From West Texas to Sin City: LBR Hangem Isn't Done Yet
By the time LBR Hangem slipped into his stall in Las Vegas at 11:10 on Monday night, the dust from West Texas was barely off his coat. He had just marked a 227 to claim the West Texas Futurity Open 5/6 title, and headed straight for Vegas.
Less than twenty-four hours later, he was standing in the Vegas air, quietly preparing for the $250,000 Run For A Million Cutting Horse Challenge.
What "Shotty" is doing this year goes far beyond statistics. It is the kind of legendary run people will talk about in horse barns for generations—the kind that gives you goosebumps just watching it unfold.
A Season for the History Books
Every time Shotty steps into the herd, the energy in the arena shifts. You can feel the quiet confidence radiating from him—the sharp, lethal focus of a horse that simply refuses to be outmaneuvered.
His 2026 season hasn't just been successful; it has been an absolute masterclass starting with a win at the Abilene Spectacular to kick off the year to the NCHA Summer Spectacular where he became a back-to-back champion.
With his latest West Texas victory, his lifetime earnings skyrocketed to $594,910. More importantly, he solidified his throne atop the NCHA Open Horse of the Year race with 628 points—holding a massive 114-point lead over the best cutting horses in the world. This year, he has also earned himself a spot in the NCHA Hall of Fame.
More Than the Numbers
Scores, payout checks, and championships tell you what Shotty has won. But they can’t begin to capture who he is to the people who love him.
He has carried our biggest dreams into the herd with him all year long—and every single time, he has walked back out having given us far more than we ever could have asked for. We are humbled by every mile, endlessly thankful for every moment, and in awe of every single run.
"When you look at Shotty, you don't just see a horse winning checks; you see years of late nights, trust, and a true partnership. He has brought us to our knees with gratitude this year. Win or lose in Vegas, he’s already shown the world what a once-in-a-generation horse looks like, and we love him endlessly for it," Melanie Smith, Co-Owner & Co-Founder of Solo Select, said.
Shotty has already rewritten history. Now, with the bright lights of Las Vegas waiting, he’s ready to step onto the biggest stage on Thursday night in the sport and do what he was born to do.
