Advertise on podcast: The Business of Horses with Solo Select

“Rocket fuel.” That’s what Solo Select’s Melanie Smith calls the firepower behind Zak 24’s new ownership group.  World Champion calf roper Shad Mayfield and the Barrilleaux family—operating as C&S Equine—have officially acquired Zak 34—the $429,000 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion and 2026 Reserve World’s Greatest Horseman. The powerful son of $16 million sire Woody Be Tuff will continue to stand right here at Solo Select alongside his legendary sire. "This was something that we didn't have in the plan," Solo Select's Melanie Smith said. "But this horse came here, they saw it, and we had some great conversations about what the future could look like. This horse's career is about to get a rocket booster behind it."   What's Next for Zak 34 Frozen Semen for Export: Solo Select will continue processing and storing frozen semen on Zak 34 for international breeders in Brazil, Europe, and Australia. Return to the World's Greatest Horseman: Chris Dawson will take the reins once again to chase the title.  Fresh Semen at Solo Select: Immediately following the World's Greatest Horseman, Zak 34 returns home to Solo Select to stand for fresh semen. Solo Select Open House: Join us the Saturday before Thanksgiving for our annual Open House! Meet Shad Mayfield, the Barrilleaux family, and get a firsthand look at Zak 34. Book Your Breeding Contract Today Breeding contracts to Zak 34 are officially open through the Solo Select online portal. New clients can complete their booking online in under three minutes, or reach out directly to our stallion management team.

Freddy Carmona and Butch Wise, two of the bloodstock agents behind Solo Select Racing's yearling program, sit down to walk through this year's 51-horse consignment for the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The depth runs deep. Full or half siblings to five individual champions. Ten out of grade one winners. One half to an All American Futurity winner, six more to All American finalists. Four are related to 56 individual stakes horses between them, and more than half the consignment comes out of stakes-producing mares. Carmona and Wise also cover what Solo Select Racing's fitting program does before a horse ever sees the ring, and why the walking videos on the consignment are worth a look before sale day. 413 yearlings total sell across two sessions, Sept. 4-5 at 2 p.m., every one eligible for the 2027 Triple Crown Futurities at Ruidoso. Last year's sale grossed $26.8 million and averaged $70,000 a yearling. See all 51 Solo Select Racing consignments at https://www.soloselecthorses.com/ruidoso-sale-horses

Melanie Smith interviews Dr. James Latimer (Hubbard Feeds) about feeding and growing equine athletes, with a focus on forage-first strategies and practical, biology-based nutrition. Key topics include hay testing, ration balancers and minerals, gestation and lactation needs, weaning and growth feeding rates, starch/sugar balance for performance, and managing metabolic horses. The episode emphasizes individualized plans, one-on-one consultations with Hubbard’s nutrition team, and upcoming in-person opportunities at Solo Select’s open house.

El agente y cofundador de Fastrack, Freddy Carmona, se sienta a conversar con Emmanuel Villareal, una figura muy influyente en la compraventa de caballos de carreras Cuarto de Milla y propietario, junto a su esposa, de Rooster QH Sale. Juntos analizan el estado actual del mercado, comparten los consejos de Emmanuel sobre cómo elegir el caballo ideal para cada perfil de cliente y repasan sus múltiples experiencias como comprador asiduo en las subastas de Fastrack. - Proxima venta de Fastrack es el 16 de Agosto, exclusivamente ONLINE. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀: Fastrack Office: (940) 371-7272 Butch Wise: (405) 640-2234 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛 - Freddy Carmona: (214) 687-2528 #yourhomeforSPEED

Fastrack is proud to announce major, seller-friendly updates to our consignment structure. Changes include a reduced consignment fee of $500, a lowered commission rate of 5%, and a new option to bypass upfront fees completely by submitting registration papers and signed transfers at the time of entry. In this episode, Fastrack co-founders Butch Wise and Freddy Carmona discuss these exciting new rules, evaluate the current state of the Quarter Horse racing market, and address the industry's primary challenges. Reminder: next sale Aug 16, consignment deadline July 20.

The exact same day the LBR Hangem Syndicate was announced, every single available share was officially spoken for. The momentum behind him is massive. A lot of people hear "syndication" but don't actually know what it entails. In this short episode of The Business of Horses, we break down the tangible benefits for the listeners. Melanie Smith and Don Ham discussed other matters: -LBR Hangem will still be standing to the public. Based on how fast the syndicate sold out, public breeding contracts are expected to go incredibly fast. Here is the link to the WAITLIST: https://bit.ly/LBR-Hangem-2027-Waitlist Do not wait. Put your name on the waitlist right now to ensure you get all the information on exactly when and how the breeding contracts will be released. -Email Melanie Smith if you want to be considered for a share in the syndicate: [email protected] -Follow LBR on social media -Come watch him at Summer Spec on 7/10: first out in the 5th set of the Open Classic. -The Solo Select Owners Club -Discover an entirely new, seamless way to manage your Solo Select contracts for the upcoming breeding season. Stay tuned for what’s coming next! -The Solo Select Open House planned on November 20-21, 2026

At 13 years old, Trystan Crow has already earned more than $360,000 in the cutting pen. But this episode isn't really about the money. It's about the people behind it, the lessons learned along the way, and what it takes to raise a young horseman with both talent and work ethic. Trystan Crow, Mary Crow, and Don Ham join us for a conversation every young cutter and every horse parent needs to hear.

Join host Melanie Smith as she sits down with seasoned fitters Dustin Price and Evan Moffitt to take you behind the scenes of Solo Select’s premier full-service fitting programs. Whether prepping elite racing Quarter Horses or top-tier western performance horses, Dustin and Evan break down the exact science and daily dedication required to maximize a horse's sale value. -Discover Dustin and Evan's backgrounds, how they climbed the ranks in the industry, and the mentors and lifelines that helped them along the way. -Explore the specific differences between conditioning and prepping a racehorse versus a performance or rope horse. -The "NASCAR Crew" Advantage: Learn how Solo Select's large-scale systems allow the team to operate like a high-speed pit crew. By having a structured program in place, fitters can hyper-focus strictly on doing their jobs and working their horses. -The Power of Foot Traffic: Understand why being part of a massive program makes a huge difference in drawing buyer foot traffic and getting eyes on your horses. -Get an inside look at the daily routines that build champions, from the stud barn to round-pen work and dedicated walking regimens. -Hear why correct conditioning, expert handling, professional marketing, catalog presence, and perfect timing are the ultimate keys to driving up sale value. Listen and learn how Solo Select's approach ensures every horse reaches its ideal buyer and achieves its peak potential in the sale ring. This is where high sellers take shape. Trust Solo Select Full-Service Fitting Programs soloselecthorses.com/sale-fitting More info: Western Performance Fitting Program Evan Moffitt: 817-773-4253 Ty Smith: 405-317-9363   Solo Racing Fitting Program Matt Witman: 405-613-0047 Butch Wise: 405-640-2234

Entrevista en Español - Hoy, el agente de Fastrack, Freddy Carmona, conversó con Miguel Vargas y Christopher Villatoros, dueños de Fall Classic, ganador del Heritage Place Futurity G1 de $1,158,940 en Remington Park el sábado 30 de mayo de 2026. En esta entrevista platican sobre su gran victoria y también comparten lo que piensan sobre las subastas de Fastrack. Respondieron a preguntas como: ¿Qué ventajas tiene una subasta completamente en línea? ¿Qué tan transparentes son los perfiles de cada caballo? ¿Por qué las ventas en línea son parte del futuro del mercado de los caballos Cuarto de Milla de carreras? ¿Cuál es la ventaja de poder comprar y vender durante todo el año, sin tener que esperar a las subastas tradicionales? Si todavía tienes dudas sobre utilizar la plataforma de Fastrack para comprar caballos, ¡esta es una excelente plática para entenderla mejor y animarte a participar! 𝗟𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼́𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗱𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗹 𝟭𝟰 𝗱𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲  Clic aqui para ver el catalogo  𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙖 𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥𝙤: Fastrack Office: (940) 371-7272 Butch Wise: (405) 640-2234 SPANISH - Freddy Carmona: (214) 687-2528 #yourhomeforSPEED

In this episode, Melanie Smith sits down with Australian agent Tish Healey to dive into the intricacies of international breeding, breaking down the logistics and regulations involved in exporting semen from the Solo Select stallion roster to Australia. They explore the rapidly expanding Australian Western performance horse market, discussing the massive growth in cutting, campdrafting, and roping, alongside the rising use of ICSI. Melanie and Tish also highlight how Solo Select’s world-class stallions and promotional efforts are actively bridging the gap to support breeders on both sides of the globe. Plus, you won't want to miss some major announcements! The pair discusses Solo Select stepping up as the main sponsor for the upcoming 2026 Australian Open Cutting Futurity, and they reveal the details of a very special, exclusive sale offering incredible deals designed specifically for Australian breeders. Tune in to learn what it takes to navigate the global breeding industry and hear how the Western performance market is thriving down under!

¿Quieres saber más sobre Fastrack, la nueva plataforma 100% en línea para comprar y vender caballos Cuarto de Milla de carreras? Freddy Carmona, Bloodstock Agent y Fastrack Agent, recibe a Sammy Mendoza de invitado para platicar sobre su experiencia comprando un caballo en la plataforma durante la venta del 11 de abril de 2026. • ¿Qué le gustó a Sammy y qué no le gustó? • ¿Cómo fue el proceso de compra paso a paso? • ¿Qué ventajas tiene una subasta completamente en línea? La próxima venta de Fastrack es el 14 de junio de 2026. Fecha límite de inscripciones (Consignment deadline): 31 de mayo. #yourhomeforSPEED

"I wanted to be a winner." It all starts with a powerful mindset, but what does it really take to reach the top of the Western performance industry—and more importantly, stay there? If you think you can't make it in the cutting horse world because you don't come from money, or because you weren't born into a performance horse dynasty... you are WRONG. Kenny Platt and his family’s story is living proof, and it will give you the exact motivation you need to get right back in the saddle and chase those dreams. This episode is packed with actionable insights on: >How to make it as a professional horse trainer >How to manage a successful training operation >How to build a team that sustains growth and success >How to navigate finances and customer expectations ...And why you should always be grateful for the struggle. PLUS: Hear the legendary story of the famous Moms Stylish Player, walk through the incredible rise of LBR Hangem, and so much more!

“We won’t see another horse like that in a long time. Whether he belongs to me or someone else is irrelevant, this horse is a generational horse, he is just different”. — Ty Smith, co-owner of LBR Hangem The entire team behind LBR Hangem—Don Ham, Todd Carpenter, Melanie Smith, and Ty Smith—sat down to record this episode right after the horse won the Open 5/6 at the Super Stakes. It was a run that put Shotty in the NCHA Hall of Fame, forever sealing his legacy in one of the toughest sports in the Western industry. This is the story of a VERY special horse that has conquered the hearts of the entire cutting industry. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did. "He never did anything just a little bit, he was always 100% and I think he does the same thing on a cow, the moves he makes are always 100% and he was that way his whole life." — Don Ham, Shotty’s breeder and co-owner

Part 2 of 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝟐-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧 is for the owners who don’t just want to start a colt, they want to see it all the way through. Because getting a horse to the championship pen doesn’t start at three, it starts the moment you decide who you trust with your 2-year-old. In this episode, we break down what the trainer–client relationship really looks like when the goal is long-term success. The level of trust it takes to hand over a young horse, the consistency, communication, and decision-making that happen behind the scenes, and the difference between clients who help build great horses—and the ones who unknowingly hold them back. If you’re thinking about sending a colt to a trainer, or you want to give your horse the best possible shot from day one, this is the side of the industry you need to understand. Because the best programs aren’t built overnight and they’re never built alone.

Most people only see the finished product. The futurity runs. The earnings. The champions. What they don’t see is everything that happens at the very beginning. In Part 1 of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝟐-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬, Ty Benson and Max Morin dive deep into the most defining—and unforgiving—stage of a horse’s career: the 2-year-old program. This is where careers are built from the ground up, where mistakes are expensive, and where the difference between good and great is decided long before the show pen. From evaluating raw prospects to managing mental pressure, physical development, and long-term soundness, this episode breaks down the real work behind elite horses. Not the highlight reel—the foundation. Because great horses aren’t made when the world is watching. They’re made when it’s quiet, early, and everything still matters.