I closed my eyes.... 

 “Soon I shall go to sleep, in hopes of seeing him again. His intelligent soft eyes, his elegant head. His soft heart, and his four legs. For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.”  ~Lindsay Turcotte 

  I had never been to an auction or sale before and didn't know what to expect. I know I should have just laid low, nonchalant, but the excitement and adrenaline had me asking a million questions and soon it was apparent to everyone that I intended to buy this horse. I spent all day with him, I think most of the people there assumed I was the seller, not the intended buyer! The Alberta Breeders Group and Mike and Gloria steered me in all the right directions and I could feel their energy teaming up with mine in hopes that Leo and I would somehow be destined to be together.

When the first horse entered the ring, my heart started to pound. By the time Leo came up (number 9) my hands were shaking and my body numb....this was it. I stood tall, not to be missed, as a blur of words and numbers pulsed through my ears. They kept pointing, I kept nodding, not sure what exact price we were at or if I was the only one left bidding. Then, after what seemed an eternity (only  minutes) it was all over. I heard the boom of congratulations from the auctioneer as he proudly announced the new owner “Number 5, Inga Smith who flew in all the way from Coombs, Vancouver Island B.C”. He was the highest selling horse and we were instant celebrities but all I could focus on was that the two of us were now together. “For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” and I knew my dream was meant to be ♥

 

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soft heart, and his four legs. For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” 
~Lindsay Turcotte  ~Lindsay Turcotteannounced the new owner “Number 5, Inga Smith who flew in all the way from Coombs, Vancouver

                                                                                                 -Inga Smith 

In the summer of 2007 I went to visit my brother Fran on his ranch in Fort St John. After 
chasing his cattle around for days, he knew he'd better try to save my sanity and introduce me to some 
'horsey' people. We headed a few hectors over to his closest neighbors Mike and Gloria Dodd who 
bred and raised Quarter horses while managing the cattle duties on a big ranch. After bumping across 
a cattle guard and through a gate, we came upon a rainbow of different color horses ambling along 
side the dusty driveway, grasping at any blades of green grass the sun had missed. There were 
buckskins, bays, sorrels, palominos ...every color imaginable but my eyes drew like a magnet to one in 
particular. I gasped in awe as he approached me. He was a gorgeous dark bay with 2 white back socks 
and a pretty white snip down one nostril. His mane and tail were coal black and frosted with silver. 
Hanging like icicles, the silver dripped off his mane and splashed against his dark glistening coat. I 
soaked up his image like the warm sun as I had never seen such a beautiful horse before. He came 
right up to me and nuzzled me as if I were an old friend. 

That was my first encounter with the “silver dream horse” Waspy Leo. 

After meeting all the horses and a tour of the farm, we headed up for a coffee. I sat and listened 
intently about this rare silver gene and how it had been only been discovered in 2002, when a a silver 
bay was found to be the offspring of 2 chestnuts. AQHA said it was not possible and demanded DNA 
testing and the dilute silver dapple gene was exposed. The silver gene was found to affect only black 
pigment , not red pigment (although red horses could still be carriers, as in this case) and therefore 
could only physically be seen on a dark horse. Leo was tested to be a N/Z silver gene carrier and he 
and his full brother became the only registered Quarter horse/silver gene stallions in Canada! 
Fascinated with this new silver gene horse, I called over my shoulder as we left (those famous last 
words)...” If you ever decide to sell that horse, make sure to let me know!” I sped back to my brothers 
computer where I could share my new discovery and sent pictures and explanations of this 'silver 
stallion' to my friends and family. 

About a year and a half later, out of the corner of my eye I saw a post on Face Book that Mike 
and Gloria were taking a couple of their horses to the Breeders Select Sale in Edmonton. Gloria had 
been badly injured under a heap of heavy fence panels and had been unable to work that past year. 
They were forced to relocate with their herd of colorful horses and could only find a suitable training 
facility in Alberta . My heart raced and my fingers quickly typed out the message “your not selling the 
silver stallion I fell in love with are you?” and breathlessly I waited for the answer. To my 
astonishment they had regretfully decided to part with their 'best' horse to make a dent in the mountain 
of expenses they incurred to relocate. Back at the computer I shared on face book my sadness and a 
final picture of my dream horse. My partner, in the mean time, was visiting with his sister when Leos' 
picture and my disappointment appeared before him on her computer screen. When he called me later 
I babbled on and on about this beautiful horse. Then I heard a slight pause and the words I hadn't even 
considered “why don't you just buy him?” My heart stopped, I almost dropped the phone. It was 
surely a voice from God. 

 I talked to Mike on the phone several times, Gloria was already underway with the two horses 
to the Select Sale....there was no turning back. I had called the Alberta Breeders Group to arrange a 
way to bid on him over the phone but as I could hardly hear myoptions through the crackles of bad 
reception, I knew I had to be there. I booked a flight and was on a plane for Edmonton the next day! 

I arrived at the hotel around midnight that night. The Friday night bar music vibrated the hotel 
walls and shook the floors but that was not what kept me from sleeping. My mind raced with hopes 
and fears, each battling the other for their place in reality. I closed my eyes.... 

“Soon I shall go to sleep, in hopes of seeing him again. His intelligent soft eyes, his elegant head. His 
soft heart, and his four legs. For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” 
~Lindsay Turcotte 

I had never been to an auction or sale before and didn't know what to expect. I know I should 
have just laid low, nonchalant, but the excitement and adrenaline had me asking a million questions 
and soon it was apparent to everyone that I intended to buy this horse. I spent all day with him, I think 
most of the people there assumed I was the seller, not the intended buyer! The Alberta Breeders Group 
and Mike and Gloria steered me in all the right directions and I could feel their energy teaming up 
with mine in hopes that Leo and I would somehow be destined to be together. 

When the first horse entered the ring, my heart started to pound. By the time Leo came up 
(number 9) my hands were shaking and my body numb....this was it. I stood tall, not to be missed, as a 
blur of words and numbers pulsed through my ears. They kept pointing, I kept nodding, not sure what 
exact price we were at or if I was the only one left bidding. Then, after what seemed an eternity (only 
minutes) it was all over. I heard the boom of congratulations from the auctioneer as he proudly 
announced the new owner “Number 5, Inga Smith who flew in all the way from Coombs, Vancouver 
Island B.C”. He was the highest selling horse and we were instant celebrities but all I could focus on 
was that the two of us were now together. “For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” and I 
knew my dream was meant to be. 

For more info on Waspy Leo: www.ingasmith.com Island B.C”. He was the highest selling horse and we were instant celebrities but all I could focus on knew my dream was meant to be.

                                                                                                 -Inga Smith 

In the summer of 2007 I went to visit my brother Fran on his ranch in Fort St John. After 
chasing his cattle around for days, he knew he'd better try to save my sanity and introduce me to some 
'horsey' people. We headed a few hectors over to his closest neighbors Mike and Gloria Dodd who 
bred and raised Quarter horses while managing the cattle duties on a big ranch. After bumping across 
a cattle guard and through a gate, we came upon a rainbow of different color horses ambling along 
side the dusty driveway, grasping at any blades of green grass the sun had missed. There were 
buckskins, bays, sorrels, palominos ...every color imaginable but my eyes drew like a magnet to one in 
particular. I gasped in awe as he approached me. He was a gorgeous dark bay with 2 white back socks 
and a pretty white snip down one nostril. His mane and tail were coal black and frosted with silver. 
Hanging like icicles, the silver dripped off his mane and splashed against his dark glistening coat. I 
soaked up his image like the warm sun as I had never seen such a beautiful horse before. He came 
right up to me and nuzzled me as if I were an old friend. 

That was my first encounter with the “silver dream horse” Waspy Leo. 

After meeting all the horses and a tour of the farm, we headed up for a coffee. I sat and listened 
intently about this rare silver gene and how it had been only been discovered in 2002, when a a silver 
bay was found to be the offspring of 2 chestnuts. AQHA said it was not possible and demanded DNA 
testing and the dilute silver dapple gene was exposed. The silver gene was found to affect only black 
pigment , not red pigment (although red horses could still be carriers, as in this case) and therefore 
could only physically be seen on a dark horse. Leo was tested to be a N/Z silver gene carrier and he 
and his full brother became the only registered Quarter horse/silver gene stallions in Canada! 
Fascinated with this new silver gene horse, I called over my shoulder as we left (those famous last 
words)...” If you ever decide to sell that horse, make sure to let me know!” I sped back to my brothers 
computer where I could share my new discovery and sent pictures and explanations of this 'silver 
stallion' to my friends and family. 

About a year and a half later, out of the corner of my eye I saw a post on Face Book that Mike 
and Gloria were taking a couple of their horses to the Breeders Select Sale in Edmonton. Gloria had 
been badly injured under a heap of heavy fence panels and had been unable to work that past year. 
They were forced to relocate with their herd of colorful horses and could only find a suitable training 
facility in Alberta . My heart raced and my fingers quickly typed out the message “your not selling the 
silver stallion I fell in love with are you?” and breathlessly I waited for the answer. To my 
astonishment they had regretfully decided to part with their 'best' horse to make a dent in the mountain 
of expenses they incurred to relocate. Back at the computer I shared on face book my sadness and a 
final picture of my dream horse. My partner, in the mean time, was visiting with his sister when Leos' 
picture and my disappointment appeared before him on her computer screen. When he called me later 
I babbled on and on about this beautiful horse. Then I heard a slight pause and the words I hadn't even 
considered “why don't you just buy him?” My heart stopped, I almost dropped the phone. It was 
surely a voice from God. 

 I talked to Mike on the phone several times, Gloria was already underway with the two horses 
to the Select Sale....there was no turning back. I had called the Alberta Breeders Group to arrange a 
way to bid on him over the phone but as I could hardly hear myoptions through the crackles of bad 
reception, I knew I had to be there. I booked a flight and was on a plane for Edmonton the next day! 

I arrived at the hotel around midnight that night. The Friday night bar music vibrated the hotel 
walls and shook the floors but that was not what kept me from sleeping. My mind raced with hopes 
and fears, each battling the other for their place in reality. I closed my eyes.... 

“Soon I shall go to sleep, in hopes of seeing him again. His intelligent soft eyes, his elegant head. His 
soft heart, and his four legs. For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” 
~Lindsay Turcotte 

I had never been to an auction or sale before and didn't know what to expect. I know I should 
have just laid low, nonchalant, but the excitement and adrenaline had me asking a million questions 
and soon it was apparent to everyone that I intended to buy this horse. I spent all day with him, I think 
most of the people there assumed I was the seller, not the intended buyer! The Alberta Breeders Group 
and Mike and Gloria steered me in all the right directions and I could feel their energy teaming up 
with mine in hopes that Leo and I would somehow be destined to be together. 

When the first horse entered the ring, my heart started to pound. By the time Leo came up 
(number 9) my hands were shaking and my body numb....this was it. I stood tall, not to be missed, as a 
blur of words and numbers pulsed through my ears. They kept pointing, I kept nodding, not sure what 
exact price we were at or if I was the only one left bidding. Then, after what seemed an eternity (only 
minutes) it was all over. I heard the boom of congratulations from the auctioneer as he proudly 
announced the new owner “Number 5, Inga Smith who flew in all the way from Coombs, Vancouver 
Island B.C”. He was the highest selling horse and we were instant celebrities but all I could focus on 
was that the two of us were now together. “For my horse is a dream, a dream of the making.” and I 
knew my dream was meant to be. 

For more info on Waspy Leo: www.ingasmith.com