https://www.facebook.com/204553626805165/

Veronika Photography, 340 Cedar Ridge Dr, Whitesboro, TX (2026)

11/29/2024

There was several baby bumps taking this year 🥰

Kaleigh & Matteo

03/08/2024

Our next Essence Exchange speaker is a trauma nurse turned business woman who has been making big waves in the equine industry, 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡!

Melanie Smith is the owner and founder of - the full-service operation focuses on performance horses in disciplines ranging from cutting to roping to racing. At 31 years old, Smith has piloted the company through groundbreaking growth. She grew up a Wichita Falls, Texas, “town kid,” whose parents did not subscribe to her equine endeavors. She began volunteering at a therapeutic riding facility at age 10, and she eventually learned to ride -after cleaning a lot of stalls. She worked for a cutting horse trainer in high school before launching a riding lesson program in college.
After completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Smith worked in a Trauma Center as an Emergency Room Registered Nurse. At the same time, she was building a successful business selling horses online. After a few years in the nursing field, Smith walked away from all of it to pursue horse sales. At 25, Smith built her business to be The Very Best - and Solo Select Horses began. Since its 2018 inception, Solo Select Horses has led the industry in online horse sales, bolstered by the timely development of The Select Online Sale. Along the way, Solo Select set records, such as the highest selling horse at the Pink Buckle Sale; the highest selling yearling at the NRCHA’s Western Bloodstock Sale; the highest-selling horse ever in online sales with MS Baby Cakes; and the highest selling embryo sold at auction in the Western performance horse industry.
Solo Select went on to acquire a 1,300 recipient mare herd to support her reproduction business, Select Genes, which provides custom ISI services.
At the end of 2023, Smith launched her full-service stallion operation - standing leading stallions Pride And Joy, The Dark Side, This Catt Shines, Metallic Cattack and Plain Cattv.
Smith’s bravery allowed her to pursue her passions but consistent and raw determination to be The Very Best drives her and the Solo Select team through their continued growth.

📝𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: What is YOUR favorite Solo Select horse?