The Animal will join the Riata Stallion Incentive for 2025, making his foals of all ages eligible to compete for $3.6 million in new money across team roping and breakaway roping.
The Animal stands at Solo Select.
The Riata, founded by industry stalwarts Denny Gentry and Lance Robinson in 2022, is an exclusive stallion incentive aimed at expanding the breeding industry to team ropers—the largest segment of the Western performance market. The incentive hosts its annual Championships at the Lazy E each fall, with everything from a high-stakes Open Futurity to an #8.5 Championship for horses of all ages. The Riata is the single-largest Ariat World Series of Team Roping qualifier of the year, with millions to be won—including in its Breakaway Championship and Cowgirls' Steer Stopping.
The Animal—a son of Cat Ichi out of Little Miss Abra by Abrakadabracre—won the NCHA Futurity's Reserve Championship and the Summer Spectacular Open Derby with Lee Francois, and he stands at Solo Select. In addition to the Riata, The Animal's colts are eligible for the Solo Incentive, Royal Crown Roping, Legendary Stakes, Gold Buckle Futurities, NCHA Stallions, Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Stallion Stakes, Breeders' Invitational, NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive and Colorado Classic.
"We've heard rave reviews from ropers who are riding Animal's foals," Owner Cindy Perez said. "And many of them reached out and asked that we try to get Animal a spot. We've been working to get one, because they're hard to come by—but we were committed to it, because we know there's huge opportunity for our owners there. So we're thrilled to announce we've made it happen."
Fred Whitfield and his 4-year-old gelding Aces Animal.
The Animal already has colts in the hands of World Champion Breakaway Ropers Lari Dee Guy and Hope Thompson, as well as eight-time PRCA World Champion Tie-Down Roper Fred Whitfield.
"My Animal baby is coming 4," Thompson said. "He's been so easy, and so good minded. He's the kind of horse anyone could get along with—and my 2-year-old filly by The Animal is the same way. They're the kind of horses that are perfect for ropers, because they aren't fractious or fragile. They want to work, and they want to please."
Three-time NFR heeler Tyler Worley has a 4-year-old son of The Animal out of the dam to his NFR horse.
"Mine is so gentle, we're going to keep him for my kid," Worley said. "He's been easy. I can break in 40 steers on him, then take him and jackpot that night. Nothing bothers him."
The Animal's 2025 stud fee is $2,000, with an early booking discount until Jan. 1, 2025. Plus, Solo is offering a buy now, pay later deal that only requires payment of the stud fee once a baby hits the ground in 2026. Just pay the $700 chute fee now.
A breeding to The Animal is also one of the single most affordable ways to get access to the Solo Incentive in the fall of 2025 at the Clay Logan Open. Estimated to pay out $330,000, only those who breed to Solo stallions in 2025 are eligible for the incentive money at the 4-&-under futurity in Stephenville, Texas, and by 2030, ropers will be required to ride horses only by Solo Stallions—the results of the 2025 breeding decisions.
Mister Beaujangles, a 2023 sorrel gelding by The Animal out of Tejons Olena by Smart Chic Olena, sells Thanksgiving Day in The Select Online Sale, As a yearling, he's already 14.1 and 1,010 lbs, giving him size to go any direction.
