SMOKY'S STORY... Smoky has devoted his life to training, showing, judging, breeding, and teaching in the reined cow horse indusry. Smoky is a fourth generation of his family to make a living with horses.

Smoky was raised on a ranch in Oregon where his father was ranch manager. His grandfather was Charles Pritchett, a woodsman who logged with horses and ran a livery stable and James Pritchett, Smoky's great-grandfather, was a pioneer settler who traveled in a horse drawn covered wagon from Missouri to Oregon in the 1880's. He also ran a livery stable.

Smoky attended California polytechic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and earned a degree in animal science. In the mid 1960's he was one of the country's top Quarter Horse Trainers. He qualified 5 AQHA Supreme Champions and more than 50 AQHA Champions. From early 1970's through early 1990's Smoky established himself as a top reined cow horse trainer in much the same manner as he had earlier as an AQHA all-around trainer.

Mounted on horses such as Lena's Starlet, Doc's Malbec and Doctor Gunsmoke, Smoky won vertually every limited age event that the industry had to offer. In 1983 he purchased a yearling Paint Filly named Bonnie Smoke. Bonnie Smoke placed 4th in the 1984 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, NV and went on to found a super line of Paint cow horses that included Freckle Face Smoke, Bonnies Stranger, Bonnies Kid, Freckle Face Clyde, and Bonnie Lena.

Fritz Command was one of Smoky's most versatile performers. The dun son of King Fritz was an extremely consistent winner in reining and working cow horse and earned points in eight additional events. He is a legend.

Smoky began his judging career in the mid 1970's. He has officiated at numerous AHSA, AQHA, NCHA and NRCHA events in this country and overseas. He served as 1985-86 president of NRCHA and served nearly a decade chairman of the NRCHA judges committee.

In 1995 he was named NRCHA Stock Horse Man of the Year. In 2004 he was inducted into the NRCHA Hall of Fame.

Smoky currently stands two studs at his 80+ acre Iron Canyon Ranch in Red Bluff, California. Freckle Face Smoke, a 1991 stallion by Freckle Faced Kid out of Bonnie Smoke, owned by Smoky. And, Jasons Peptolena, a 2001 stallion by Peptoboonsmal and out of Amys Little Date by Smart Little Lena owned by Terry Ratto..