Ganymede
sold May 2015
“We purchased Ganymede (2003 Connemara/TB) aka “Luna” from Nicolette in 2015 as our daughter Meg’s first pony and our first family horse! I cannot say enough about this amazing pony and the work that Nicolette did to produce her. She had already done Intermediate with Nicolette, but we brought her down to Beginner Novice for her 10 year old rider and she has taught Meg EVERYTHING about moving up the levels. She took Meg through her first Training, Prelim, 2* and Intermediate! She is always up for a challenge and they are an amazing team because Luna loves her job and winning!
She has won the Theodore O’Connor trophy for Pony of the Year twice since we have had her and she shows no signs of slowing down. We are SO grateful for Nicolette’s training of Luna and always following her journey!”
Charleston
sold Oct 2020
“I purchased Charleston sight unseen and had him shipped to me after speaking with Nicolette over the phone and email about him. Her representation of him was 100% accurate and I truly think he’s even better than she said. My son and I have both already used him to whip-in and he is completely steady and trustworthy. I’m lucky to have him.”
Phillip
sold 2007
“How can I pass up the opportunity to brag about the original MS Super Pony!
Phillip is a 22 yr old Morgan/Standardbred who started life as an Amish cart pony. Rosie Merle- Smith found him at Sarah Conyers’ eventing barn in Kentucky, and Sarah threw a saddle on him to point him over a jump as a “what the hell”. Turns out that cart pony could jump! Rosie bought him as a jumper for Nikki, and he didn’t even steer yet! (Carriage horses don’t steer like saddle horses) Nikki evented and hunted him with Thornton Hill Hounds. I got him a year or so later when he was 9, and have had the privilege to ride him ever since.
This will be Phillip’s 16th season hunting, and he has hunted with 28 different hunt clubs across the U.S. He has been a cart pony, lesson horse, hireling, First Flight, Second Flight and Hilltoppers, Field Master’s Horse, Whip Horse and the Huntsman’s Horse (on occasion). He has taken a few junior riders over coops on their first trips out in First Flight.
He has seen every kind of country, as he has been hunted from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. I’ve also galloped him over some of the worst footing and holes you can imagine, and he always finds his fifth leg. And he always jumps. Always!
He is my horse of a lifetime.”
Phoebe
sold 2004
“In 2004 I bought a 5 - year-old mare from the Merle-Smiths, a Shire/Tb cross. She was sold as a green foxhunter prospect, having been out with hounds a few times. She was everything they said she was and more. I hunted her for 10 seasons, and after her green first year, she never put a foot wrong from the flatlands of Reedy Creek Hounds to the mountains of Rockbridge Hunt. Out with hounds over 350 times plus many trail rides and hunter paces. Never a lame day, either. She was one of my two best horses in a long life of hunting. ”
Avalon
sold 2003
“I would like to thank you for the best horse I could have ever dreamed of having the privilege to partner with. She loaded on a trailer every time. She willingly did anything asked of her. She turned out with geldings, mares, no problem. Hacked out easily. Enjoyed ring work.
I never had soundness issues. She was a kind, fun, smart, honest girl.
Thank you for giving me 17 years with her.”
Commando
sold 2015
“When I was looking for a horse I was looking for amateur friendly, but did not want to sacrifice a good brain for well-bred and correct conformation. I looked at other breeders with young horses marketed as premium by the breed organization, but the Merle-Smiths’ horses were the only ones that had been well handled and ready for training. The purchase process was very easy, and Dr. Beshear was impressed at the carefully managed nutrition program that provided the “healthiest joints in a 4yo” he had seen and solid growth. Commando is always a barn favorite, well mannered, and has been such a pleasure to bring along. Throughout the journey, Nikki and Rosemarie have been our biggest cheerleaders!”
Electa
sold November 2019
“At the end of 2019, I purchased a homebred mare from Merle-Smith Sporthorses, and am still very pleased with my decision. The mare is well mannered, she was brought along slowly, patiently schooled in the ring, cross country, and the hunt field. I feel the mare was honestly represented. Heaven forbid I would need another horse, but if I do, Merle-Smith Sporthorses would be the first place I would look… especially if it was one of their homebreds.”
Glimmerglass M-S
sold Sept 2020
“Found the mare who checked all of my boxes. Couldn’t be happier with her fantastic foundation! She stepped right into the hunt field and is going beautifully.”
Sherwood Forest
sold Sept 2020
“Merle-Smith Sporthorses staff are extremely professional, well rounded horse people. My experience purchasing my horse from them was organized and stress free. They produce well trained, sound horses, and truly help you find your perfect match. I highly recommend starting your horse search here!”
Empress Lisa
“Nicolette ended up with an OTTB that I knew on the track, Empress Lisa aka #angelthehunthorse, and has given her such a loving, brilliant home. The little redhead mare had such a big heart on the track and an attitude to overcome. It warms my heart that she is so cared for, is happy and has such a glorious post-racing life! Her entire racing family is pleased and thankful how well her life has turned out after her racing days!”
Little Bellevue's Gray
sold 2007
“I purchased my gray TB x Percheron mare from the Merle-Smiths in 2007 as a 4 yo. She was a PMU baby from Saskatchewan. Rosie informed me that Canada‘s economy at the time, was struggling, and this producer of hormones had learned how to double dip, by not only harvesting hormones, but also by harvesting desirable foals. Through selective breeding, they produced some foals with athleticism, temperament, and beauty. Meet Smokey.
She was a green baby when I bought her, with rock solid conformation, and the Merle-Smiths had started her so positively, from free lunging in a round pen and loading on a trailer, to an introduction to small jumps in the ring or crossing streams on a hack. She had even been exposed to a few hilltopping meets. With Rosie on the ground and Nikki up, they prepared her for each next step. Smokey and I picked up where they left off, and began working in-hand on a lead line, and she quickly would walk, trot, and halt beside me with no line. We started hacking and foxhunting, then local jumper shows and eventing, moving up in each discipline as we were ready. I would never have imagined the heights to which she would rise, and we have had a lifetime of fun together with so many memories to cherish.
She is a versatile horse (she once posed as a zebra for an ad campaign!) that will give her best to anything, but her heart beats for foxhunting. In spite of her calm demeanor and exquisite manners, she is an explosive hunting machine who yearns for the sound of the huntsman’s horn and the music of the hounds. She was tapped as Most Suitable in our first foray into the North American Field Hunter Championship, always placing in the top finalists, and most recently, she was Reserve Champion at the Virginia FHC in 2017. Still going strong in the hunt field, this mare is my pride and joy.
The Merle-Smiths love what they do, and enjoy seeing a well matched team; they have cheered us on at every turn, often while Nikki and I were competing at the same horse trials, or out hunting, or as once, when Nikki even braided for me when I was in a pinch. I owe them a debt of gratitude for finding this gem of a horse from so far away, and bringing her to Virginia. I’ll never forget their encouragement to “just take her out hunting once to see if you like her.” The rest is not only history...it’s a dream come true.”
Blue Highway
sold July 2020
“It takes time to find a heart horse. Sadly sometimes it takes horse after horse that just doesn’t work out till you find one that holds your heart. I had spent the past 6 years looking for my next partner. About 4 ottbs partners later, I finally threw my hands up and said... ‘I’m gonna spend some actual money this time and get a well bred horse.’
I came to Virginia to meet an old friend, and met ‘Balou,’ Blue Highway. He has melted my heart completely. He is bred so completely well, and his heart wants nothing but to please. He is now slowly coming along, as he is a partner for life.. and only 3. I wish to do right by him. I can’t thank Nikki and her family enough for breeding not only an athletic flashy gelding, but my best friend and future partner for as long as I can keep him by my side.”
