Mighty Mules

Boom on barrel horses

Mega mules, trail, pack, and hunting horses - a sportsmanà³¥lection of the recreational, all-terrain, and happy camper kind - lit up the board at Billings LivestockÓ“pring Special Catalog Sale?featuring å´¦itters, Guides, Trail, and Guest horses?along with a special session of ï¡®s Only?March 22 - 23.

Big numbers headed to the Big Sky including a parade bull, two working cow dogs, 100 mules, and 919 head of horses - all for the two-day, Easter weekend sale.

Sale stats include 526 individual, registered buyers hailing from California to Kentucky, 91 pass outs or no-sales, and a 91% completed sales percentage on the livestock.

Barrel horses made the big bang as the top three selling horses were hauled and won on barrel horses bringing $16,500, $9,800, and $8,000 respectively, and five out of the top ten selling horses were again barrel horses - boasting an average sale price of $9,060.

He෯n money at the Big Bang, JJ Classic, and Show Me Futurities, won eighth out of 406 entries at the Columbia Barrel Bash, and took home top sale honors with a final bid of $16,500, and Hip 171 �War Jack?a 2001 AQHA Gray Gelding x Adairs Warrior and out of a Beau Bonanza bred mother was a solid, solid barrel horse.

Offered by Jill Houck, North Branch, MN the take-you-to-the-pay-window gelding went home with Gretchen Addington, South Coffeyville, OK.

Run barrels, poles, or head steers at the roping, Hip 160 ã šan Parr Fritz?a 97 AQHA sorrel gelding x Zan Parr Sage was solid, seasoned, and sold ready to haul.

Owned and trained by Phyllis Brosz, Shepherd, MT the better business gelding sold to Stewart Huneke, Wilbur, NE for $9,800.

Number three barrel horse was Hip 227 é³?Kai Eldorado?a 95 AQHA chestnut mare x Topline Eldorado and out of a daughter of Lani Kai .

Consigned by Jackie Bischler, Carstairs, Alberta, the quick little mare had qualified for the Alberta High School Rodeo Finals, Canadian High School Rodeo Finals, and Silver State High School Finals in barrels, poles, and goats.

Classic Quarter Horses purchased the mare for $8,000.

Honest broke geldings continue to rock as the top five using geldings averaged $6,040.

Mules made magic as over 100 head of mules invaded Billings Livestock with the top selling mule commanding $4,200.

The average on the top five selling mules came in at $3,060 per head.

Big, strong, gentle-by-nature, and built to last, quarter-drafts came by the dozens - pack, ride, or drive - and depending on quality, color, and experience brought from $800 to $6,800.

Heਵnted wild hogs, came gentle and willing, and Hip 146 鬬billy?a 03 grade paint gelding could cover the country.

Consigned by Stanley Brothers, Hamburg, AR, the extra-large fellow sold to Cord Gasque, Gallatin Gateway, MT for $6,800.

A better loose horse market continued - itࢥen three months of a rock-solid trade - as the top loose horses brought more than one-year ago - the top five averaged $1,865 compared to $1,475 in 2007, top ten averaged $1,510 compared to $1,267 last year, top 20 brought $1,187 versus $1,096. The top 50 averaged $828 with the top 100 bringing $636.

Loose horses are sold with no guarantee, no speech, and no rider.

Inclusive of all divisions - catalog horses, loose, and open consignment - complete sale averages show the top five at $9,520; top 10 at $7,560; Top 20 brought $5,940; Top 50 at $4,360; and the top 100 averaged $3481.

Billings Livestock஥xt sale event is set for April 26 - 27 and will feature the tenth annual �Horse Special?catalog sale and regular monthly horse sale.

Lots of cattle, lots of opportunities to watch the rope horses, including a jackpot team roping open only to sale horses set for Friday, April 25 in the BLS arena.

Rope horses will show again in previews on Saturday and Sunday.

All classes of horses will sell including mares, stallions, finished horses, prospects, and young stock. Cattle will also be available to show the cutting horses and calf horses.

Catalog closing date is April 5, with a supplement printed for later entries.

See it all at www.billingslivestock.com or contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151.