Gate To Great Horses

The horses that enter the Great Geldings program will spend anywhere from a few months to a year or more transitioning from track life to ranch life. Many hours of rehab and training go into each horse and we strive to develop them for their best suited career as indicated by their aptitudes.

Once the horses go through the Gate To Great program, they are ready for their new career. If you are interested in a particular horse, contact us for details on the individual's progress and fill us in on what you are seeking in your next mount.

This page will change as horses enter or complete the training program.  Bookmark us and check back often!

About our current offerings:

A majority of our Thoroughbred geldings come to us from one of the top breeding/racing programs in the nation, Solera Farm of Williston, Fl. Under the watchful eye of owners Dr. Krista Seltzer, D.V.M. and Edward Seltzer, these horses represent generations of black-type producing mare lines they have developed. Most of their horses are foaled in Kentucky and are pointed to the early books of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Others are broken and trained at the Florida facility under the eye of trainer Curtis Garrison before being sent trackside with some of the best conditioners in the racing business. All are retired with plenty "left in the tank" as second careers are in mind and come to us with full histories, which we make available to our buyers. They are registered but papers are not available. As the second owners, we do our best to determine each gelding's strengths and weakness in an effort to find the right home. We are honored to be entrusted with these royally-bred horses!

Take Command ("T.C.")

15.3 hd. Gray Gelding

2016 by Field Commission X Espanola Way (by Cozzene)

10 starts, 3 wins, Stakes Winner, Earnings: +$129K. Last raced 12/13/2020.

Take Command is a personable gelding that likes attention. He was successful at the track and has made a nice transition into life as a pleasure mount. He is easy to catch, nice to work with on the ground, good to shoe, stands tied quietly, saddles up and heads out of the yard to work without drama. Rides outside alone on a loose rein and isn't buddy sour. He has started some light cattle work checking pastures without issues and takes obstacles such as V-ditches, water, brush and hills in stride. Very, very smooth gaits and easy to fit to Western or English tack. Currently going in a mild curb and learning to neck-rein. Stands for the mounting block. Lives outside 24/7 on grass or hay, no grain, and is not agressive when turned out in a herd. He is a cribber, but stays in good flesh without a collar. We got T.C. from Tropic Lightning Racing LLC by reference from his breeder and have his full history. If we don't know the answers to any questions regarding this pretty gelding, we are more than happy to put you in contact with his previous owner. He has not been passed around and has had the best of care from day one. This guy has the gaits and eye-appeal to do very well in dressage or just let him create horse-envy among your trail riding friends! Papers not available. Call Dale at (605) 569-2249 for details. Priced at $10,000.  (Subject to increase as training progresses.)

First In Class

16 Hd. Bay Gelding

2014 by Saffir (By Unbridled) X Diamond Lane (by Bold Ruckus)

38 starts, 3 wins, last raced: Oct.2019.

This Canadian-bred gelding rides off as smoothly as silk with easy to sit gaits that would make him a good dressage mount. He has some good basics under his belt, lots of personality and is the first one to look you up in the pasture. Goes English or Western. This guy has been ranch-ridden over various terrain, is not bothered by cowdogs, has some exposure to cattle and would be a good trail partner or show prospect on the flat. Not spooky, no buck, no vices and just nice overall. While his half-brother made it to Rolex, racing wear and tear leaves us to think he will last a lot longer for someone who isn't concerned with jumping. He's put in some good rides here without signs of lameness, is good to shoe, and has nice feet. Stands tied, good to catch, saddle; lead him to the mounting block, get on and head right out into the fields. This is not a complicated horse!!! Gets along in the pasture with others and lives outside 24/7 , staying in good flesh without grain. Papers not available. See his videos on our Gate to Great website; for details, the best way to contact Dale is to CALL. No Text, we are old school and have plenty of references. From a program with a well-known national reputation specializing in OTTBs. See our extensive media coverage in Western Horseman, Horse and Rider, Covertside, South Dakota Magazine, OTTB Magazine, Blood-Horse, Gallop, Ranch & Riata, etc. Located in western South Dakota. $5,000.

De Perfect Boy ("Lil' Red") 15.2 Chestnut gelding

2017 By Behold de Buy out of Pluperfect (by Changeintheweather)

Unraced

His name says it all: this is one PERFECT boy! Meet Thoroughbred gelding, De Perfect Boy, a 2017 unraced son of Behold de Buy, a stakes-winning son of Kentucky stallion, E Dubai. On the top of his pedigree you will find Mr. Prospector, Storm Cat and Seattle Slew. His dam, Pluperfect, is a daughter of the Gone West stallion, Changeintheweather, a stakes horse from famed breeder, Pin Oak Farms. Also on the bottom is Breeders' Cup Sprint Champion, Smile, as well as champions Damascus and Dr. Fager. To meet De Perfect Boy is to fall in love with him, as he has a sweetheart personality and totally chill disposition. Standing just 15.2 hands, he has mileage going down the trails and checking cattle, making him a great choice for a lady wanting to pleasure ride or field hunt. He is nice on the ground, easy to catch, stands tied, loads and hauls well, saddles right up and rides off alone on a loose rein. He has comfortable gaits, travels across country or down the side of the road. Not bothered by dogs. He put in some long days last fall working and shipping cattle. He has been introduced to corral roping and took to it unfazed (video below). He shows aptitude over jumping elements and is very willing to try, clearing rails with room to spare (video below). He's not spooky, pops right into a canter without any bad ideas, hits the ground soundly and shows no fear of cattle. No stable vices. Lives outside 24/7/365 and carries good flesh just on pasture or hay. Very friendly and loves attention. Papers Available. Current Coggins/ Vetted clean & sound. Available at $10,000.

Sallal (GB) -  "KING"

15.3 hd. bay gelding

2012 By Exceed and Excel (AUS) out of Wise Melody (GB)

Multiple winner in Europe and USA

This hunk of a bay has been one of the main ranch horses, doing every job needed, from gathering big, rough pastures to branding calves. The "go to" horse of the string for a number of years with tons of outside miles doing the tough jobs. Good to catch, shoe, load, tie, and so much more --  it really requires a phone call to Dale for the whole scoop. "King" started off in England, raced in France for Al Shaqab and was imported to America to win again before making his way to the cattle country of western South Dakota. This unique gelding is priced at $25,000. See his photo gallery and videos below. This offering came to us through Herringswell Stables/ Graham Motion. Those of you who have followed our page for a while know this one well, as he's been featured for several years, doing all types of jobs.