Top 10 Tie-Down Roping Sires of 2023

Tie-down roping is a sport that demands a high level of raw talent and skill from a horse. The horse needs to be quick out of the box, have a powerful stop, and be able to handle the rope skillfully as the rider dismounts and ties the calf. These horses inherit much of their talent and athleticism genetically. 

With data from QStallions, the following are the top 10 tie-down roping sires of 2023:

10. Duals Blue Boon

Pedigree: Dual Pep x Royal Blue Boon x Boon Bar

2024 Stud Fee: $8,000 (ICSI Only)

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $193,905: NCHA $10,000 Novice World Champion; split 3rd NCHA Open Classic/Challenge; 3rd Bonanza 5/6-Year-Old Open; Abilene Spectacular Non-Pro Derby Champion; Chisholm Trail Cutting 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Champion. Sire of 133 money-earners, $2,582,985, and earners of 2,180 AQHA points.

2023 Offspring Earnings: $36,402

Offspring Incentives: NA

9. Shiners Black Cat

Pedigree: Shining Spark x Miss Hickory Tari x Taris Catalyst

2024 Stud Fee: N/A 

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $8,777.Snake River Slide Open Derby Co-Reserve Champion & Intermediate Open - split 3rd.

2023 Offspring Earnings: $75,776

Offspring Incentives: NA

8. PG Gunpowder

Pedigree: Playgun x Powderriver Pepidoc x Peppy San Badger

2024 Stud Fee: $1,500 (Frozen Only)

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $18,739, Suncoast Winter Derby Open-finalistOwner Lowrance Ranch frozen available at 6666 Ranch producer of money earners $114,403

2023 Offspring Earnings: $82,874

Offspring Incentives: NA

7. Popular ResortFigure

Pedigree: Playgun x Powderriver Pepidoc x Peppy San Badger

2024 Stud Fee: $2,500 (ICSI Only)

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $16,943. AQHA Show points 265.5, Superior Heading, Superior Heeling, 2002 World Champion Jr Heading, 2002 World Champion Jr Heeling, 2002 Reserve World Champion Jr Calf Roping, 2002 World Jr Working Cow Horse-6th, 2002 AQHA Sooner Trailer SUPERHORSE, Arizona Sun Country Circuit Junior All-Around Champion, AQHA winner of 5 all arounds, Heading(101), Heeling(94), Calf Roping(42), Working Cowhorse(5), Offspring earnings over $2 million.

2023 Offspring Earnings: $93,879

Offspring Incentives: Royal Crown (Roping Only)

6. Hottish

Pedigree: Spots Hot x Stylish Play Lena x Docs Stylish Oak

2024 Stud Fee: $5,500 

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $306,339; 2012 NCHA Open Derby Champion, 2012 Breeders Invitational Derby Champion, 2012 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes Champion, NCHA Reserve Horse of the Year, 2014 NCHA Non-Pro Classic/Challenge Champion, top 10 at the 2014 Bonanza Open Classic and NCHA Super Stakes Open Classic, finalist at the 2013 Bonanza Open Classic, finalist at the 2011 NCHA Open Futurity, 2012 South Point Open Derby Champion, 2012 ID CHA Open Derby Champion, 2012 Calgary Stampede Wrangler Open Derby Reserve Champion, 6th at the 2012 Brazos Bash Open Derby.

2023 Offspring Earnings: $94,310

Offspring Incentives: NCHA Super Stakes, Breeders Invitational, PCCHA Cutting, NRCHA Stallion Stakes, Gold Buckle Futurity

5. Zans Tuf N Gold

Pedigree: Skip Zan Parr x Busy Writin Chex x Tuff N Busy

2024 Stud Fee: NA

Stallion Performance Record: Reining Open Champion 2013 TEEM, 2nd Novice Ametur Reining 2013 TEEM, 7th 2016 Baker Reining Classic.

2023 Offspring Earnings: $107,225

Offspring Incentives:NA

4. Boons Milliennium

Pedigree: Peptoboonsmal x Millie Montana x Montana Doc

2024 Stud Fee: NA

Stallion Performance Record: LTE NCHA earnings of $19,531

2023 Offspring Earnings: $141,399

Offspring Incentives: NA

3. Jonathan Starlight

Pedigree: Grays Starlight x Trulena Deville x Doc Olena

2024 Stud Fee: NA

Stallion Performance Record: NA

2023 Offspring Earnings: $153,036

Offspring Incentives: NA

2. Metallic Cat

Pedigree: High Brow Cat x Chers Shadow x Peptoboonsmal

2024 Stud Fee: $10,000

Stallion Performance Record: LTE $637,711; NCHA Horse of the Year, NCHA Open Futurity Champion, NCHA Open Super Stakes Reserve Champion, NCHA Open Futurity Champion, Equi-Stat #1 Leading Cutting Money-Earner in All Divisions, NCHA Open Super Stakes Reserve Champion, Equi-Stat #1 Open Cutting Money-Earner, Breeders Invitational & Abilene Spectacular Open Derbies' Champion, 3rd NCHA Open Derby, Music City Open Derby Champion, Tunica 4-Year-Old Open Futurity Reserve Champion, NCHA Hall of Fame

2023 Offspring Earnings: $154,913

Offspring Incentives: NCHA Super Stakes, NRCHA, NRCHA Stallion Stakes, Breeder’s Invitational, PCCHA, Riata Buckle, Gold Buckle Futurities

1. Kit Kat Sugar

Pedigree: High Brow Cat x Smart N Dulce X Smart Lil Ricochet

2024 Stud Fee: $5,500

Stallion Performance Record: Earner of $240,903; NCHA Certificate of Ability NCHA Horse Of the Year. NCHA Horse Of the Year, 2012 Bonanza Open Derby Champion, Cattlemens Open Derby Champion, Calgary Stampede Open Derby Champion, Finalist NCHA Open Derby, Southern Open Derby Champion, 3rd Idaho CHA World Series of Cutting Open Class, 7th El Rancho World Series of Cutting Open Class, NCHA Open Super Stakes Reserve Champion, Brazos Bash Open Derby Champion, El Rancho Open Derby Champion, Finalist Breeders Inv. Open Derby, Idaho CHA Open Derby Reserve Champion, Split 5th West Texas Open Derby, Top 10 Abilene Spectacular Open Derby.

2023 Offspring Earnings: $216,634

Offspring Incentives: Kit Kat Sugar Bonus, NCHA Super Stakes, NRCHA Stallion Stakes, Breeder's Invitational, PCCHA Stakes, Augusta Futurity, Southern Futurity

The sport of tie-down roping has seen the emergence of many exceptional stallions over the years. However, a few of them have distinguished themselves from the rest, and their offspring have secured their place in history. Below, you can find the top five leading tie-down roping stallions of all time.

It's worth noting that the practice of tracking tie-down roping earnings based on bloodlines is a recent development, but the figures speak for themselves.

1. Jonathan Starlight | Total Earnings: $449,737

2. Kit Kat Sugar | Total Earnings: $253,250

3. Metallic Cat | Total Earnings: $237,984

4. Popular ResortFigure | Total Earnings: $187,350

5. Boons Milliennium | Total Earnings: $141,399

For the most up-to-date stallion data, refer to QStallions.com. Note that all data for this article was pulled on Jan. 1, 2023.