The Business of Horses with Solo Select

Melanie Smith
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Twice Weekly

The horse industry is growing rapidly, and it’s a prime time to build your equine business. Whether starting your company or expanding - this podcast will give you the education and inspiration to step up your game. We will eliminate the abundance of gray areas in the horse business, educate you on some of today’s hottest topics, and inspire you to take your business to the next level.

  1. 3 days ago

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

    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.

    41 min

  2. 10 June

    Episode 21 - Inside Solo Select Full-Service Fitting Programs

    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

    1hr 5min

  3. 6 June

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

    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

    32 min

  4. 12 May

    Episode 20: Solo Select Expands Global Reach with Sponsorship of the 2026 NCHA Australia Open Futurity

    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!

    38 min

  5. 5 May

    Comprando un Caballo 100% en Línea: La Experiencia del Entrenador Sammy Mendoza en Fastrack

    ¿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

    23 min

  6. 4 May

    Ep. 19: How to Reach the Top (and Stay There)—Inside Kenny Platt's Family-run Cutting Operation

    "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!

    1hr 16min

  7. 23 Apr

    Episode 18-All In: The Full Story of LBR Hangem-Shotty-by the Team Who Built Him

    “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

    46 min

  8. 20 Apr

    The Business of Horses - Inside 2-Year-Old Training Programs with Ty Benson and Max Morin PART 2

    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.

    41 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The horse industry is growing rapidly, and it’s a prime time to build your equine business. Whether starting your company or expanding - this podcast will give you the education and inspiration to step up your game. We will eliminate the abundance of gray areas in the horse business, educate you on some of today’s hottest topics, and inspire you to take your business to the next level.

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