‘Little Bit’ of sunshine brightens Florida owners’ world

Once ready to swear off all show horses forever, Greg and Jonnie
Flewelling were not expecting a certain Smart Master Plan to get them
right back into it. Now they’re here for the third year to show off the beloved stallion that continues to prove American Paint Horses are
capable of just about anything.

Look for Smart Master Plan this week as he competes with Rick Steed in working cow horse and freestyle reining, where the stallion will show off his bridleless talents.

Jonnie first realized there was something special about the breed as a
12-year-old when she rode her first Paint—a family owned working ranch horse.

“I walked into a herd of 27 cattle, laid my reins on her neck and she
moved every single cow by herself,” she said. Jonnie had no idea at
that time what kind of influence Paints would have later in her life.

About three years ago, after yet another show prospect turned sour,
the seventh-generation Floridian ranchers grew tired of their
misfortune in the ring and decided to quit all together. Everything
soon changed just after New Year’s when three hurricanes blew through the “Sunshine State,” actually bringing a little luck their way.

Just as Jonnie learned about the amount of farms destroyed by the
weather, leaving horses homeless, she overheard two contractors
looking for a place to board. With room to spare in their 17-stall
barn, the Texas natives were invited to bring in their three horses—
one being Smart Master Plan. One month later, Greg wrote a check for
the stallion and “Little Bit,” as he is known, became part of the
family.

The Flewellings decided to try their luck yet again, this time at the
2006 World Championship Paint Horse Show. With only three months of training, Little Bit walked away with a Reserve Championship title in
Working Cow Horse.

“At that point we were kind of starting to fall in love with him but
we really had no idea what kind of horse he was,” explained Jonnie.

Smart Master Plan, a 2000 sorrel tobiano son of Smart Plan AQHA and Lady Drift Bar, is ranked 17th in the nation by NRCHA.

The 8-year-old sorrel tobiano gave the couple a chance to get back
into the game as he continued showing. The stallion was showcased
about once a month and competed against all breeds, where Jonnie
explained, “as a Paint, he had to do one hundred times better than
anyone else.”

The “perfectly put together horse,” as he is described by Jonnie,
continued to show his determination at last year’s World Show, winning
two Reserve Championships in working cow horse and freestyle reining. On top of his success in the ring, trainer Rick Steed was making incredible progress in the stallion’s training.

“He isn’t big enough and doesn’t have enough stamina, but his ‘want’
is so huge,” said Steed.

The duo seem to have a unique relationship. During the 15 days of
their Fort Worth stay last year, Steed amazingly taught the stallion
to ride bridleless. In the process, an incredibly versatile horse has
been discovered.

“He does anything, it doesn’t matter if it’s barrel racing, poles,
ranching, working cow horse or cutting—he’s got it all,” said Jonnie.

Little Bit’s heart is just as big at home as it is in the ring, where
he is ridden by 3-year-old grandson Joshua.

“He takes the cake. He is the top of the heap,” said Flewelling, who
has been around horses her whole life.

The couple decided to purchase a 4-year-old mare, Marvels Silk Dream,
showcased at last year’s sale, with hopes to build a legacy. The
next morning, the Flewellings found that a determined Little Bit had
somehow unlatched his stall as well as the newly-added mare’s stall
during the night.

Long story, short—this year Little Bit’s first baby hit the ground.
The filly, named “Sonya,” takes after her sire as she is “painted to
high heaven,” exclaimed Jonnie.

After hearing countless offers to buy the weanling, even before she
was born, Jonnie speaks for the whole family when she says, “I think
we’ve got to keep this one—she’s a world show baby.”

Flewelling is sold on the breed because of her special stallion, who
has been nothing but “pure pleasure” and an inspiration for the
Flewelling family.