This article was originally published by Hannah Wheeler on Calfroping.com.
Two-time PRCA World Champion Shad Mayfield and the Barrilleaux family, operating as C&S Equine, have bought Zak 34, the $429,000 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion and 2026 World’s Greatest Horseman Reserve Champion, who will keep standing at Solo Select Horses alongside his sire, Woody Be Tuff.
For the Clovis, New Mexico, cowboy, it’s the biggest piece yet of a horse program he started building this spring while recovering from hip surgeries.
“We’re super pumped to be adding Zak 34 to the program,” Mayfield said. “This is a big day for us. And definitely me, I was very emotional. Everybody knows how much I love horses and getting into the breeding side of things. And to add such a horse as Zak that has been proven and has a great name for himself and just the horse he is to add to our program to build off of, we’re super excited and blessed for the opportunity to have him.”
Why Zak 34
Mayfield first noticed the black stallion from the stands at the 2026 World’s Greatest Horseman, where Zak 34 finished Reserve Champion under NRCHA $2.7 million rider Chris Dawson.
“Well, I watched that horse go at the World’s Greatest Horseman last year with Chris Dawson, and I think it was how he worked there that caught a lot of eyes,” Mayfield said. “He’s such a big black, pretty, stout horse as well as just the athlete he is. That horse is such a freaking athlete. And I like bigger horses, especially in the calf roping. I feel like a bigger horse is just more versatile to go out there and do more things. And with this horse being big, he’s not like a big slow-footed horse. He moves like a little horse. He’s such an athlete and we’ve seen that with him at the World’s Greatest Horseman. We’ve been looking for the right stud for a minute and then when the opportunity came about, we just felt like he was what’s going to fit our program.”
Zak 34 is by Woody Be Tuff, the sire of more than $16 million, and out of Cat Digs Lucinda who is by the legendary High Brow Cat. He stands nearly 15.2 hands with heavy bone and according to Solo Select, he vetted clean after a long, high-level show career. Sons of Woody Be Tuff are rare.
“One reason there aren’t very many of them is because the Center Ranch purposefully gelded every single colt,” Solo Select’s Melanie Smith said in the stallion’s announcement. “That’s why there aren’t hardly any Woody stallions out there, and that’s what makes this horse so special.”
Mayfield already had a connection to the line. This spring he sent Figure To Fly “Lollipop,” the 2024 AQHA Tie-Down Horse of the Year, to Solo Select and bred her to Woody Be Tuff.
Read: Mama Pops: The Foundation of What’s Next for Shad Mayfield
“The biggest thing is we want him to go out there and be a great sire and make great babies for the people that are willing to trust us,” Mayfield said. “We feel like he’s going to be able to make great babies and cross with a lot of great mares out there. I’m a big fan of Woody Be Tuff and there’s not very many upcoming Woody Be Tuff studs out there, and he’s one of them. I mean, this past year was the first time I ever bred Lollipop and the horse I bred her to was Woody Be Tuff. So this is definitely a horse that I’m going to be able to put Lollipop and actually both of my mares with.”
Both of those mares are Popular Resortfigure mares, Lollipop and Popular Snow Resort “Tootsie Pop.”
Bringing back the old-school calf horse
Mayfield is excited to cross Zak 34 on mares of all sizes, but especially smaller mares, to raise correct, big-boned calf horses.
“This horse is going to bring back the old-school, strong, big boned calf horse build that I like to see,” Mayfield said. “I feel like the big bone that he has and just the build that he has, is going to be what makes the next generation of calf horses hold up so well and be good in any setup. If you breed to this horse, you’re going to get a powerhouse of a horse. You’re going to get a calf horse that’s going to be so strong, athletic and versatile. I’ve got it in my head right now of how him and Lollipop’s going to cross is going to be so good. He’s just such a dominant sire that he’s going to make, I feel like, such good calf horses.”
According to the announcement, that eye for bone came from home.
“My dad would tell me what to look for in a horse,” Mayfield said. “You look at the bone, the size, and the frame. With Zak, he’s got all that. That’s a horse that’s going to be able to hold up.”
Rope horse futurities for Zak and Boosie
Zak 34 is already enrolled in the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive, Riata, Royal Crown Roping and Solo Select’s Reined Cow Horse and Rope Horse incentives. Next on the list is the Gold Buckle.
“Our goal first thing is try to get him in the Gold Buckle,” Mayfield said.
“We plan to enter him in every rope horse futurity possible because his potential as a head horse, calf horse, or any type of horse is truly exceptional.”
Mayfield and the Barrilleauxs also own Rebel Impact “Boosie,” a 3-year-old stallion by Metallic Rebel out of Annie B Rey, who Corey Cushing recently showcased at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity with a score of 218.5 in the reined work.
“This year, Corey has been very successful in showing him, and he’s currently competing at the Snaffle Bit Futurity. Boosie has shown tremendous progress in a short amount of time, and we believe he will excel in various incentives in the coming years. As for Zak, he has already proven himself, and we aim to enroll him in several incentives, starting with the Gold Buckle.”
Partnering with Solo Select
Mayfield, known for his strong brand in tie-down roping, is teaming up with Solo Select’s marketing team to further enhance his reach.
“The collaboration with Solo Select is a fantastic opportunity. They have a top-notch marketing team and a great lineup of studs. We aim to showcase Zak’s personality and highlight what makes him a remarkable horse, similar to how Lollipop’s personality has boosted her popularity.”
A program born from time off
Mayfield’s breeding program was born out of his time away from the rodeo circuit due to hip surgeries.
“Taking time off allowed me to delve into breeding, cow horse training, and other aspects of the equine world. This program is not just about roping; it’s about building a future beyond rodeo. It’s about creating a legacy for my family and partnering with individuals like the Barrilleaux family who share the same vision and values.”
Family first
The Barrilleauxs are more than just business partners to Mayfield; they are like family.
“They have supported me through thick and thin, and their unwavering belief in me has been a driving force. We are not just focused on horses; we are nurturing the next generation of riders and horses. It’s about building a community and a legacy that will last for years to come.”
The younger version of Mayfield would be proud of the progress and success of the program.
“Young Shad would be amazed at how far we’ve come. This journey has been a dream come true, and I attribute all our success to God’s guidance. I believe he would be proud of the legacy we are creating and the impact we are making in the horse industry.” following sentence:
The cat lazily stretched out on the windowsill and closed its eyes.
The cat lounged on the windowsill and peacefully drifted off to sleep.