Manion Ranch

Better known as "the Legend", this brilliant sorrel stallion dazzled crowds not only as a thrilling performer, but also an outstanding sire with foals earning in excess of $36.5 million.

Accomplishments:

NCHA Triple Crown Champion

1984 Masters champion

$743,275 in career earnings (shown a total of 8 times)

NCHA all time leading Stallion

Owned By: The Smart Little Lena Syndicate
Syndicate Managers:
Hanes Chatham, Mike Kelly
For Breeding Information, please contact:

The Manion Ranch
(940) 686-2246

Nominated to most major aged events, including the Breeder’s Invitational.

Sire: High Brow Cat by High Brow Hickory
Smooth As A Cat AQHA#3808235 1999 Chestnut Stallion
Dam: Shes Pretty Smooth by Wheeling Peppy

This exciting young stallion by High Brow Cat has taken the cutting industry by storm. Described as “A rare wonder” by his trainer Matt Gaines (NCHA leading money earning rider in ’02,’03, and ‘05) Smooth As A Cat has mesmerized competitors and audiences alike. His smooth, quick, and deliberate working style, along with his conformation and disposition, and the fact that he is the perfect outcross sire (his dam is not a daughter of Smart Little Lena), has set him apart from the competition.

Accomplishments:

2005 NCHA Horse of the Year
NCHA Hall of Fame Horse
LTE: $500,037.51
Multiple aged event Champion
Finalist 43 times in major aged event competitions
Won more championships in 2005 than any other horse
Finalist more times than any other horse in 2005
High Brow Cat’s all-time leading money-earning stallion
The highest money-earning stallion out of an NCHA Futurity Champion mare-ever
Never missed an event due to unsoundness or injury
At the 2007 NCHA Select two-year-old sale, What a Smooth Cat, sired by Smooth As A Cat, sold for a record breaking $225,000

Owned By: Kyle Manion

For Breeding Information
Please Contact: The Manion Ranch
(940) 686-2246
2009 Stud fee: $5,000 plus chute fee ($600)

Cooled, shipped semen on availability.
Nominated to most major aged events, including the Breeder’s Invitational

Sire: Smart Lil Ricochet by Smart Little Lena
Im Countin Checks AQHA#4333717 2002 Sorrel Stallion
Dam: Autumn Boon by Dual Pep

“Quick, brilliant, powerful, and pretty, doesn’t even begin to describe this athletic young stallion”, says Matt Gaines (the trainer and rider of Im Countin Checks). “He is a true cow horse, and has the ability to run and stop hard, and yet he has the style and electricity to draw a cow to him. I love showing this horse, and I look forward to riding his offspring! Being that he is so well bred (Sired by Ricochet and out of Autumn Boon (LTE $259,685) who is by Dual Pep and out of Royal Blue Boon) Im Countin Checks can’t miss as a sire!”

Accomplishments:

2005 NCHA Futurity Champion Stallion
NCHA Hall of Fame Horse
LTE $513,000
2008 Reserve Champion NCHA Horse of the Year
Multiple Aged Event Finalist, Reserve Championships, and Championships.
Highest money earner out of the great mare Autumn Boon, who is the leading producing daughter out of the All-Time NCHA producer, Royal Blue Boon.

Owned by: Kyle Manion
For Breeding Information
Please Contact: The Manion Ranch
(940) 686-2246
2009 Stud Fee: $3,500 plus chute fee ($600)

Cooled, shipped semen on availability.
Nominated to most major aged events, including the Breeder’s Invitational, as foals become eligible.

Sire: Smart Little Lena By Doc Olena
Smart Lil Ricochet AQHA#3265106 1994 Sorrel Stallion
Dam: Moria Sugar By Son O Sugar

Though this bright, young stallion’s show career was cut short by a serious injury, sustained during his First-go NCHA Futurity winning run, He has been strongly embraced by the public. Ricochet has consistently bred some of the greatest mares the Cutting Industry has ever known, and is consistently siring NCHA champions. While Ricochet passed away in 2007, we still offer breedings for sale via frozen semen.

Accomplishments:

Winner of the first go-round of the 1997 NCHA World Championship Futurity, marking a 223 (his first time ever shown).
Sire of multiple NCHA Champions
Sire of foals earning in excess of $2.6 million
In 2005, Ricochet offspring won more championships, and won more money than any other offspring by siring sons of Smart Little Lena
In 2005, Smart Lil Ricochet sired the high seller in the sales at the 2005 NCHA Summer Spectacular. (Blissful sold for $250,000)
In 2004, 2005 & 2006, Ricochet offspring had the highest average earnings, over any other siring son of Smart Little Lena

Owned By: Tommy Manion of Texas INC

2009 Stud Fee: $3,500 plus chute fee ($600)

Frozen semen only

Nominated to most major aged events including the Breeder's Invitational