Smiths produce quality horses in Wyoming

When a world champion bronc rider marries a collegiate national all-around cowgirl, it's pretty easy to assume that horses will remain a vital part of their lives. That's exactly what happened for Bill and Carole Smith. The former rodeo champions have turned their love of horses into a thriving business, even during tough economic times. The Smiths own the WYO Quarter Horse Ranch and this past year they held their 26th annual spring performance and production sale. September marked the ninth year they have also held a fall production sale in order to keep up with demand. “It's a family operation, not an open consignment sale,” said Carole. There are five family members and one close friend involved in the bi-annual sales. Their success over the years has been due to their ability to find a market for their horses. There seems to be two basic performance horses in the United States: the backyard horse or the specialty horse. The price of the specialty horse often makes it unattainable for many buyers and the lack of training, conformation and breeding on the backyard horse often makes it undesirable. The Smiths knew there was an overlooked market in between. Bill, who won the title of World Champion Bronc Rider in 1969, 1971 and 1973, retired from rodeo in 1979. “He always had horses and knew he wanted to start raising them,” said Carole. Married by then, Bill would train geldings and take them to different sales. After a few years of spending money to haul his horses to different sales and paying consignment fees, they decided they could make more money by holding their own sale. When the couple settled in Thermopolis, Wyo., in 1983, they made the commitment and held their first WYO performance and production sale. “It was a family sale then and it is now,” said Carole...read more