2020 AQHA & APHA Mare
14.3 hh
Elegant without trying, athletic without effort, and kind in every sense of the word, she possesses the rare ability to be as enjoyable for an accomplished horseman as she is confidence-building for someone still growing their skills. This is Stiletto!
Pure class! There is something undeniably special about a truly great mare...
They carry themselves with quiet confidence. They make their riders look better than they are, and somehow leave everyone who meets them wishing they could take them home.
Stiletto is exactly that kind of mare.
Her pedigree is nothing short of exceptional. Sired by PALE FACE DUNNIT, a $5,000,000+ sire, and out of a daughter of the legendary SMART CHIC OLENA, a $13,000,000 sire, Stiletto inherited every opportunity to be a standout performer. She is double registered with both the AQHA and APHA, and with her NRHA competition license already in place, her future is wide open. Whether your goals involve the show pen, the ranch, or one day raising exceptional foals, she offers the versatility and pedigree to excel in every direction.
Fortunately, she didn't just inherit the bloodlines. She inherited the talent, too. Stiletto has been trained with remarkable precision. Every maneuver is soft, balanced, and correct. She rides willingly from one cue to the next, carrying herself with the kind of cadence, self-carriage, and responsiveness that only comes from thoughtful, quality training. She is refined enough for someone who appreciates a finished horse, yet forgiving enough to make every ride enjoyable for someone who is just learning.
Over the years she has proven herself in the hands of youth and inexperienced riders, confidently competing in both reining and ranch horse classes. Her reining maneuvers are impeccable. Lead changes so smooth if you blink you might miss it, cadenced, easy circles and she won't miss the opportunity to put a big sliding stop down if that's what you want! As far as the ranch horse events... She is stunning going down the rail or through a ranch riding pattern. Effortless transitions, correct movement and a pleasant expression make her impossible to ignore. Conformationally, you can't fault her, so showing her in halter is a pretty easy task! Most recently, she earned the High Point All-Around Ranch Horse buckle—a fitting accomplishment for a mare whose versatility continues to impress wherever she's taken.
And if you think her talents end with western riding, think again. Put an English saddle on her, and she looks like she was bred for it. Her naturally balanced, flowing gaits, and soft expression make her absolutely beautiful to watch. Point her toward a jump, and she approaches it with the same willing confidence she brings to every job, making it clear that athleticism comes naturally to her.
What continues to impress us most, however, isn't another ribbon or buckle. It's the trust she inspires.
Just before heading to the Best of the West Sale, Stiletto will spend time carrying one of our lesson students at the Iowa State Fair Horse Show. We wouldn't ask just any horse to represent our program in that setting. The horses we trust with our students are the same horses we trust with our reputation, and Stiletto embodies exactly the kind of horse we strive to produce and offer every single day.
She is safe without being dull - Talented without being complicated -Refined without being intimidating.
She's equally happy putting together polished maneuvers in the arena, quietly taking care of her rider, or trying something entirely new simply because you asked her to.
When her riding career eventually slows, another incredible chapter awaits. Her elite pedigree, exceptional mind, proven training, dual registration, and NRHA eligibility make her the kind of broodmare capable of contributing just as much to the next generation as she has under saddle.
Beautiful horses are easy to find. Well-bred horses are, too. Exceptionally trained horses certainly exist. But finding all of those qualities wrapped into one kind, trustworthy mare—the kind you can confidently hand to a youth rider one weekend and proudly show yourself the next—is something altogether different.
Stiletto is that mare.
She represents everything we hope people think of when they hear the Hansen Performance Horse name: quality, honesty, versatility, and a horse who makes every rider feel just a little bit better than they thought they could be. Call us about her, knowing she finds the perfect fit is important to us! We know whoever ends up with her will cherish her just as we have.
