APHA Hall of Famer Color Me Smart dies
APHA Hall of Famer and legendary Paint cutting horse sire Color Me Smart died peacefully on January 16, 2026, in Weatherford, Texas. He was 35 years old.
The son of cutting legend Smart Little Lena (QH) and APHA national champion Doxs Painted Lady, “Color” was destined to make a splash in the high-stakes, action-packed cutting world. Hopes were high for the 1991 bay tobiano, who was bred by Sue Dunn of Azle, Texas. He was syndicated as a yearling, with shares expanded as a 2-year-old—all before he ever set foot inside the cutting pen. George Jensen and the Color Me Smart Syndicate were influential in showing and promoting Color. Color ultimately earned $9,717 in National Cutting Horse Association competition, along with a 1997 APHA world championship in Senior Cutting, before standing at stud.
In 2000, Color sold for $2.75 million to Esperanza Ranch. He changed owners a few more times before being purchased by Iconic Color LLC—a group of friends composed of lifelong Paint fans Linda Werner, Michelle Sly and Ann Jones—at the 2014 NCHA Summer Spectacular Western Bloodstock Sale. Color remained in their ownership until his passing. It was their goal to allow Color to live out his years with the honor and respect he deserved.
Legendary
Living up to his blue-blood lineage, Color matured into an impressive sire—one that combined performance talent with flashy tobiano markings that captivated breeders throughout the Western performance horse world. Color sired 859 registered foals—his get have earned 39 APHA world championships and 37 reserve world championships to date, along with many more World Show Challenge class wins and NCHA accolades. Color is the leading Paint sire of cutting horses; his offspring have earned more than $3.7 million, according to Equi-Stat. Among his top performers are J R Playboy By Color, LTE $271,515; JR Colord Rambo, LTE $232,787; JR Red Diablo, LTE $175,440; and Special Order Paint, LTE $175,314. Color was inducted into the APHA Hall of Fame in 2020.
“It was a dream of mine to own him for years. Long before we bought him, I made a promise to him that someday, some way, he was going to be mine. I was going to love him, respect him and give him his forever home,” Linda said. “We were blessed to have 12 wonderful years with him. He had a good life and got to be a horse—he got to live his days in the pasture and loved life. And he was loved.
“He was such a true blessing, and we feel honored to have been part of his life. He was such a special horse. One in a million, that’s for sure.”
Images: APHA File Photos
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.