Abigail Boatwright
Third Edge TR9 Dispersal Sale
Third Edge, the 2022 NCHA Horse of the Year, was the day's high seller at $5,6 million.
Following the July announcement that Western sports entertainment company Teton Ridge was selling the TR9 horse ranch in Weatherford, horse owners across the nation were likely licking their chops at the prospect of the ranch’s impressive herd going on the market.
Well, they received their wish. On the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 29, hundreds of horse folks gathered over Hard Eight BBQ lunches and cocktails, ready to witness — and participate in — the TR9 Ranch Absolute Dispersal Sale, hosted by Western Bloodstock.
Attracting an audience of horse lovers with deep pockets, the sale brought a total of $28,091,500 — the ranch alone is selling for $33 million, to put things in perspective — and the average price tag came in at $242,168, with five horses selling for more than $1 million each.
“This was truly a landmark event for our industry,” said Allison Welling, EA and Equine Communications Specialist at Teton Ridge. “The TR9 program represents one of the most complete and carefully curated collections of Western performance horses in recent memory. Bringing this many high-quality horses to market at one time not only marks the end of a chapter for TR9—it also creates opportunity across the industry. It gave breeders, trainers, and owners access to proven bloodlines and prospects that will influence cutting, reining, reined cow horse, barrel racing, and roping competition for years to come.”
The first horse out set the tone: 7-year-old quarter horse stallion, Third Edge, was the high seller, going for $5.6 million to Ty Smith, agent for Solo Select Horses located in Gainesville. Third Edge was the 2022 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Horse of the Year and was an NCHA Open Derby champion. His total earnings amounted to $342,500, and his oldest foals will be a year old in 2025.
Melanie Smith, owner and founder of Solo Select, said the sale was a must-attend.
“We knew from the moment it was announced that this sale would be full of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities,” Smith said. “It was the kind of event you don’t miss, and we made sure we were there.”
Solo Select had always had its eye on the stallion and has bred several mares to him prior to this purchase.
“His foals impressed us from the start, and when the chance came to buy him outright [came up], we did everything we could to be ready,” Smith said. “He checks every box for us as a sire. His very first foals are yearlings now, and they’re already out of some of the best mares in the industry. We feel confident he’s on track to become one of the leading sires of his generation.”
In addition to Third Edge, Solo Select purchased another stallion, Hesa Dual Bet, and a few mares for its customers.
“The atmosphere [at the sale] was electric,” Smith says. “It was one of those rare, once-in-a-generation offerings that changes the course of the industry. We’re so grateful to Teton Ridge and Western Bloodstock for making it possible.”
Fort Worth native Bobby Patton of Rockin P Ranch, who also happens to be part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, shelled out over $8 million for seven horses, including $5 million for All Spice, the auction’s second-highest seller. This price tag also set a record for mares. All Spice has won over $571,000 in competition with many NCHA accolades, including being crowned the 2020 NCHA Open Futurity Champion. Her sale also came with an embryo of hers sired by NCHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion Smooth Talkin Style, who has won over $305,000 in competition. Among Patton’s other purchases was Twice In Santiago, the fourth-highest seller at $1.8 million. Patton, we should note, is also the owner cutting's first superstar horse, Metallic Cat, and sponsors the Metallic Cat NCHA Futurity, the country's premier cutting horse competition.
XIT Ranch and Bosque Ranch of Weatherford, owned by Taylor Sheridan, bought Smooth Talkin Style, a sire of horses that have earned over $9 million. He was the third highest seller at $2 million.
The historic sale also saw a reunion, of sorts, when decorated NFR competitor Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, bought back Babe On The Chase “Birdie”, a 2011 sorrel mare that won over $547,000 in barrel racing competition with Pozzi Tonozzi in the saddle.
“Seeing Birdie return to Brittany’s program was a full-circle highlight that resonated deeply with both longtime professionals and newer buyers alike,” Welling says. “The reaction from the crowd reflected more than price; it was an appreciation for Birdie’s impact on the industry and recognition of the years of thought and dedication that went into her career.”
In the world of performance horses, the sale’s quality of offerings was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for purchasers, many of whom traveling thousands of miles to attend.
“The response was nothing short of remarkable,” Welling says. “Buyers came in from across the country, and the excitement was evident from the very first hip. Bidding was strong, with buyers showing confidence in both the pedigrees and the quality of individuals. It wasn’t just about the elite stallions or mares—every horse carried momentum, which speaks volumes about how deep and versatile this program really is.”
Though Teton Ridge will be retiring from the ranching business — keeping their emphasis on the media and entertainment side of Western sports — the company and ranch employees look forward to watching each horse thrive in their new homes.
“The hope is that these horses will go on to do what they were bred and prepared to do — excel in the arena, add value to breeding programs, and ultimately raise the bar for the industry,” Welling says. “More than anything, TR9 is proud to see these horses in the hands of people who will give them every chance to succeed. There’s a lot of excitement about following their futures and celebrating the impact they’ll continue to make.”
