To the Buyers and Sellers of the Ruidoso Select Yearlings,
We are thrilled and honored to meet you all and to represent yearlings from some of the most accomplished breeders in the industry at this sale. We have assembled an exceptional team to showcase these horses. Dustin Price leads our sale fitting division for the racehorses, bringing decades of experience to the table. Gayle Price and Dawson Price contribute their vast knowledge, experience, and horsemanship, making us a true "dream team" in the barn. Matt Witman and Butch Wise add invaluable expertise, connections, and experience, creating a first-class experience for our customers. Ty Smith and I, Melanie Smith, are honored to work alongside this team and look forward to the success they will bring to our customers during the sale.
You may be wondering who we are, what we do, and why we are here. Solo Select was established in 2018 with a single mission: to bring the very best to the horse industry - initially serving the cutting and cow-horse market by selling exceptional prospects online. Since then, we have expanded significantly. In 2020, we launched our online sale company, which quickly became the highest-grossing online sale platform for western performance horses in the world. We have set multiple records in the western industry, including the all-time high-selling embryo at $180,000, the all-time high-selling horse online at $540,000, the all-time high-selling yearling at the NRCHA Western Bloodstock Sale at $180,000, and the all-time high-selling Pink Buckle Horse at $850,000. Additionally, Ty Smith has been a part of some of the biggest transactions in the industry, including being a partner on the NCHA Western Bloodstock all-time high selling two year old, Hott Twice, selling for $1,500,000. This business isn't new to us. We have been setting records in the western industry, and we fully expect to do the same in the race horse business.
While our sales division has seen incredible success since 2018, the breeding sector has also flourished. Our customers appreciate the results, communication and excellent care we provide. What began as a facility with twenty stalls has grown to over 400 stalls that remain full year-round with three full-time veterinarians. In 2023, we acquired a recipient farm, expanding our herd to over 2,000 mares, allowing us to serve our customers even better - and in 2025, we will open our world-class stallion station with an exciting lineup of horses.
We manage some of the industry's top mares full-time for our customers, advising them on breeding decisions and ensuring their goals are met. We raise their foals and strategically place them in the right programs or sales - all to guarantee the continued appreciation and success of their mares. If you are looking for this kind of service in the breeding business, we would love to talk to you.
Our business is built on innovation and delivering results for our customers. As we continue to grow, we are committed to bringing the same level of service, principles, and success that our western performance horse customers have come to expect into the racehorse business.
We look forward to meeting and working with all of you in the future.
Sincerely,
Melanie Smith