Built on Grit: 7K Quarter Horses Joins Metallic Cattack's Ownership Team
- Melanie Smith
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
“Would you ever sell him?”
“No. He’s never leaving.”
“Would you partner on him?”
“…I don’t know?”
That’s about how the conversation went between Kurt Neff of 7K Quarter Horses and Melanie Smith as they stood in the barn last December, looking down the stallion alley.
At the time, the answer was clear: Metallic Cattack was not for sale.
But Kurt Neff is a man wired with grit—the kind of mindset built on persistence, timing, and calculated risk. A few weeks later, he circled back. This time, the conversation didn’t end the same way.
“Kurt is someone Ty and I have a great deal of respect for,” Melanie said. “We’ve recently partnered together on horses like Third Edge and Hesa Dual Bet, and those experiences have confirmed that we see the business the same way. He’s thoughtful, he’s committed, and he understands what it takes to build something over time. When it came to considering a partnership on Tic Tac, it was important to align with the right person — and Kurt was that person.”
For Neff, the confidence was mutual: “Melanie and Ty trust me, I trust their program and, truly, Metallic Cattack made this partnership a no-brainer.”
That sealed the deal.
The 7K Quarter Horses Program
Kurt Neff has been steadily building momentum in the performance horse industry through 7K Quarter Horses, investing in embryos, elite mares and high-end prospects positioned for the spotlight.
Already a shareholder in The Darkk Side, Neff has also invested in Alll In, the Metallic Rebel stallion set to be shown by Joseph Harrison, and Hesa Dual Bet, the $212,000 earner standing at Solo Select in 2026. In 2025, he became a 25% partner in the iconic cutting stallion Third Edge.
Outside the arena, Neff operates Neff Livestock, a successful cattle ranching and feeding enterprise running cattle through family feedlots in Idaho and Sterling, Colorado. That operation laid the foundation for his business success.
“Kurt has built something from the ground up,” Smith said. “There’s a level of perspective that comes from being hands-on and growing something step by step. We value partners who are engaged, committed, and thinking long term, and Kurt brings that mindset to everything he does.”
The Trendsetter: Who is Metallic Cattack?
Let’s be honest. You already know Tic Tac.
A cornerstone of Solo Select’s stallion barn since the program’s early foundation, Metallic Cattack, the striking red roan splashed with chrome, has grown into one of the brand’s most recognizable ambassadors.
“We bought Metallic Cattack in 2019 and have believed in him every day since,” Melanie said. “Over the last five years, we’ve invested time, energy, and intention into building him the right way—from the mares we selected to the foundation we’ve put under him. The quality and consistency of his foals have only strengthened that conviction.”
The 2015 red roan son of Metallic Cat, out of $800,000 producer Quiolena by CD Olena.
“He’s pretty, bred great, correct, good-minded, panel clean, and has size,” Melanie said. “Wes Ashlock told me what a great horse he was and that confirmed the decision.”
His first foal crop arrived in 2021—and quickly validated the vision.
Versatility Backed by Progeny Performance
Metallic Cattack’s value lies not only in pedigree but in practical versatility, with strong traction building in the roping pen.
“He’s a stallion that can truly be used across multiple disciplines, especially on the roping side,” Neff said. “Beyond that, he’s a great ambassador for our brand. The babies we have by him are incredibly easy and trainable. Our ranch manager loves them. They’re the kind that genuinely enjoy being around people.”
One standout example is Tom Cats R Popular, owned by Chance Thiessen, whose LTE of $57,762 includes two Gold Buckle Futurities championships and a Solo Select Stallion Incentive Futurity title—early proof of performance translating from pedigree.
Momentum continues with rising prospects like Kryptonitte (out of Fun N Fancy Free), a stallion that will compete in 2026 under Trevor Brazile and Miles Baker in the Relentless Remuda's elite string.
Market demand mirrors arena success. The 2023 red roan Free Aint Cheap commanded $165,000 at the 2025 Old West Rope Horse Sale, selling to the Ramos Remuda to enter training with three-time World Champion Wesley Thorp. That reinforced buyer confidence and the commercial strength of Metallic Cattack offspring—including racehorse crosses averaging $25,000 in prior Solo Select sales.
“These wins aren’t one-offs,” Smith added. “They’re indicators that his offspring are translating pedigree into performance. Now we’re seeing them show up across multiple disciplines, which is incredibly exciting.”
A True Win-Win Partnership
For Neff, the partnership represents more than an investment—it’s alignment.
“Mel and Ty are the best partners you could ever hope for. They’re down to earth, and I connect with them because we share similar backgrounds: starting with nothing and taking calculated risks with the right people. That’s exactly who they are.” Neff said.
For 7K Quarter Horses, the partnership strengthens both breeding depth and brand positioning.
For Ty and Melanie Smith, it ensures continued involvement in a stallion they’ve built from the ground up.
“This wasn’t an easy decision,” Melanie said. “He’s been a personal investment in every sense. But partnering with Kurt allows us to stay involved in a horse we’re deeply committed to. He understands the long game, and I’m grateful to align with someone who shares our vision for what Metallic Cattack can become.”