January 26 , 2002 SALE REPORT

"Winter Special Catalog Sale" and "Cabin Fever Tack Sale"

Prospects Pummel the Market

BLS Loose Horse Craze Continues

Propelled by the prospects, Billings Livestock Commission Company’s loose horse trade continued in solid fashion - where a standing-room-only, sale-going crowd entertained a substantial market in all divisions at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s "Winter Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale January 26.

A tip-top loose horse trade saw 135 head offered specifically on the loose, with the pick-of-the-bunch bringing $1,350, while the top five averaged $1,132, and the top ten brought $1,038.

Officially, Billings Livestock welcomed 285 head of horses for the one-day sale event, where proof-positive of a solid market is reflected in the low "pass-out" percentage - only 9% of the total sale - 26 head out of the 285 head offered for sale were "passed out" by the consignor.

Dun, dapper, and a double-dip of Pretty Buck, Hip 46 "Eternal War Champ" a 97 AQHA Dun Stallion by Mr. Blackburn Champ and out of a daughter of Mr. Blackburn 3, topped the day’s sale with a final bid of $7,250.

Brought to town by Rimrock Livestock, John and Diane Spizziri, Shawmut, MT and purchased by Cook Creek Performance Horses, Ashland, MT, the true Foundation-bred stallion was everything he was bred to be.

Mares maintained maximum horse power with the number two and three sales positions coveted by top-notch daughters of well-known sires - Cash Quixote Rio and Tamulena.

"Little Sassy Cash" a 96 model AQHA sorrel daughter of Cash Quixote Rio had been shown in the NCHA Futurity as a three-year-old - her only time shown. The big, flashy mare was consigned by David and Marla Hughes, Spanish Fork, UT and sold to Kruger Quarter Horses, Maynard, MN for $6,600.

Very pretty and packed with charisma, Hip 100 "Young Gun Lena" a 2000 AQHA sorrel filly sired by Tamulena and out of a daughter of Young Gun, was a top gun mare full of future. Purchased for $6,250 by Warren Podany, Pilger, NE, she was offered by John Johnson, Brookings, SD.

The better-end using geldings- the trustworthy kind with a job - gained marketability as the the top gelding of the day brought $5,600.

Validation in the strength of the gelding market is shown in the "geldings only average" where the top five geldings brought $4,400 - including two registered and three "grade" geldings.

Proving once and for all that if they can do a day’s work, have eye-appeal and versatility, pedigree is secondary in the gelding business.

A whopping 40% of the horse sold - including loose and cataloged - averaged $1,818. Overall sale averages include the top five at $6,080; top ten brought $4,870; top 20 came in at $3,837, while the top 50 averaged $2,610.

February 23-24 will be the next horse sale event at Billings Livestock and will feature the "February Catalog Sale" highlighted by a special, limited session of "Sons and Daughters" of Champions and Money Earners.