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 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.
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 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!
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
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Nov 22 /09 