SALE REPORT FOR May 24-25

Cowboy Merchandise

Dressed up and dressed down, they came in all colors, kinds, and sizes, and the working-class geldings had it going on at Billings Livestock’s “Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale” May 24-25.

The rip-roaring gelding supershow featured the annual “Best of the Remuda” ranch horse competition where 55 head of using horses auditioned to a full house at the HorsePalace Arena Friday afternoon.

One brand, one ranch, one program, just call them the “goods” - Billings Livestock was proud to welcome the AQHA Remuda of the Year, “S Ranches”, John R. Scott and Family, Billings, MT and Miles, TX.

S Ranch offered seven head of prime working ranch geldings - direct from the branding pasture to Billings Livestock - all packing the respected “S” brand - and the ready-to-work rides averaged $6,571.

Buyers numbered 485 and hailed from Florida to California.

A weekend total of 877 head of horses came to Billings with 75 “no sales” or pass outs - computing to a 91.5 completed sales percentage.

He came sired by Frenchman’s Guy - the nation’s #4 leading sire of barrel horses - all ages, all divisions - and Hip 184 “Frenchman’s Nino” a 2001 AQHA Gray Gelding was a money earning 1-D, 2-D barrel horse offered by Justin Swires, Tonopah, AZ.

Also started roping in the arena, the extra-nice gray gelding brought $24,000 and moved north with W7 Running Horses, British Columbia.

Daughters of High Brow Cat - Equist’s #1 leading sire of cutting horses for 2007 - and Peptoboonsmal - the #4 leading sire - claimed top seller spots two, three, and four - commanding an average sale price of $18,333.

Offered by Black Rock Ranch, Harrison, ID, Hip 204 “Peptos Barbie” a 97 AQHA red roan daughter of Peptoboonsmal and out of a daughter of Smart Little Lena sold with a ripping palomino filly at side by Black Rock’s sire, “Shiners Diamond Sun”.

Jan Moles, New Ulm, TX purchased the solid, pretty mare and baby for $18,000.

He won the buckle and top ranch horse sale honors, too, and Hip 19 “Cash’s Ranger” a 2002 AQHA Sorrel gelding by Cash N Pep was the complete package - rein, cut, ranch, or rope - this guy is the business.

Consigned by Robin Medley, Kamiah, ID, the “anyone can ride” kind of gelding brought $13,000 selling to Jerry and Lorraine Robinette, Helena, MT.

“Best of the Remuda” ranch geldings averaged $9.120 on the top five and $7,960 on the top ten.

BLS’s horse market showed overall strength on the good ones from the first horse to the last - averages reflect a substantial increase over 2007 figures,

Top five averaged $18,400 compared to $15,700 last year - a $2,700 per head gain; top 10 brought $14,025 versus $11,815 in 2007 - that‘s $2,220 per head better; top 20 came in at $10,742 against $9,105 one year ago; top 50 brought $7,428 compared to $6,530 - that’s a $898 per head increase on 50 head over 2007 - and the top 100 rang the bell at $5,288 versus $4,918 last year.

Switching divisions, a rapid fire loose horse market gained ground over last month, and bettered even one year ago when one U.S. Plant remained open.

Despite the national pressure and press, loose horses continue to hold their own as shown in the sale averages - top five brought $1,620 compared to $1,530 in 2007; Top ten averaged $1,430 versus $1,405 last year; top 20 at $1,221 and $1,230 one year ago; top 50 brought $926 and $979 last year; top 100 loose averaged $687 this year compared to $709 in 2007.

The “Summer Special Catalog Sale” will headline Saturday and Sunday‘s events, June 28 - 29 and will feature “Team Penning” horses and a special session of “Buckskins“. All classes and types of horses will sell including rope horses, cutters, reiners, prospects, mares, stallions, and finished arena and using horses.

An open, draw-pot team penning is set for Friday, June 27 at 3 p.m. with one horse in each team being a sale horse.

Cattle will be available to show the cutting horses and rope horses beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Ride horse previews will follow.

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