The Next Chapter Begins: $14.5M Sire Once In A Blu Boon Joins Solo Select Roster
- Melanie Smith
- Sep 25
- 3 min read
BREAKING — There are stallions that make an impact, and then there are stallions that shift the direction of the industry.
When Bill Freeman bred Autumn Boon to Peptoboonsmal, he wasn’t just making a cross—he was shaping a vision for the future.
That vision became Once In A Blu Boon, owned by Jill Freeman of Charlotte Farms Inc, a stallion whose offspring have earned more than $14.5 million and proven themselves in cutting, reined cow horse, and roping.
In 2026, that vision carries on at Solo Select, where “Blu” will stand under the management of Don Ham, giving breeders access to the sire of champions like NCHA Open Futurity Champion and Horse of the Year, All Spice, and NRCHA Open Futurity Champion Here Comes The Boon.
Legendary Horseman Bill Freeman’s Vision
Bred by Bill Freeman, Once In A Blu Boon—“Blu” for short—carries the kind of bloodlines and legacy that are built for greatness.
Bill had a clear vision: to create a sire that would bring something fresh to the industry, an outcross pedigree infused with the athleticism, intelligence, and versatility needed to excel across multiple Western performance arenas.
Autumn Boon, one of the most iconic producers of all time with over $2,030,000 in offspring earnings, was at the heart of that plan. She herself was a celebrated performer and producer, and Bill believed that by pairing her with Peptoboonsmal, he could design a stallion who not only carried the strength of his ancestors but also offered breeders a new dimension in their programs.
“Everything He Was Meant to Be”: A Legacy Apart
James Payne played a pivotal role in Once In A Blu Boon’s rise to greatness, training and showing him throughout his career, guiding him to a distinguished show record with lifetime cutting earnings of $319,002.
Beyond his own accomplishments in the arena, Blu has proven himself as a sire of the highest caliber, with his offspring earning more than $14.5 million across cutting, cow horse, and other performance disciplines.
From left to right:
All Spice - Show Biz Kitty by HBC. LTE $571,049, NCHA Horse of the Year, NCHA Open Futurity Champion, American Performance Horseman Cutting Champion, NCHA Hall Of Fame.
Baylenciaga - Incredicat by High Brow Cougar - LTE $427,021
Badboonarising - Show Biz Kitty by High Brow Cat. LTE $367,101, NCHA Open Reserve Futurity Champion
Here Comes The Boon - Stay Outta My Shorts by Shorty Lena. $251,104, NRCHA Open Futurity Champion
The Darkk Side - DT Sugar Chex Whiz by Shiners Lena Chex. $214,876, AQHA World Champion Junior Heading Horse
Nothing But Blu - CC Cat by Neat Little Cat. $173,857, NRCHA Int. Open Futurity Reserve Champion and 3rd in the Open.
Known for stamping his foals with intelligence, athleticism, and trainability, Blu is especially powerful when crossed on High Brow Cat, Dual Rey or Smart Little Lena mares, giving breeders the chance to diversify pedigrees without sacrificing cow sense or performance ability.
His influence was further solidified in 2022 when he joined the prestigious NRCHA Million Dollar Sire Club, surpassing $1 million in progeny earnings within the reined cow horse industry alone.
Backed by his proven record in major championships and his reputation for producing foals with strong conformation, good minds, and natural cow sense, Blu offers breeders the opportunity to create versatile, high-caliber athletes capable of thriving in a wide range of disciplines and programs.
Looking Ahead for Once In A Blu Boon
Every horse tells a story, but the best ones set the stage for the future.
At Solo Select, we’re not only honoring Blu’s legacy—we’re building on it to push the entire industry forward. His record speaks volumes, yet his story isn’t just about what he’s accomplished; it’s about the next chapters we’ll write together. His legacy lays the foundation, but the future is where it gets even more exciting.
That’s why Solo Select is developing a new cutting incentive—one designed with today’s breeders and today’s competitors in mind. Our goal is simple: to create opportunities that reward the people breeding to, and showing horses by, the stallions who stand here.
For Blu, that means extending his influence in the cutting and cow horse arenas while ensuring that the next generation of horses carrying his name has the stage, the rewards, and the recognition they deserve.
“Blu can speak for himself—but here at Solo, we’re giving him the stage to prove it for generations to come" Jill Freeman says.
For information on breeding to Once In A Blu Boon, contact Don Ham at (940) 390-3807.
