BREAKING: Two-time PRCA World Champion and $2 Million Cowboy & Barrilleaux Family Partner on $429K Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Zak 34

“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."

The Story Behind the Partnership

Mayfield first took notice of Zak 34 strictly as a fan from the stands. A year ago, he watched the stallion compete at the World's Greatest Horseman with NRCHA $2.7 million rider Chris Dawson, where Zak 34 put on an unforgettable performance to finish as Reserve Champion.

"I am just a fan of the sport, a spectator, a fan of horses," Mayfield said. "I saw him go, and he stood out to me. He's athletic. He's big. He's pretty. He's got a good mind on him. He just checked all the boxes for what I personally look for in a horse."What stood out most to Mayfield was Zak 34's rare combination of size, agility, and versatility."I could see him being a great calf horse, rope horse or cow horse," Mayfield added. "For his size, he's a freak of nature with the way he can move."

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Rare Size, Bone, and Durability

Standing nearly 15.2 hands with substantial bone, Zak 34 brings a physical frame to the stallion lineup that is increasingly difficult to find in modern Western performance horses.

"You don't see that on stallion ads anymore," Smith noted. For Mayfield, that size and structure were non-negotiable."My dad would tell me what to look for in a horse," Mayfield explained. "You look at the bone, the size, and the frame. With Zak, he's got all that. That's a horse that's going to be able to hold up."

Mayfield's breeding strategy includes crossing Zak 34 on smaller mares—around 14 hands—to produce correctly structured, big-boned calf horses. Smith added that veterinarian evaluations confirmed the stallion's exceptional build: for a horse his age who has endured a high-level show career, he vetted remarkably clean, with the vet declaring him "a lot of horse."

Finding "The Next Woody"

Sons of Woody Be Tuff are exceptionally rare, making Zak 34 an extraordinary asset to the industry.

"One reason there aren't very many of them is because the Center Ranch purposefully gelded every single colt," Smith explained. "That's why there aren’t hardly any Woody stallions out there, and that's what makes this horse so special."

With Woody Be Tuff turning 26, the arrival of Zak 34 comes at a pivotal moment. "We've been looking for that next Woody Be Tuff stallion that's so good," Mayfield said. "And that's Zak."

A Partnership Built for Breeders

This isn't the first joint venture for Mayfield and the Barrilleaux family. The team already owns several elite futurity prospects together, including Rebel Impact ("Boozy"), a 3-year-old stallion by Metallic Rebel who recently marked a 218.5 in the reined work under Corey Cushing at the Snaffle Bit Futurity.

For Mayfield and the Barrilleauxs, this partnership extends directly to the breeders who book to Zak 34. "We're partners, we're friends, and we're in this for a long time," Mayfield said. "We want breeders to have successful babies on the ground."

Smith emphasized that standing at Solo Select gives breeders a distinct advantage: state-of-the-art facilities, innovative marketing, and powerful incentives."When somebody books to a stallion, they're booking to a program and a plan," Smith said. "Between us and these guys, he's going to have every chance to be a landmark sire."

A Legacy Built on Heartbreak and Honor

Before he ever stepped into a big-lights arena, Zak 34 was bought to fulfill a deeply personal purpose.

In 2020, Missy Fischer and her family traveled from South Dakota to the Western Bloodstock Sale while grieving the sudden loss of Missy’s 35-year-old son, Seth. When the two-year-old black colt stepped into the ring, Missy knew he was the one. She purchased him and renamed him Zak 34 to honor her son’s legacy—combining Seth's childhood nickname, "Zak," with his lifelong jersey number, 34, a tribute to Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton. For Missy, every success the stallion achieves in the show pen and breeding barn is a living extension of Seth’s memory.

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."I think we're going to look back on this conversation in five years," Smith said, "and see how much this horse has grown."

Book your Zak 34 breeding contract.

New clients can complete their booking online in under three minutes, or reach out directly to our stallion management team."I think we're going to look back on this conversation in five years," Smith said, "and see how much this horse has grown."

Watch the full announcement video with Shad Mayfield and the Barrilleaux family on Solo Select’s official media channels, and follow Zak 34 on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for breeding updates and show news.