Billings, MT - Performance packages - the kind with authenticated earnings - from roping, reining, cutting to working cowhorse - were the products of preference at Billings Livestock Commission’s “Mid-Summer Special Catalog Sale” July 24 - 25.

Cadillac cowhorses including honest working geldings, cutting horses, and arena rope horses stole the show - top selling cutting horse brought $14,800; High selling competition rope horse commanded $10,750; Top selling honest saddle horse gelding brought $10,500.

Every horse in the top five packed a reputable record - they won it themselves and three additionally produced it in their offspring - including NCHA (National Cutting Horse Association) earnings, NRHA (National Reining Horse Association) money, AQHA point and ROM earners, to PRCA rodeo winnings.

With 824 head of horses offered during the two-day sale binge, a steady, solid demand for sharp, honest using geldings continued while the buys of the sale were in the younger, plainer, less experienced horses.

A mighty market was reflected in the low 9% “pass out” or “no sale” percentage of the two-day horse offering.

With 412 individuals registered to buy, horses sold to 24 states and 2 Canadian provinces - NY, VA, PA, MN, CA, AZ, AR, IA, IL, GA, UT, MN, CO, ID, SD, WA, NE, NM, KS, ND, WY, TX, MT, NV, Alberta and Sask.

Hauled and shown up to sale day, Hip 157 “Watermelon Crawl Cee” a 95 AQHA Buckskin gelding sired by Peppys Boy 895 and out of a Maxi Lena daughter, came with $14,000 in NCHA earnings.

Consigned by Roy Gebhardt, Hyattville, WY, the solid show gelding was previewed by James Johnson, Casper, WY and sold to William Stein, Turbotville, PA for $14,800.

An impressive selection of rope horses and rope horse prospects fueled the market with Hip 107 “Bar Billie Poco” an 89 AQHA Bay gelding offered by Venture Farms, Ellensburg, WA claiming top rope horse honors.

The gelded son of Boon Bars Best was a hauled and won head, heel, and calf horse, with wins at the USTRC, ACTRA, NIRA, Pro West, and NHSRA levels.

Steamboat Ranch, Roberts, MT purchased the ultra-rope horse for $10,750.

Proving that it’s ability over pedigree in the rope horse pen, two additional show stopping rope horses - both grade - included Hip 138 “Hammer” a 95 grade black gelding offered by Stace and Kristi Swan, Swift Current, Alberta bringing $7,000 and Hip 333 “Spinner” a 94 Grade sorrel mare consigned by Troy Fischer, Mayerthorpe, Alberta bringing $6,200.

Overall sale averages summarized the weekend’s quality offerings with the top five averaging $12,010; top ten $10,630; top 20 brought $8,780; top 50 averaged $6,140, while the top 100 came in at $4,340.

They played to a full sale arena and a flat runaway in the loose horse division saw Billings Livestock continue to lead the nation in the loose horse trade - the top selling horse on the loose brought $2,100, top five averaged $1,770, top 20 brought $1,305, while the top 100 selling “as is, where is”, commanded $778.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event includes their annual ““August Catalog Sale”, and “Montana Miniature and Pony Sale” August 28-29.

An open barrel race with $500 added will kick off the weekend’s activities on Friday morning, August 27 in the BLS Arena.

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