Billings, MT - Cowbred came to cowtown - with progressive, genetic packages from promoted and proven programs pushing the market at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s “Mid-Summer Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale July 26 - 27.

True market strength was evidenced by the sale average of $3,467 per head on the top 100 selling horses  - a whopping $456 per head increase over July 2002.

With a total of 727 head of horses offered during the two-day sale event, and a 15% no-sale or “pass-out” percentage overall, all sale averages - from the top five to the top 100 - reflected a substantial boost from last year’s figures.

Cutters were the feature, and contemporary cowhorse breeding was the business as mares and stallions claimed nine out of the top ten selling positions - with stud horses grabbing the top two.

Horses scattered to 18 states, with a steady, solid demand for sharp, honest using horses continuing - while - it’s all about supply and demand - and the supply is ample while the demand is limited - for the younger, plainer, less experienced horses who were again the buy of the weekend.

Sons and daughters of Freckles Playboy, Peppy San Badger, Playgun, Haidas Little Pep, and three head by Doc’s Hickory - graced the top-end of the market where the top ten averaged $9,825.

His mother is a daughter of Doc Bar and his sire is Freckles Playboy - the $20 million dollar producer of NCHA money earners, $100,000 in the NRHA, $155,000 in NRCHA, and 6,239 AQHA points, and - Hip 189 “Peppy Belles Player” a 91 AQHA Sorrel stallion was himself an NCHA money earner and producer.

Shown on cattle in both cutting previews and offered by Rhett Searle, Vernal, UT, the extra-nice sire and show horse brought a final bid of $22,000 and sold to Neal Livermont, Interior, SD.

This guy‘s dam is an NCHA futurity champion - Millie Montana - and his sire the NCHA Reserve Champion - Haidas Little Pep - and Hip 127 “Peppys Intrepid” a 94 AQHA Sorrel stallion was bred to be special.

Consigned by Ronald Wheeler, Idaho Falls, ID and previewed by Mike Gianinni, Blackfoot, ID, the pretty boy sold to Bernard Lauing, Blunt, SD for $11,500.

Offered by the man who raised her and owns her AQHA World Champion sire, Hip 122 “Si Olena Maria” a 98 AQHA Sorrel Mare x Si Olena and out of a Little Peppy daughter, was a stand-up mare brought to town by Lowell DenBesten, Platte, SD.

The cover girl deluxe brought $10,500 and moved to Jasper, Arkansas with Collin Campbell.

Ranch and using geldings made up the bulk of the weekend’s sale offerings, with demand strong on the finished, honest kind made in the west everyday.

A horse for every trade, from common to spectacular, pricing on the cow horse geldings was dependent on pedigree, quality, occupation, and honesty, ranging from $1,200 to $7,500.

A hot to trot loose horse trade played to a full sale arena, and again, saw Billings Livestock set the pace for the nation with the top selling loose horse bringing $2,000, $1,550, and $1,325.

Loose horse sale averages include the top five at $1,470, top ten $1,185; and the top 50 horses on the loose averaged $777, while the top 100 head purchased “as is, where is, how is“ brought $615.

Overall sale averages summarized the weekend’s quality offerings with the top five averaging $12,500; top ten $9,825; top 20 brought $7,235; top 50 averaged $4,811, while the top 100 came in at $3,467.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event includes their annual “August Catalog Sale”, and “Montana Miniature and Pony Sale” in a three-day sale blitz set for August 22-23-24.

WPRA and NBHA approved barrel race will kick off the weekend’s activities on Friday morning, August 22 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