b"Smedsmohimselflovedtoshowoffandhewasnearlyfearlessinthe show ring.He won lots of ribbons and more than a few championships in AmericanDrivingSocietyCarriageDrivingcompetitions.Healsowonhis share of ribbons at the annual Midwest Fjord Horse Club Blue Earth show. Phil used Smedsmo in light draft work, in Carriage Driving, as a trail horse, and a pack horse. He drove single, and in pairs, with geldings or mares. The stallion was an easy traveler. And like their sire, his offspring have done well in the performance ring. When in his mid-teens, he lost sight in his left eye due to an injury, but somehow,itneverreallybotheredhim.Hewasabletocompensateand remain confident and calm. On the Odden farm, Smedsmo lived in a paddock close to the house. When the front door of the house opened in the morning, Smedsmo was right there with a gentle nicker greeting. As a stallion he was very easy to handle, very respectful. He could be bred by hand or pasture breed the mares brought to him. One time, when he was in the pasture on the Odden farm with a couple of mares, Phil went to the pasture to see how the horses were doing. He decided to bring the stallion back to the barn to hitch him to the cart, Smeds and Fjoga with Wendy 2018 Photo and permission but he hadnt brought a halter along. Phil was able to lead Smedsmo by hisby Lianne Miller forelock away from the green grass and his mares back to the barn without any protest. Smedsmo was able to cover mares and still be focused enough to behave and perform in the show ring on the same day. To date, Smedsmo Gren has 44 registered offspring recorded in Norway, and 99 registered offspring through the NFHR. One son in Norway, Leirdals Odin N-02-2609, is still being used in the Norwegian breeding program.A son, Oddens Favne stands in Canada and has 21 recorded registered offspring.In 2015, an opportunity presented itself whereby Smedsmo could stand in the western part of the US. He was transferred to Wendy Bauwens at Sunnyside Farms in Clyde Park, Montana thanks to the assistance of Cara Whitney. Wendy was interested in the many ways in which horses can be involved in therapy for people, young and old. Through her creative Sunnyside Farm programs, Smedsmo touched the lives of countless people. While at Sunnyside Farms, Smedsmo sired 18 foals and delighted the hearts of more people than we will ever know.He rode and drove at special events, conducted therapy sessions, and was a mainstay at kids camps.He rode trails and packed gear, and even enjoyed being a snowbird, making an annual migration from Montana to Arizona each winter.He was never considered just a horse.He was always our king as he greeted us with a glimmer inFall Colors, 2016 Photo and Permission by Jacklynn Matthewshis eye and a spring to his step, every single day.He was the mainstay to our lives.Smeds, as he was fondly called by his family, was the lesson horse for all levels, ages, disciplines, and desires.He traveled long and far to thrill a parade crowd.He even accompanied his beloved Rds Luna in pulling a carriage hosting Smokey the Bear in the largest horse-drawn parade west of the Mississippi.The Sun Valley Wagon Days parade isnt for the faint of heart, and even in their golden years, Smeds and Luna couldnt be beat.Its hard, beyond words really, to imagine a day in the world without Smeds in it.Today and every day, were thankful for his presence in our lives, not just as a horse, but as a companion and the patriarch of our family.Our Smedsmo daughters will continue to carry on his legacy of well built, gentle natured Fjord Horses.In our hearts, and those of so many others world-wide, Smeds will always be the one.It will be many blue moons before there is another like him.Long May You Run, beautiful King, in the tall grass with all of your favoriteA Girl's Best Friend photo and permission by Lianne Miller 2018friends.We dream of seeing you again someday.Fjord Herald Issue #149Winter 2023 15"