Hammering the hot spot home, stallions and mares swelled the BLS top 20 list, claiming 19 out of the top 20 selling positions while geldings claimed one.

Birthright and occupation partnered with pedigree and proven programs, to push 17 out of the top 20 sellers over the $10,000 mark.

Weather woes wanted to be a factor, however,with a final tally of 560 head of horses offered, folks came from Virginia to California, Ohio to Texas, and 382 buyers registered for the two-day sale spree sending horses to new homes in 20 states and two Canadian provinces.

Quality abounded as the weekend was accented by a special session of "Sons and Daughters" of AQHA Champions and Money Earners, offering sons and daughters of a "who’s who" in the horse business with a definite focus on genetics and proven programs.

Cowboys and cowhorses are always honored in cowtown, and Billings Livestock welcomed seven National Finals Rodeo qualifiers, including five World Champion cowboys to the "NFR Session" of the February Sale, including Deb Greenough, Bruce Ford, Mel Hyland, Bobby Harris, Paul Tierney, and NFR qualifiers Rick Smith and Bill Parker.

The weekend was off and running with a well attended "show and tell" preview for the cutting horses, rope horses, and ride horses on Friday afternoon at the Horse Palace Arena.

The power of pink packs a punch and "Cgos Pepto Quixote" a 99 AQHA Red Roan stallion sired by the hottest brand in the business - Peptoboonsmal - proved the power of pink by joining the BLS High Seller’s Club.

Offered by the man who rode and trained him, Jerry Bob Seago, Claremore, OK, the finished cutting horse brought $33,000 and sold to the 73 Ranch, Mosby, MT

The special stallion will join 73 Ranch sires CD Blue Boon in Me and Poco Okie Doke, and will stand to outside mares in 2003.

Jim Babcock and Babcock Ranch, Gainesville, TX offered a sampling of their famous genetics including "The Best Hobby" an 86 AQHA sorrel mare x Hobby Doc and out of a daughter of Docs Jack Frost.

The first-class mare sold bred to Smart Chic O’lena - the the leading sire of AQHA performance horses as well as the sire of winners of over $5 million dollars in the reining, cutting, and reined cow horse associations.

The package was purchased by Judy Box, Crow Heart, WY for $22,000.

Pick your passion - head, heel, rope calves, or barrel race - "Jumpin Jack Solano" had already earned $50,000 in the rodeo arena and looked good doing it.

The 94 AQHA Buckskin stallion had been hauled and won on at major PRCA rodeos, and had earned two Foundation Quarter Horse Registry national championships.

Polite and pretty, the standout stallion was offered by Randy Wilson and shown by Casey Wilson, Jamestown, ND.

A final bid of $18,000 by Barbara Daniels, Douglas, WY purchased the ready-to-rodeo stallion.

In the gelding department, an exceptional line-up of using geldings graced the sale, with the top selling gelding Hip 296 "Dun Buggin Lena" a 96 AQHA Dun gelding x Dun Buggins 086 bringing $8,500.

Shown and owned by Jeff Bailey, Redmond, OR, the stand-up gelding sold to Cress Mummert, Kalispell, MT.

Using geldings brought anywhere from $1,200 to $8,500, depending on quality, condition, pedigree, and education.

Averages for GELDINGS ONLY include: Top five geldings at $5,380 and the top 20 at $3,827.

With nine PRCA World Championships won between the two of them, Bruce Ford, Kersey, CO, and Mel Hyland, Gadsby, Alberta entertained Sunday sale-goers with a very special cowboy singing session prior to sale-time.

In addition to their talents in the rodeo arena, the World Champions "picked and sang" to a full house.

Loose horses at BLS continue to be a runaway, with the top selling loose horse bringing $1,650, followed by $1,600, $1,475, and $1,425, with the top five loose horses averaging $1,500, top ten $1,335, top 20 $1,180, top 50 at $920, while the top 100 (only 128 were offered on the loose) averaging $625.

Overall sale averages reflect the level of quality offered at this particular sale, with the top five horses averaging $21,600; top ten bringing $17,750; top 20 at $14,100, top 50 came in at $8,284, while the top 100 head sold averaged $5,431.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event will be March 22 - 23 and will feature the "March Catalog Sale" featuring foundation-bred horses and a special session of Outfitters, Guest, and Dude Ranch horses.

The March sale event also includes the John and Lois Hill dispersion offering on Saturday, March 22. Loose horses will sell Sunday, March 23 at 9 a.m.

Contact Bill or Jann Parker, Billings Livestock Horse Sale Managers to consign or request a catalog at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com