The Business of Horses with Solo Select

Latest Episodes:

Episode 27 - From Red Bull to the Cutting Pen: Jay Winborn on Modern Marketing with Melanie Smith Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

Melanie Smith interviews Jay Winborn about his journey from riding Polo horses all over the world and Red Bull marketing into association leadership at NRCHA and NCHA, and how that experience shaped new strategies for promoting cutting and cow horse events.

They discuss practical marketing moves—storytelling, webcasts, video campaigns, and high‑visibility ads—along with event changes like the move to Fort Worth, cross‑discipline collaboration, and sponsorship strategy.

The conversation also covers industry growth, incentives and sales trends, youth and experiential programs to attract new participants, and the importance of making the sport welcoming and accessible.

Ep. 26: Two-time PRCA World Champion and $2 Million Cowboy & Barrilleaux Family Partner on $429K Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Zak 34 Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

“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.

Ep 25: Butch Wise & Freddy Carmona: Inside Solo Select Racing's 51-Head Ruidoso Consignments Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

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

Ep. 24: Feeding the Future: Growing and Fueling Elite Equine Athletes Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

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.

Fastrack - Ep. 5: Entrevista con Emmanuel Villareal (Rooster QH Sale) Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

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 - Ep. 4: Announcing Fastrack’s New Consignment Rules for the August 16 Sale Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

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.

Episode 23 - NCHA Hall Of Fame & $495K-Earning Stallion LBR Hangem Syndicated Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

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: mel@soloselect.com

-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

Episode 22 - $360,000+ NCHA Rider Trystan Crowe : What It Takes To Raise a Young Horseman Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

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.

Episode 21 - Inside Solo Select Full-Service Fitting Programs Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

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

Fastrack - Ep. 3 - ¿Qué opinan Miguel Vargas y Christopher Villatoros, dueños del ganador del Heritage Place Futurity G1, sobre Fastrack? Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

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