Once upon a time, in a small town in rural Ohio, a beautiful bride rode in on a stunning paint horse with a long, flowing mane. This isn’t the start of Disney’s next fairy tale. This is the scene that was witnessed when longtime APHA exhibitor Brandy Smith said “I do” to her high school sweetheart and became Brandy Brown.
Brandy and Zac’s adorable love story begins in 2009, their sophomore year of high school. They both attended high school in Findlay, Ohio. Brandy was the self-proclaimed “nerdy” girl, obsessed with books and her horses. Zac was the track and cross country star that had never sat on the back of a horse.
The couple began talking in the spring of 2009, however, any possible romance was put on hold for the summer and fall – Brandy had other priorities. That year, she led the nation for the second year in a row for PtHA with her home bred mare, Zips Sacred Slipper.
As show season came to a close, Zac was able to lock Brandy down for a date, and the rest is history. The couple stayed together through high school and even went to college together. They both attended the University of Findlay; Brandy for pre-law, and Zac for biology.
“It didn’t take Zac long to realize that the easiest way to my heart was through the barn,” says Brandy. Zac quickly adapted to life in the horse show world. He has even earned a Reserve World Championship aboard Brandy’s gelding, Struttin My Assets, or “Charlie.”
Zac definitely kept this in mind when planning his proposal.
The stage was set perfectly at the 2014 Pinto World Championship Show. Brandy was showing her family’s two year old, Milton Hershey, in the Charity Walk-Trot class, and Zac was showing Charlie.
Immediately before the class began, Zac made a post to his Facebook friends, encouraging them all to watch the live feed, as he was about to ask the love of his life to marry him. Both Brandy and Zac had many family members and friends in the stands for the class as well. As Zac jogged along the rail, Brandy’s father, Mark Smith, handed the ring box over the rail, which Zac hid in his pocket.
After the placings, the announcer called Brandy out of line, and Zac followed. It was then that Zac got on one knee and asked Brandy to marry him. Without hesitation, she said “yes!”
It was every horse show girl’s dream proposal. Of course, to match the dream proposal, the wedding had to be picture-perfect as well… and it certainly was. Anyone who knows Brandy knows that she is a very organized and creative individual in everything she does and the wedding certainly was no exception.
“While planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it to be unique. We planned a backyard wedding at my parent’s horse farm featuring our Australian Shepherd, Garth, as the ring bearer, and I rode my beloved horse Charlie to the aisle. He was a part of the engagement and a part of the wedding and a huge part of both of our lives.”
On July 16th, 2016, Brandy and Zac said “I do.” The weather was perfect as the sun shone down on the Smith Family Farm, where the ceremony took place. Brandy was led in on the back of her beloved Charlie, white dress flowing to match his long white mane. Her father then walked her down the aisle to her soon-to-be husband. There was not a dry eye among the crowd of family and friends.
After an incredible ceremony and reception, the couple celebrated their fairy tale wedding at the happiest place on earth – Disney.
Upon returning to Ohio, they began “real life” together. They now reside in Toledo, Ohio, a short drive from hometown. There, Brandy is attending law school at the University of Toledo, while Zac works as a field chemist for an environmental firm. They still ride whenever possible, spend time with their dogs, and handle the joys of being newlyweds and new homeowners with grace and excitement.
In the case of this modern day fairy tale couple, they really did live happily ever after.
(Author’s note: At Pinto World in 2014, I was staying with the Smith’s. One day, Zac and I were walking back to the trailer, and he asked me if I could keep a secret. He told me that, that night, he was going to ask Brandy to marry him. The excitement on his face when he said it was incredible. The electricity among all of us in the stands that night was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I’ve known Brandy for years, and I can’t think of any person in the world that is a better match for her than Zac. Congratulations, you two. I’m so happy for you.)
Photos courtesy of Brandy Brown
