Patton Family Scores Win in Show Pen Debut

The Patton family has been heavily involved with cutting since businessman Bobby Patton jumped into the business with a splash five years ago. But, for all that involvement – including buying leading sire Metallic Cat — no one from the family had ever ridden to the herd in a show. 

Until now.

And, what started as fun father-daughter time in the practice pen during the coronavirus pandemic quickly turned into a show pen debut and, in the case of Rachel Patton, the winner’s circle at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular.

Though the 19-year-old was thrilled to win the 4-Year-Old Limited Amateur title, she said the “coolest part” was seeing her dad also saddle up at the show in Fort Worth, Texas.

Because, as passionate as the Fort Worth businessman is about cutting since he entered the sport five years ago, he hadn’t shown a cutting horse himself until he made the jump from practicing with his daughter to the bright lights of the Will Rogers Coliseum.

“We were just kind of looking for something to do [and] this was fun,” Rachel explained. “And, my dad is definitely so into the cutting. His whole heart is into it. He’s into the industry more than anything I’ve seen him be in in a while.”

Family Involvement

Although the Pattons hadn’t competed in cutting until this year’s Summer Spectacular, the family has been extremely active in the sport since entering the cutting horse breeding business in late 2015, when Bobby bought 11 horses at the dispersal of Walton’s Rocking W Ranch — purchases that included the High Brow Cat stallion Boon San and his $244,049-winning daughter Boon San Baby (out of Stylish Baby Doll x SR Instant Choice). 

Acquisitions from the sale were sent to Rocking P Ranch, his newly purchased facility that was formerly Jon and Abby Winkelried’s Marvine Ranch.

Though Bobby was already involved in professional sports — he’s a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team — the Walton dispersal was his first venture into the cutting bloodstock business.

metallic-cat
Bobby Patton entered the cutting business with his purchase of the former Marvine Ranch in 2015, but his involvement reached a much larger scale with the purchase of leading cutting sire Metallic Cat in late 2017. The son of High Brow Cat is now an Equi-Stat Elite $35 Million Sire. • Photo by Debbie Roberts.

In 2017, the family got even more involved in cutting when Bobby bought Metallic Cat from longtime owner Fults Ranch Ltd. for an undisclosed sum. At the time, the NCHA Futurity Open Champion was an Equi-Stat Elite $14 Million Sire. The stallion more than doubled his progeny earnings in less than three years after the purchase — recently hitting the $35 million mark.

Rocking P Ranch of Aledo, Texas, now offers stallion services for Metallic Cat, as well as Equi-Stat Elite $6 Million Sire Spots Hot (Chula Dual x Sweet Shorty Lena x Shorty Lena). It held its first production sale during this year’s Summer Spectacular.

As an owner, Rocking P Ranch has accumulated an Equi-Stat record of more than $1.2 million since 2014. Some of the operation’s show-pen highlights include Rockin Sallycat’s third-place finish in the 2015 NCHA Futurity Open and Cinca Im Hot’s win in the 2017 Breeder’s Invitational Derby.

Rocking P Ranch horses have earned more than $1.2 million since the first horse owned by ranch owner and Fort Worth businessman Bobby Patton entered the show ring in 2014. Among the highlights was Cinca Im Hot’s win in the 2017 Breeder’s Invitational with Jesse Lennox. • Photo by Dawn Baxstrom.

Quality Time

Rachel said the main obstacle keeping the family from the cutting show pen had always been a lack of time. Her dad had a busy schedule and she was occupied by school, first high school and then studying government at the University of Texas in Austin.

When the coronavirus hit and restrictions were put into place for travel, schools and large gatherings, Rachel said that opened the door to the cutting pen.

“We were looking for things to do, and my dad’s like, ‘We have all these amazing horses waiting to be ridden, waiting for you to ride. This is the perfect opportunity to learn cutting,’” she said. 

They went to the family’s ranch in Aledo and started riding with resident trainer Jesse Lennox. The high-energy professional had her on cows right away, Rachel said, quickly becoming her “personal hype man.”

He suggested showing at the Summer Spectacular, which was sponsored by Metallic Cat. Rachel, who rode barrel horses growing up on the family’s South Texas ranch but didn’t know much about the rules of cutting, said she was hesitant to jump into an NCHA Triple Crown event on her first start.

So, she showed once at a weekend show. Then, she went to the Summer Spectacular.

‘Spectacular’ Show

Both Pattons proved to be a quick study. In addition to winning the 4-Year-Old Limited Amateur with Cinca Metallic, a daughter of Metallic Cat from the same maternal line as the family’s Breeder’s Invitational winner Cinca Im Hot, Rachel made the 5/6-Year-Old Limited Amateur finals on two more Metallic Cat progeny — Metallic Curveball and Summer Shandy.

Rachel thought her best shot was with the older, more seasoned 5- and 6-year-old horses. Just happy to be in the finals, she thought her chances at a win were most likely over after finishing 13th in the 5/6-Year-Old Limited Amateur finals with Summer Shandy (out of Pippis Longstocking x Dual Smart Rey) and 15th with Metallic Curveball (out of Cinca de Maya x Dual Rey).

However, there was still Cinca Metallic — Metallic Curveball’s younger sister — in the 4-Year-Old Limited Amateur. Things hadn’t gone well with the horse the last time Rachel rode her, so she tempered her expectations. Plus, going in, she said people had prepared her that she probably wouldn’t make the finals with a less experienced 4-year-old. 

rachel-patton-cinca-metallic
Rachel Patton won her first-ever cutting competition in the NCHA Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular with her family’s Cinca Metallic. • Photo by Video West Productions.

She figured she’d just focus on having fun.

“I was like, why not? Let’s just keep riding for more practice,” she said. “And, then I ended up going to the finals for the Limited Amateur and winning it.”

Her father rode a 5-year-old gelding named One Suspicious Mind in the 5/6-Year-Old Limited Amateur. They marked a 180 and didn’t advance to the next round, but Rachel was impressed with how well her father did in his first foray into the cutting pen.

She said he’d originally entered after hearing talk spectators might be banned from the show due to COVID-19-related restrictions, reasoning that if he was a competitor he’d be able to be there regardless of any restrictions. 

When the spectator ban didn’t materialize, she expected him to withdraw — but he competed anyway.

“He went out there and rocked it. So, that was the coolest thing ever,” she said. “I was probably more nervous for his run than I was for any of mine.”

The Future

Though Bobby didn’t make the finals, Rachel said her dad now has the cutting bug and can’t wait to get back into the herd. In fact, she said that might include an appearance at this year’s NCHA Futurity.

“We have five awesome 3-year-olds at the barn right now, and Jesse [Lennox] will ride the top two. I’ll ride three and four, and my dad’s looking at riding five,” she said. “So, that’s all pretty exciting.”

It’s safe to say the sport won two converts at the Summer Spectacular. And, Rachel said, her experience shows how welcoming the sport is for newcomers — and it dispelled some worries she’d had about not knowing enough, or not having the skills to be able to find a place in the sport.

“If they’re thinking about it, if they’re on the fence, just do it and see what happens,” she said. “Because, good things can come out.”

“Example A.”

Olena Shes Metallic Tops 3-Year-Old Intermediate Open

When Olena Shes Metallic, a daughter of Equi-Stat Elite $21 Million Sire Metallic Cat, and Walt Erwin entered the arena from the second draw, the crowd erupted in cat-calls. The cheers grew louder as the duo put the moves on their cattle, earning the Cotton Stakes 3-Year-Old Intermediate Open title in a nine-horse field.“It was good! We cut three really good ones,” said Erwin, who had earnings of more than $548,000 going into the Cotton Stakes. “We got a really good grey cow that settled good that Clay Johnson and Gabe Reynolds both liked, and then we cut a black one that was standing on the top. The last one was just a shape cut on the outside to finish the run; it was good, too.”Although Olena Shes Metallic made her futurity debut look easy, it hasn’t always been a clear path ahead for the mare (out of CD Hot Tamolly x CD Olena). As a 2-year-old, she underwent eye surgery, which took her out of training for a three-month period. “That’s why her barn name is ‘One-Eyed Mary,’” Walt said with a chuckle.With her vision fully restored, One-Eyed Mary is making up for lost time. She brought home a check for $6,000 to owner Mark Senn, of Augusta, Georgia, after she and Erwin marked a 221 to top the finals.According to Erwin, the way the mare stops is what sets her apart in the show pen, but she is still learning the ropes. While she’s a good hauler so far, she doesn’t enjoy the actual loading process. “Once you get her in the trailer, she’s fine,” he said. One-Eyed Mary will get a break after her success at the Cotton Stakes. “Her next trip will probably be to the Southern [Cutting Futurity],” Erwin said, noting that he is headed to the All American Quarter Horse Congress without One-Eyed Mary in the trailer this time around.

22 Million Dollar Sire

 

Over the weekend with all the help from Team Metallic Cat
we have hit the 22 Million mark in Sire earnings, we are
beyond excited at this latest achievement. We here at
Rocking P Ranch applaud you, these goals would not be
possible without each and every one of you. MC has
earned money in a multitude of shows pens and disciplines
including, Cutting, Cow Horses, Ranch Horse, Barrel Horse,
Halter and Reining.
We thank you for believing in MC the
same way that we do.

 

Metallic Cat becomes NRCHA’s 18th Million Dollar Sire!

The offspring from this elite stallion have earned  more
than $1.4 million inside the reined cow horse arena.
Metallic Cat (High Brow Cat x Chers Shadow x Peptoboonsmal)
has become one of Western performance horse industry’s
leading sires, producing more the $20 million dollars in
earners across 14 different disciplines. Metallic Cat is
owned by the Rocking P Ranch of Weatherford, Texas.
Please join us in welcoming this great sire to our
Million Dollar ranks.

3 New Breeding Incentives

3 New Breeding Incentives Offered For Equi-Stat Elite $20 Million Sire Metallic Cat

The owners of Metallic Cat have announced three new breeding incentives for owners of offspring by Equi-Stat Elite $20 Million Sire Metallic Cat.

Rocking P Ranch, which bought the stallion last year, on Friday announced the new incentives to celebrate the success from the son of High Brow Cat out of Chers Shadow (by Peptosboonsmal), who recently crossed the $20 million mark as a sire.

The incentives are:

* For the 2019 breeding season, Metallic Cat’s stud fee is $10,000. However, as a thank you to those who bred their mares to Metallic Cat in 2018, a repeat booking in 2019 will be discounted $5,000. All paid contracts will guarantee eligibility for the 2019 incentives.

* All Rocking P Ranch LLC horses sold at Western Bloodstock sales, starting with the Mid-Year Cutting Sale at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Summer Spectacular, go complete with a breeding to Metallic Cat. This breeding also guarantees eligibility for the 2019 incentives.

* The 2019 Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular Incentive pays $300,000 – guaranteed. How does this work? The Derby at the event pays two places in the Open, Non-Pro, and Unlimited Amateur divisions (Open – first, $100,000; and second, $40,000) (Non-Pro, first, $20,000; and second, $10,000) (Unlimited Amateur, first, $15,000; and second, $5,000). The Classic Challenge also pays two places in the Open, Non-Pro, and Unlimited Amateur divisions (Open – first, $40,000; and second, $20,000) (Non-Pro, first, $20,000; and second, $10,000) (Unlimited Amateur, first, $15,000; and second, $5,000).

“It’s our way of thanking the industry and building excitement for the future,” Rocking P Ranch owner Bobby Patton said in a statement. “Without all the support from so many people who believed in Metallic Cat, this would not have been possible. Now, it’s our turn to make sure there are major-league incentives for the Metallic Cat foals on the ground and the ones yet to arrive.”

Metallic Cat • Photo by John Brasseaux

As a cutting horse, Metallic Cat won the 2008 NCHA Futurity Open Championship and went on to bank $637,711 during his career. He was named 2009 NCHA Open Horse of the Year and was inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2016 and 2017, Metallic Cat was NCHA Sire of the Year, thanks to foals that earned $10 million in just those two seasons. Also, for the National Reined Cow Horse Association he was Sire of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

His top five earners in Equi-Stat are: 2018 NCHA Open Horse of the Year Metallic Rebel ($437,965, out of Sweet Abra, by Abrakadabracre), two-time American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Junior Cutting World Champion and limited-age event champion Meteles Cat ($437,016, out of Teles Lies, by Lenas Telesis), NCHA Futurity Open Champion Stevie Rey Von ($397,158, out of Miss Ella Rey, by Dual Rey), NCHA Non-Pro Horse of the Year Purple Reyn ($361,880, out of Miss Ella Rey, by Dual Rey) and NCHA Super Stakes Open Champion Hashtags ($327,883, out of Dual Rey Tag, by Dual Rey).

 

Metallic Cat has 720 earners that hold 2,350 event championships and 1,852 reserve championships in 14 disciplines, ranging from cutting to roping and even barrel racing, Rocking P said.

IntheBlood02 MetallicCatAnd, officials at the Fort Worth ranch expect there will be 220 Metallic Cat foals showing across multiple divisions at the 2018 NCHA Summer Spectacular. Currently, with five foal crops old enough to show, his offspring roster includes 62 horses with $90,000 in lifetime earnings, 48 horses with more than $100,000 in on their records, and six offspring that have posted $200,000 and better.

“It’s amazing, what Metallic Cat has accomplished,” Patton said. “We’re grateful to the mare owners who believe in the stallion, and we appreciate all the trainers and riders who continue to invest time and effort into his offspring. On our side, we’re committed to the future of Metallic Cat and the continuation of his legacy.”

More details about the incentives are available at www.m4by5hxkoi-staging.onrocket.site.

Top Sire

Metallic Cat dominated in the show pen last week, claiming Top Sire in two disciplines.

 

The NRCHA Derby:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The PCCHA Derby:

Metallic Storm and Lynda MacCallum combine for memorable success

 

 

Some days are diamonds – that summed the long weekend in Tamworth for Lynda MacCallum and her colt Metallic Storm with outstanding success at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Australia’s SDP Buffalo Ranch Futurity. Like so many people on the land today Lynda and her husband Jim MacCallum wake every morning in the hope that rain clouds will appear over their farm near Gundy in the parched Upper Hunter.

Jim, a Scone based auctioneer with MacCallum Inglis, has witnessed first hand the devastation, the now two year drought, has had on the region especially for cattle producers.

So it was something very special to travel over the range to Tamworth (now almost as dry as Scone)  and compete against the best in the country and come home with a swag of ribbons and plenty of championship awards and prize money.

Each day the couple train their horses using Limousin infused cattle on their farm to perfect the art of ‘cutting’ or taking stock away from the group in the ring and keeping them separted  for 2.5 minutes.

Points are awarded for herd work, control and the ability of the horse to work and understand the stock.

And Lynda riding her three year old Metallic Storm were unstoppable winning champion Amateur Futurity, third non-professional Futurity and most importantly coming second in the big end daddy at the event the Open Futurity. It was Lynda’s best performance to date in her eight year cutting career and its now means she is no longer an ‘amateur’ competitor.

No doubt riding Storm, who had an incredible seven runs for the week, took her mind off the drought and its associated heartache – even for just 2.5 minutes. “He simply got better through the competition he was outstanding, solid and improving with each run which shows his ability, strength and fitness,” she said.

She described him as being her best horse to date due to his athleticism and the fact he is smart.In these competitions the riders do not hold the reins – so the horses have to have the ability and be extremely well trained to cut out the stock.

“They have to understand cattle and Storm certainly does that,” she said.

He will now compete throughout Australia in his age events and eventually the MacCallums hope to stand him at stud.

They purchased the horse at the 2017 Landmark Classic from Tom Williamson, Glen Innes. He is sired by Metallic Cat from Oakes Chime, herself a great campdrafter and Storm comes with Stock Horse bloodlines on his bottom side.

In between those events Lynda will once again represent Australia as a member of the cutting horse team when it competes in the USA in September at the non-pro challenge.

She said it was fantastic to be selected again as a member of the team and take on the USA on their home ground.

The couple’s children 12-year-old Peter and ten year-old Olivia also enjoy the sport and no doubt were very proud of their mother’s achievement and that of Storm’s in Tamworth.

Lynda MacCallum riding Metallic Storm at the NCHA Futurity: Photograph supplied by Liz Speed Photography.

 

One Sweet Victory

bittersweet_CBushaw
When Bittersweet stepped in the arena at the Breeder’s Invitational (BI) for the Derby Non-Pro finals, she and Chad Bushaw had only shown at two prior shows, where they were named 2017 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity Non-Pro Champions and 2018 NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Co-Champions. When they rode out of the pen in Tulsa, Oklahoma, they had marked a 223, garnered $23,758 in earnings and secured yet another title as the Derby Non-Pro winners.

“I’ve only shown her in three events, but she feels like I’ve been showing her for years,“ Bushaw said. “Bittersweet just has a very special feel about her – I have a lot of confidence in her. If I do my job, I know she’s going to be right there, which is such a great feeling.”

Bittersweet did her job, as well, leading out from the first hole of the second set in the finals.

“Kenny Platt drew first yesterday in the Derby Open Wildcard round – and he’s one of those guys that I always like to watch, he’s just a winner – and he was telling me that he was so thankful to draw up first, because he felt that that was the best place to be. So, I had that thought in my head when I saw my draw flash up on the screen,” Bushaw explained.

“Casey Green, who has helped us for a long time, was there to settle those cows, so that was a good feeling – being first in the second set, knowing you had somebody out there who was sure going to do a good job of getting the cattle ready,” he continued. “[It] was right where Bittersweet and I wanted to be.”

Bittersweet, bred by Marilyn Jo Franz, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, is the leading offspring out of Miss Sea Rey (by Dual Rey), who has produced eight money-earners. She is a half-sister to Heza Sea Hawk ($57,193, by EBR Kitty Hawk), Lu Sea Lu ($29,731, by Smart Mate) and others. Bushaw purchased the daughter of Metallic Cat, who had $113,106 in lifetime earnings on her Equi-Stat record prior to the BI, as a yearling. He has trained the mare throughout her career.

“It’s sure been a lot of fun, and I’ve learned a lot. Bittersweet’s very smart, very honest, very pure-minded,” he said. “She’s got a real big heart. She’s a very, very good athlete, good stopper and mover, very cowy. I’ve been doing this a long time, and every horse I’ve had over the years, I’ve wished that they could have done this or that a little better, but she just feels like the complete deal. She’s one of those special ones… one that I’ve spent 30 years waiting on.”

Bushaw doesn’t have plans to show the mare again before the NCHA Summer Spectacular, where they will chase cutting’s Triple Crown title in the Non-Pro. Instead, he intends to support his sons at youth cuttings, focus on getting his 3-year-olds ready and taking care of things at the ranch.

Weatherford, Texas-based Bushaw, who boasts nearly $3.5 million in earnings, said the BI holds a special place in his heart.

“It’s the show that I really attribute to getting my boys hooked on cutting, with the BI kids cutting, which Jan Seago is so gracious and generous in putting together,” he said as he drove to Nebraska to meet his family at a youth cutting.