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SPEAKEASYY
Amanda Smith
FATE CONNECTION: AMANDA SMITH AND SPEAKEASYY LOOK FORWARD TO MAJOR HUNTER UNDER SADDLE FUTURITIES
JUS BE GOOD
Under Saddle. “I honestly had not ridden him a lot before that class, but he was such a good Amanda Smith has always had a strong connection with the horses in her life. Though she wasn’t looking for a 2025 futurity horse, fate stepped in and led her to her perfect mount—a talented black gelding named Speakeasyy by One Hot Krymsun and out of She Gets The Blues. In their short time together, Smith has developed a strong bond with the gelding, which has contributed to their early success under the guidance of Farley McLendon.
won the 3 and Over Maiden Hunter Under at
the
Virginia
Maiden.
Smith
showed the gelding at the Sudden Impulse at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala and brought home the reserve championship in the 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Hunter
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a big, slow trot that’s really fun to ride,” says Smith. Growing up in upstate New York, Smith’s family had a small horse farm where she started riding at six years old. Smith participated in local circuit shows in the hunters and competed over fences until her early twenties. Early on, she developed a love for Quarter Horses thanks to her first horse, Jesse, who shaped the love for riding that would remain with Smith for life.
Earlier this year McLendon and Speakeasyy Saddle
boy. He’s very easy and pleasant to ride and has
After a hiatus of about eleven years, Smith’s love for horses was rekindled shortly after she met her husband, Tim. “Horses were all I talked about; I kept telling him how much I had loved it as a kid and how I missed being around the horses. He encouraged me to just take a lesson.”
She laughs, “He’s probably kicking himself now, because that lesson led me to buy a horse the same month and now I have far too many horses. But he is super supportive and loves that I am doing what I’m most passionate about.” Smith acknowledges that showing horses is more than a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. “I’ve really fallen back in love with this way of life and have been fortunate to have had a lot of success in the hunter under saddle
AL SOUTHERN COUTURE
the past few years,” she says. In 2023, Smith began showing with McLendon and had a strong year with Al Southern Couture in the 4-year-old hunter under saddle futurities at the major shows. “We were really successful with him at the Premier in 2023. He won the 4-year-old limited open hunter under saddle futurity that year and I won 4-year-old non-pro. It was my first trophy. That was also my first year attending the Premier and it became my favorite show of the year,” says Smith. In 2024, Smith and McLendon campaigned Shop Class in the maturity hunter under saddle events. “I still have a huge picture of Shop Class in my dining room,” she says. “I get really emotionally connected to all of my horses, but I also love to see them continue their careers with owners who care about them as much as I do. Both of those horses are doing great things today.” In late 2024, while attending a small show in Florida for fun, Smith set eyes on a tall black gelding. “I’m not sure if we found him by coincidence or fate,” says Smith. “Farley and I were at an Ugly Sweater Paint Show in Florida last December. I have a horse that’s a double so Farley and I and another friend went for fun. I guess horse girls can’t help themselves when a horse is for sale, we have to look,” laughs Smith.
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SPEAKEASYY
“I wasn’t actively looking for a new horse, but he was so attractive, we decided to try him,” explains Smith. “He’s captivating to watch. I loved his overall look—he’s a big, black pretty gelding with a huge trot. He had everything I’m looking for in the show pen because he’s eye catching and slow legged. He’s a horse that fits what I imagine the ideal hunter under saddle horse should look and move like,” she says. After spending time with Speakeasyy or Trace, Smith was quickly charmed by his laid-back demeanor and calm personality. “He’s just super chill. That’s what I like to ride. Plus, he’s very sweet and happy to do whatever we ask of him. Personality is everything to me and he has a great attitude and really embodies everything I look for in a horse.” Smith shares that the deal was done from that first interaction. “When we went to his stall, he came right up to me and put his head on my shoulder. Farley joked that he picked me and that meant I had no choice but to buy him.” Whether it was fate or coincidence, the move has worked well for Smith who has continued to mesh and connect with Speakeasyy. McLendon says that the two are proving to be a good match due to their complementary personalities. “He’s very quiet and he waits on her in the show pen. Plus, Amanda is super easy going,” she says. “We work together well. Amanda wants what’s best for her horses and is always willing to go the extra mile for them.”
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McLendon
and
company and gravel pits, so I was running heavy equipment
personality. “He’s super pretty, but also super quiet. I had
appreciates
the
gelding’s
presence
at 12 years old.” She adds, “I grew up in a family of business
his ¾ brother as a four-year-old, so I’m very familiar with
owners and knew that was what I wanted to do someday.
the breeding and the mentality. It’s a good match for a non-
Today my life is family, horses, and running my company. I
pro,” she says.
bring my laptop, printer and scanner and work from every show.”
Looking forward, they plan to show the gelding in the 3-Year-Old Open and Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle events
Like most horsewomen Smith is willing to do whatever it
at The Premier. Later in the year Smith says that they plan
takes to follow her dreams, especially after fate stepped in
to show Speakeasyy at the major summer and fall shows.
to connect her with her next great equine partner.
When she’s not showing horses, Amanda splits her
Article Written by: Elizabeth Arnold Photography by: Cody Parmenter Photography, Shane Rux Photography and Ryan Geiger Photography
time between Saratoga Springs, New York and Naples, Florida. She enjoys spending time with her husband and stepdaughters. As a business owner, Amanda manages to juggle her horse show and family life while running the demolition company she operates. “I grew up on heavy machinery,” she shares. “My dad owned a construction
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