Bet Hesa Cat Becomes Newest NRCHA $2 Million Dollar Sire
Reined cow horse events and the corresponding class purses grew considerably in 2022. In turn, many sires and dams saw offspring launch them into new earnings brackets within the industry, including Bet Hesa Cat, the newest National Reined Cow Horse Association Two Million Dollar Sire.
Bet Hesa Cat (High Brow Cat x Bet Yer Blue Boons x Freckles Playboy), saw offspring earnings reach $2,210,137.36 during the 2022 NRCHA show season. The 2006 stallion, bred by Oxbow Ranch, was a star in the show pen in his own right, earning $272,151 during his career as well as the National Cutting Horse Association Open World Champion title. As a sire, though, the roan has made a greater impact on the cutting and reined cow horse industries.
Owned by the Bet Hesa Cat Syndicate and standing at NRCHA Corporate Partner 6666 Ranch in Guthrie, Texas, the stallion is one of only four to sire an NRCHA Open Snaffle Bit Futurity® Champion and Reserve Champion in the same year. He is the fourth-leading reined cow horse sire.
Of his NRCHA money-earning offspring, he has shown to be a sire of performing stallions, with the top eight earners being studs. Nathan Canaday, DVM, 6666 Ranch Horse Division Manager, has been involved with managing the stallion with Dr. Blodgett since Bet Hesa Cat stepped off the trailer on the 6666 Ranch for his breeding career about 12 years ago.
“To me, that shows he is a sire of sires, and it shows how strong of a foundation he has, genetically, that not only he was able to perform but his offspring perform and then go on to be sires,” Dr. Canaday said. “It shows the depth of the pedigree.”
With $200,652.91 in lifetime earnings, Hesa Dual Bet, a 2016 stallion out of RJJ Miss Viagra Pep and owned by Teton Ridge, tops the list. NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Matt Koch and NRCHA Three Million Dollar Rider Corey Cushing added to the bay’s earnings.
“All of the Bet Hesa Cat I’ve seen or been involved in all have their own eye appeal as far as when they’re working or just standing there,” said Cushing, NRCHA president. “As strong of a sire he has been and as stiff a competition as we have today, we all are lucky to have offspring by Bet Hesa Cat because they are excelling in cutting and cow horse. They are all horses that draw your attention, and you want to watch them work whatever event they are doing that day.”
Following closely are the number two earner, 2017 Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion Plain Catty, a 2014 stallion out of Miss Plain Plain shown by Jake Gorrell and now owned by Kalpowar Quarter Horses, with $195,103.56; and the third-highest earner, Bet He Sparks, a 2014 stallion out of Sparking Train, with NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Clayton Edsall piloting the roan owned by K&L Phillips to $187,968.64.
In addition to the performing cow horses, Bet Hesa Cat is favored as a ranch sire, Dr. Canaday said.
“He’s an exceptional stallion and has proven himself time and again, clearly with hitting this $2 million mark,” said Dr. Canaday. “My favorite attribute is what he stamps into his ranch foals; we’ve bred quite a few ranch mares to him, and it is the perfect cross on athleticism and speed on the big-boned, big size of our ranch mares. I just love that cross.”
Bet Hesa Cat achieved Million Dollar Sire status in 2019 and has quickly joined the elite Two Million Dollar Sire Club. His foals are eligible for the NRCHA Stallion Stakes as well as many other Western performance industry incentives and events and can be viewed at 6666ranch.com. Congratulations to Bet Hesa Cat, the stallion’s owners and their connections for this outstanding achievement.
