Win at the Super Stakes Puts LBR Hangem in the NCHA Hall of Fame
- Melanie Smith
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
The crowd in the Will Rogers Coliseum is rarely silent, but as the last draw of the 2026 NCHA Super Stakes Open 5/6 Finals walked toward the herd, the room went dead quiet.
In the cutting world, people don’t just watch a horse like LBR Hangem; they witness him. As the whispers of “watch this one” rippled through the stands, Shotty and Kenny Platt went to work.
Two and a half minutes later, the arena erupted.
A massive 228 on the scoreboard solidified their dominance, pushing the stallion’s lifetime earnings to an incredible $460,912.
The collective confidence in the stallion is perhaps best summarized by Ty Smith. He doesn't mince words when it comes to the horse’s ceiling:
“It will be a long time before we see another horse like this."
This sentiment serves as the heartbeat of the partnership—a group of industry leaders who aren't just hoping for success, but are actively fueling a once-in-a-lifetime career.
A Handshake, a Promise, and Seven Years of Anticipation
The story of LBR Hangem, affectionately known as "Shotty," began with a handshake and a gut feeling. Don Ham had a vision for a perfect outcross, breeding the Futurity Champion Dual Reyish to a mare named Hangem High Pep. Don had originally helped Billy Wolf acquire Dual Reyish, a stallion that captured the NCHA Open Futurity title. Similarly, Don found Hangem High Pep for Charles Burger, with the simple understanding that, in exchange for finding that kind of mare, Don would one day receive an embryo.
In a business often dominated by complex paperwork, Shotty’s journey started with that single gentleman's agreement and a handshake deal between Charles and Don nearly seven years before he was conceived.
When the time finally came to collect on that handshake deal, the result was a foal that would eventually change the trajectory of everyone involved. “A lot of people probably would’ve let a deal that old slide, but not Charles," Don Ham said. "He’s a man of his word, and he remembered exactly what we’d agreed on before Shotty was even a thought.”
From the moment he was born, Shotty was a "little wild man." Don recalls him being a hundred-percent kind of horse; if he went for a drink or tried to slip away, he did it with a level of speed and intensity that hinted at the greatness to come.
The Million-Dollar "No": When the Hammer Fell at $1,175,000 and the Owners Walked Away
As a two-year-old, Shotty’s story grew through a mix of raw talent and a bit of mischief. While at the colt starter's, he famously jumped clean over a cleaning cart and out of his stall just to head down the road, which was a testament to the "electric" energy he carried. When he finally went to trainer Chava Cabral in May, he was barely broke and hadn't even seen a cow. Yet, within thirty days, he was doing things a green two-year old shouldn't be capable of.
Don remembers being genuinely scared watching the horse work that early on. He was so intense and natural on his hocks, Don worried the colt might actually hurt himself. Chava told him not to worry, insisting the horse was simply made to do this and it was easy for him. It took no effort, no special tools, no crazy tie-downs; he just had that look that set him apart from any other horse they'd ever seen.
This explosive potential led Don and Charles to the NCHA Futurity Sales, where the horse’s video set the industry on fire. Despite the massive buzz and high-profile trainers clamoring to ride him, Don stayed firm on his value. When the hammer fell at $1,175,000, it still wasn't enough to meet their reserve.
Don and Charles knew they had a generational talent, so they loaded him up and took him home, eventually placing him with Kenny Platt, who confirmed Don’s suspicions: the horse was phenomenal.
A Legacy in the Making
The road to the Hall of Fame wasn't without its hurdles. During his early competitive years, Shotty faced a string of "snake-bit" luck with bad cows and tough draws. Despite the frustrations, Don’s belief never wavered. He spent his time encouraging Kenny Platt, treating him like a star quarterback who just needed the right play to win the game. That unwavering faith paid off as the "merry-go-round" finally started spinning on its own.
Charles eventually decided to offer his half for sale. Don reached out to Ty and Melanie Smith, and Ty took them up on the offer.
Solid Partnership Expands: The Power of Believing in the Individual
At the same time Melanie and Ty Smith came on board, Kenny and Shotty found their rhythm—and from that moment on, nothing could stop them.
They were Reserve Champions at the Super Stakes in March 2025, earning $47,000. Then came the NCHA Summer Stakes, where he co-championed, followed by a win in Las Vegas pushing his earnings above $300,000.
By 2026, Shotty had taken it to another level, starting the year with four finals in four shows, winning three of them.
Over the past year, he has added something just as important as talent to his resume: consistency.
“I don’t think we will ever own another cutting horse like that,” Melanie Smith said. “I am grateful Kenny lets Shotty be exactly who he is. He has spoiled us, because that level of consistency just isn't normal in this industry. There are so many variables in cutting, but Shotty is simply too fast and too smart to be exposed. Kenny does an exceptional job of piloting him. The experience has be once in a lifetime.”
During 2025, Todd Carpenter of Carpenter Farms—a well-established breeding operation in the cutting industry—joined the partnership. His involvement went beyond a standard investment; he brought an exceptional group of mares to the table, further solidifying the program surrounding the stallion. “In our breeding program, we are micro-focused on what to breed to,” Todd Carpenter said. “I can breed every single one of my mares to LBR Hangem.”
Charles Burger, one of the original partners, remains a cornerstone of the stallion's legacy. Even after stepping away from official ownership, his influence hasn't wavered; he continues to breed his elite string of mares to the stallion and invest heavily in the best genetics available.
As Don noted, "Charles sold the horse but has stayed involved since that day. He bought several embryos last year out of the greatest mares in the industry. He is 110% committed, and when you surround a stallion with programs like Charles and the rest of the team we have, we know we are giving him every chance to do great things."
The synergy among the partners has created a powerhouse environment for the stallion’s future. “We’re all on the same page,” the team shared. “Playing with embryos, trying everything we can, by all means, to help this stallion become the best he can be.” By combining elite mare power, cutting-edge breeding technology, and a shared unwavering belief, the group has ensured that Shotty is positioned for success.
It’s a true dream team behind the horse.
And from the very beginning, Don Ham was right.
He recognized an exceptional individual in Shotty early on and never gave up on his vision. He trusted the horse, stayed committed to the plan, and made it happen. In doing so, he didn’t just build a champion, he created the outcross the cutting industry has been waiting for.
The who’s who of the industry has bred to him, and in 2026, his book filled within the first 10 days of January.
LBR Hangem will continue to compete through the end of the 2026 show season, taking on all major events, including an appearance at The Run for a Million this summer in Las Vegas. His owners are excited to see him in the show pen but even more so to watch what his foals will become.
“This is a generational horse if you ask me” Ty Smith concluded.
With his first crop already on the ground, it won’t be long before we can see his offspring in the show pen and say that we are excited about it is a euphemism.
Thank you, Shotty for this incredible adventure. This story has come full circle.
Here’s to believing in the individual.
