INCENTIVES: Royal Crown, Gold Buckle, Royal Crown Canada

Not only is Test My Metal a red-roan son of Hall-of-Fame cutting-legend sire Metallic Cat, but he won more than $81,000 himself at both ends during team roping futurities with Dakota Kirchenschlager.

“Metal” won the 2023 Royal Crown Open Heeling Futurity in Buckeye, Arizona, and was the reserve champion at the Roping Futurities of America High Stakes Heeling Slot, plus he placed third in the RFA Open Heading Futurity. The stud also has points at both ends in the AQHA, and is now Gold Buckle-eligible.

“We got him as a 2-year-old at the NCHA Futurity Sale,” said Kirchenschlager. “He can run, he can stop, and he’s a phenomenal horse. I’m blessed to ride him.”

Standing 15.1 hands and weighing 1,200 pounds, Metal has the substance for both ends and the temperament, too. His owner, Neal Wanless, also headed on the stallion at Royal Crown events. Plus, he was Kirchenschlager’s go-to help horse at both ends for two years.

The oldest babies are 3 now, and prove to have a very willing mind and the size the rope-horse industry continues to seek. Four years ago, the progeny of Metallic Cat and Dual Rey each topped $50 million in earnings.