LBR Hangem's Booked Full for 2026
- Melanie Smith
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
We warned you LBR Hangem's 2026 breedings wouldn’t last long.
As of January 8, $352,722-earning LBR Hangem’s books for frozen semen are officially closed for the 2026 breeding season. Solo Select will offer ICSI contracts to LBR Hangem while he is showing with Kenny Platt.
After booking full in 2025, “Shotty” quickly drew the attention of top breeders nationwide, cementing his place as one of the most in-demand young stallions in the cutting horse industry.
That demand is no accident.
Momentum Built in the Show Pen
LBR Hangem kicked off the 2026 show season with an exclamation point at the Abilene Winter Circuit, winning the first round of the 5/6 Open and returning to claim the championship title with a powerful 227 that had the entire crowd buzzing.
“His presence in the pen is unmistakable. He owns the cow in the middle of the arena, reading every move with intensity and confidence: electric, expressive, and completely committed. The shaking and the intensity in his eyes is something I’ve rarely seen” — Melanie Smith, Solo Select owner and partner on Shotty.
That momentum follows a breakout 2025 season in which LBR Hangem made finals at nearly every appearance, competed at The American Performance Horseman, and qualified for The Run For A Million, establishing himself as a true force at the highest level of the sport.
A Young Stallion That Breeders Believe In
“The demand for LBR Hangem has been overwhelming, in the best way,” Smith said. “We’re incredibly proud of what he’s accomplished in the arena and even more proud of the elite group of mares he has booked. The future is incredibly bright for this horse.”
Sired by Dual Reyish and out of the $750,000-producing mare Hangem High Pep, LBR Hangem,“The Outcross of the Future”, has more than lived up to the title. His resume already includes multiple championship and reserve titles, highlighted by the Championship title in the 5/6 Open at the NCHA Summer Spectacular and the Co-Reserve Championship in the 5/6 Open at the NCHA Super Stakes.
Those performances have earned him access to some of the most influential mares in the cutting horse industry.
Elite Mares, Intentional Crosses
My Lizzy Babe
By Lizzys Gotta Player and out of Moms Stylish Babe (PE $1.5 million+), My Lizzy Babe earned $174,653 herself and has produced nearly $1 million in earners, including industry standouts like Metallics MVP and Metallic Dawg.
Now 19 years old, she remains a cornerstone mare for the small, carefully curated breeding program at Coyote Rock Ranch. “Don Ham reached out over a year ago. I get a lot of calls like that but LBR Hangem stuck with me. He’s so consistent, the perfect outcross, his genetic panel is clean, and his conformation is flawless.” — Sue Hagerty, Coyote Rock Ranch Director of Operations and Ranch Owner.
After consulting Kenny Platt, NCHA $5M trainer, the decision was sealed. “Of all the horses I’ve trained, Shotty has the most cow by far. He’s incredibly intelligent, precise, and explosive but calculated. I truly believe he has the qualities to be the next great sire in our industry.” — Kenny Platt.
Metallic Missy
Owned by Rachel Showalter, Metallic Missy has earned over $217,000, with the majority of her earnings coming after age 5 under Faith Showalter and Jake Pinheiro, Morgan Cromer’s assistant. A daughter of Metallic Cat out of Mereyda (Dual Rey), she is out of a mare that has produced more than $650,000, including the famous Shiney Outlaw (LTE $222,500).
“Superstars are usually quirky. She’s not. Metallic Missy is an absolute dream. She was a true paycheck horse.” — Owner Rachel Showalter. Her oldest foal is now a 2-year-old filly by Badboonarising.
“We chose to ICSI her to LBR Hangem this year because he’s an outstanding individual and the ideal outcross on Cat mares. There’s no High Brow Cat anywhere in his pedigree. Honestly, when you see him, you want to breed your mare to him.” — Rachel Showalter
Showalter also mentioned the outstanding work of Solo's Smith as far as marketing the stallions standing in her barn.
“We know Shotty is not going to disappear, and we know he is in the right hands as far as marketing and ownership goes”, she added.
A Book That Shapes the Future
In addition to these standout mares, LBR Hangem’s 2026 book includes elite performers such as Bella Louella and Stylin Playgirl, bringing both top-tier earnings and some of the most respected bloodlines in the industry.
“When you look at the mares in Shotty’s book, it gives you chills,” Smith said. “These are the mares that shape our industry. Pairing them with LBR Hangem is how we’re building the future and we’re incredibly grateful to Michael Cooper and Clint Matthews for choosing Shotty.”
Looking Ahead
This 2026 roster was intentionally designed to produce open-caliber foals with the ability, athleticism, and presence to win at the very highest level.
LBR Hangem’s pedigree, performance, and undeniable outcross appeal have aligned to position him as one of the most sought-after young sires in the cutting horse industry. The closing of his 2026 book confirms what many already knew.
While frozen contracts are now closed, ICSI remains available for a limited time, offering breeders one final opportunity to be part of his highly anticipated first seasons at public stud.