Smart Little Lena Euthanized

1979 Cutting Sire Euthanized After Stroke

September 6, 2010

Robin Levison, secretary of the Smart Little Lena Syndicate confirmed to the Journal that at 11 a.m. August 30, Smart Little Lena was euthanized after suffering a stroke.

In 1982-83, Smart Little Lena won the triple crown of cutting with first-place open finishes in the NCHA Futurity, the NCHA Super Stakes and the NCHA Derby. He earned $577,652 in NCHA competition.

Levison said the morning had been difficult for everyone on Manion Ranch in Aubrey, Texas.

"He'll be cremated, and the remains will go in a little box in a trophy case at the ranch," she said.

The 1979 sorrel stallion by Doc O'Lena and out of Smart Peppy by Peppy San was an AQHA leading sire and a National Cutting Horse Association leading sire.

His offspring have earned more than $32 million in NCHA competition, $451,916 in National Reining Horse Association competition, $783,564 in National Reined Cow Horse Association competition and $196,499 at the AQHA World Championship Show.

Smart Little Lena sired 18 AQHA world champions that have won 22 world championships.

He is in the NCHA Hall of Fame. Look for more on the stallion, including comments from Tommy Manion, in the October issue of the Journal.