Some stallions start the season with a few quiet bookings.
LBR Hangem is not one of them.
He’s stepping into 2026 the way he’s stepped into every show pen of his career—confident, deliberate, and with the kind of presence you can’t ignore.
His first big announcement of the year? Breeding to The Run For A Million Cutting Horse Challenge Champion, Bella Louella, joining some of the 2025 breeding royalty like Show Biz Kitty, Special Nu Baby, and That Cattomine—a lineup that reads like a who’s who of cutting horse history.
Bella Louella & Michael Cooper
The match couldn’t be more fitting. In August 2025, under the blinding lights of Las Vegas, Bella Louella and NCHA Hall of Famer Michael Cooper walked into the pen first in a field of cutting’s elite. Three minutes later, they walked out with the crowd on its feet, a 226 on the board, and finished up the evening with $50,000 in their pocket.
Now with $246,295 in lifetime earnings, Bella Louella brings both show ring dominance and royal bloodlines to the table. Sired by Metallic Rebel and out of Catty Louella, she traces directly to Louella Again, the NCHA #1 Leading Dam of 2004. Her resume includes major paydays at the Cattlemens Derby, the Southern Cutting Futurity, the NCHA Super Stakes Classic, and the Brazos Bash, each reinforcing her place among the elite.
Pairing a mare of this caliber with “The Outcross of the Future” is no accident.
“When you look at the mares in Shotty’s book, it gives you chills. To be breeding Bella Louella right after she stamped her name on The Run For A Million stage, alongside legends like Show Biz Kitty, Special Nu Baby, and That Cattomine—it’s exactly the kind of company we want him in. These are the mares that shape the industry, and pairing them with LBR Hangem is how we’re building the future,” said Melanie Smith. "We are super grateful to Michael Cooper for choosing Shotty."
LBR Hangem, with his $269,790 in lifetime earnings, multiple major championship titles, and rare outcross genetics, offers a cross that blends Bella Louella’s resume with the athleticism, cow sense, and grit "Shotty" is known for.
Fully booked in 2025 and already drawing the attention of top breeders for 2026, this match is designed to produce open-caliber foals with the ability and look to win at the very highest levels.
From the start of the season, LBR Hangem is proving that his breeding career will mirror his show pen reputation: focused, strategic, and aimed squarely at producing the next generation of champions.
LBR Hangem will continue to be shown in 2026 full-time with Kenny Platt, allowing him to continue proving his dominance in the show pen. He will have very limited frozen semen and ICSI contracts.
Book your 2026 Breedings Here: https://www.soloselecthorses.com/stallions/lbr-hangem
