Xtra Magic Doctor’s show record stretches across nearly a decade, first as a reiner and now as a ranch horse, competing under the guidance of prolific trainer Leslie Lange.
With more than $163,000 in lifetime earnings, Lange believes the 2014 stallion sired by Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Grays Starlight mare Aleena Starlight is only getting better with age.
“I think his appeal is his movement,” Lange said. “Being 12 years old, I think he’s a little better mover than some the contemporaries in that age group. They’re super athletic, but he has the movement. He’s also very safe; I can put anyone on him. It’s been fun owning and showing him.”
Xtra Magic Doctor, known as “Magic Mike,” has some strong competition, too. Lange listed Cowpuncher Cadillac and SUMAC Gunnabeflashy as two of his strongest peers in the ranch horse events.
(Almost) Always the Bridesmaid
Ironically, Lange also owns SUMAC Gunnabeflashy, a gelding that’s been shown to astounding success by Bud Lyon. They partnered on “Romeo” in 2020 when he was a 3-year-old, and he’s since won the 2024 and 2025 AQHA Superhorse titles, along with a slew of AQHA World Championships and NSBA World titles.
“If it weren’t for Romeo, I think Magic Mike would be extremely well-known,” Lange said with humor. “We often come in second to that sorrel stock-legged dink that Bud Lyon keeps showing.”
That pattern repeated itself at the 2026 NSHA World Show in Tulsa, where Magic Mike finished behind Romeo in both the ranch rail and senior ranch riding.
“I’m determined one of these days to beat him,” Lange said. “But it’s fun to own both horses.”
That humor and light-hearted outlook on horse showing was what opened the door for Lange to purchase Magic Mike in 2024.
The Making of Magic Mike
Magic Mike was bred by Cache Performance Horses and born in 2014. He was pointed towards the reining arena, amassing $69,426 in NRHA competition. As a futurity horse, he won the Level 3 Open at the Tulsa Reining Classic and was No. 2 in the Level 4 with Thiago Boechat in the saddle for then-owner Silver Spurs Equine, earning a total of $13,729.
He picked up a handful of checks throughout his aged-event years in reining, encountering his next big win as an 8-year-old at the 2022 AQHA World Show, where he and Lucio Casalecchi won the Level 2 Championship in Senior Reining and finished as reserve world champions in the Level 3 for NRHA $1 Million owner Janice Laney.
Magic Mike was then purchased by Eric Mendrysa, to compete in reining and ranch horse events. With the help of professionals Reid Thomas and Curtis Reynolds, Mendrysa earned the silver globe in amateur reining at the 2023 AQHA World Show and was also the high point ranch horse.
Mendrysa and Mike also earned All American Quarter Horse Congress Championships and an NSBA year-end title. Mendrysa began standing Mike to a select number of mares, looking to pass on the stallion’s easygoing nature and natural, sweeping movement.
In 2024, Lange joked she caught Mendrysa “at a weak moment” after a bobble in the amateur ranch riding finals at the AQHA World Show and was able to purchase Mike. Lange was so confident in her purchase that she didn’t even ride him before she purchased him.
“We vetted him that afternoon, and I wired Eric the money as soon as I could,” Lange said. “I actually never even rode the horse before I got him home.”
And the rest is history. Lange encountered the same wholesome personality in Mike as with his previous owners, noting that “he never wants to be in trouble” and happily follows his rider’s lead.
Certified Good Boy
Lange has continued to add lines to Magic Mike’s resume, with Mendrysa staying involved as his marketing manager.
“I think Mike has been a great addition and good match,” Lange said. “He’s been trained and shown by men, and his personality is a little timid. You can intimidate him pretty easily, so I think a [woman’s] touch has been another benefit for him, to continue to excel.”
That partnership has continued to pay off in the show pen, but Lange also saw potential for Magic Mike beyond his own competitive career. As a stallion, breeding was always part of the bigger picture—even if it wasn’t the primary reason she brought him home.
“When I bought him, I wasn’t focused huge career in the breeding shed for him, but I did want to breed him,” Lange said. “And the breeding thing is another testament to his personality. It’s not unusual for us to show him in the halter in the morning, run him down to the breeding farm, collect him, bring it back, and show him in the ranch riding that afternoon.”
Mike’s oldest foals aren’t under saddle yet, but they’ll be started in 2027. Lange also anticipates his largest foal crop yet in the coming year, with about 20 mares carrying Magic Mike foals.
“I bred some nice mares to him,” Lange said. “So hopefully we’ll get some colts that can go to the ranch riding or reining. I also bred some all-around-type mares to him, and all the foals I’ve seen, people have been super happy with.”
As for Mike, he’ll continue to be shown.
“As long as he stays sound, happy and likes to go to horse shows, he’ll go,” Lange said. “He’s low maintenance at the horse shows, loves to go to the spas.”