A high energy crowd came to get them and top-gun sons - every one a stallion - of Peppy San Badger, Doc O’Lena, High Brow Cat, Smart Mate, Dual Pep, Shining Spark, and Gallo Del Cielo laid claim to the top eight selling positions bringing an average bid of $31,562.

Bonused by sunshine and 60 degree weather, Billings Livestock hosted their largest buyer base on record welcoming more buyers than horses - with 845 registered buyers attending the two-day sale binge where 832 head of horses were offered.

With 94% completed sales -  only 54 horses of the 832 head were passed out or "no-saled" by the consignor - an exceptionally strong market saw horses sell to 18 states and three Canadian provinces.

Highlighted by a special session of “Sons and Daughters” of money earners or champions, the February sale event offered a powerhouse package of quality consignments. In addition, an exclusive “NFR” seesion offered horses consigned by National Finals Rodeo qualifiers including Larry Sandvick, Harold Bumgaurdner, John ES Smith, Ora Taton, and Bruce Ford.

Friday’s demonstration of rope horses, cutting horses, reiners, and saddle horses previewed to a packed house at the Horse Palace Arena.

He’s moved to California and will stand at Stoney Creek Stallion Station and the $335,000 producing son of Peppy San Badger - “Bobby Bo Badger” - earned top sale honors bringing $49,000.

Pick your poison, he’s the sire of money earning reiners, cutters, reined cowhorses, and ropers - and - came with his own NCHA, NRHA, and AQHA accolades, the pretty, talented, breeding stallion was purchased by Tom Atwood, Orland, CA.

Mr. Atwood also purchased Hip 153 - the $42,000 NCHA money earning son of Dual Pep, “Boot Scootin Dually” offered by Jack McCartney, Slaughter, LA.

Big and strong, the 1992 AQHA sorrel stallion by Dual Pep and out of Jae Bar Maisie brought $36,000. “Boot Scootin Dually” will also stand at Stoney Creek Stallion Station, Orland, CA.

Canada took home three of the top seven selling stallions including “Paddys Blue Twist” a 1990 AQHA Bay stallion x Doc O’lena and out of the famous mare Peppymint Twist.

He was bred to be something special - by a $17 million dollar sire and out of $221,000 money earning dam, “Paddys Blue Twist” was owned and shown by Pete Sartin, Sunnyside, WA.

Diamond W Quarter Horses, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta purchased the special stallion for $31,000.

Head or heel, he had AQHA points in both, was started calf roping and would run a solid reining pattern, and Rhodes River Ranch, Arlington, WA offered Hip 108 “Lanas Cat” a 1999 AQHA Sorrel Stallion by High Brow Cat and out of Lena San Lana.

Dave Dudla, Onoway, Alberta purchased the powerful, all-around stallion for $22,000.

Freckles Playboy was the sire of the day having sired the weekend’s two high selling mares in addition to the top selling gelding.

His high powered daughters included Hip 111 “Playdoll” a 91 APHA Sorrel mare out of Peppys Baby Doll x Doc Doll. The $34,000 NCHA money earning paint mare sold bred to the Millionheir sire “Bodee Boonsmal”. Offered by John Johnson, Brookings, SD, she sold to Roy and Marilyn Pezoldt, Columbus, MT for $19,500.

Mare number two was Hip 121 “Splashinaround” a 96 AQHA Sorrel mare by Playboy and out of Quaketta x Peppy San Badger. Bringing a final bid of $17,500, the fancy mare sold bred to Hickorys Indian Pep for 2005.

The only gelding to make it in the top 20 - again by Freckles Playboy - was Hip 186 “Play Squall” a 2001 AQHA sorrel gelding out of a Rum Squall daughter .

Shown heading and heeling in the presale preview, the strong gelding was also a trained reiner and came with some cutting training. Offered by Rhodes River Ranch, he brought $11,500 and was purchased by Mitch Guerrieri, Franktown, CO.

A record-setting sale for Billings Livestock, the top five horses - all stallions - averaged $36,600, the top ten included eight stallions and two mares and averaged $28,950; Top 20 brought $21,750, top 50 averaged $13,004, while the top 100 head of horses sold averaged $8,538.

A blistering loose horse trade saw 383 head offered as is, where is, how is - each horse offered one by one, loose - no rider, no speech, no preview - the top five averaged $1,825 followed by the top ten at $1,550, top 20 at $1,304, top 50 averaged $1,028, and the top 100 on the loose brought $824.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event will be the “Spring Special Catalog Sale” March 26 - 27 and will feature the annual “Outfitters, Guides, Guest and Dude Ranch” offering in addition to a special session of “Roans Only”. All classes of horses will sell.