SALE REPORT For August 23-24

Celebrated programs packed with years of development, promotion, and fine tuning stacked the books at Billings Livestock Commission’s “August Catalog Sale” August 23-24.

The exceptional horse sale weekend saw a grand total of 1,005 head of horses and came headlined by 40 head consigned by Atwood Ranches, Orland, CA, including daughters of High Brow Cat, Peptoboonsmal, Smart Little Lena, Powder River Playboy and the famous sire “I’ll Be Smart”.

Featuring speed bred and performance horses, the “August Catalog Sale” kicked off with an NBHA/Open barrel race Friday afternoon while Sunday’s “Montana Miniature and Pony” sale wrapped up the sale weekend.

Top guns showed their stuff each day in the pre-sale preview, including the saddle horses, cutting and rope horses.

Toting the four-star genetics of his famous family - Hip 171 "I'll Be Smart"- a 1989 AQHA Bay Stallion sired by Doc O’Lena and out of Smart Peppy - a full brother to Smart Little Lena and Smart Peppy Doc - had earnings of $77,740 and offspring earnings of $1,383,643 and growing.

The sire of 153 money earners with average earnings of $9,043 was offered by Atwood Quarter Horses, Inc, Orland, CA and purchased by Teresa Martin and Ridley Gibson on behalf of Santa Rosa Stud, Vernon, TX for $52,000;

Reserve sale honors went to Hip 162 "Four Six Jess" a 2001 AQHA Sorrel Stallion sired by Mr Jess Perry and out of the $535,000 money winning mare Dashing Folly x Fist Down Dash came consigned by Lazy VC Kelly Ranch, Inc, Faith, SD and purchased for $34,000 by Troy Yokley, Oklahoma City, OK.

A purple-pedigreed set of race-bred mares were presented by Lazy VC Kelly Ranch, Inc, and included Register of Merit daughters of Mr. Eye Opener, Fishers Dash, Special Leader, Strawflyin Buds, and Sixarun.

The running-bred mares - ROM and others - averaged $4,373.

High selling mare of the weekend was consigned by Atwood Quarter Horses, Orland, CA and Hip 173 “Hola Gato” a 2004 AQHA Palomino mare by High Brow Cat and out of the $117,000 money earning mare – CD Date x CD O’lena was a knock out.

The extra pretty mare brought $30,000 and sold to Vintage Oaks Ranch, Napa, CA.

The number one Breeder of AQHA Performance Horses for the past 15 Years, Carol Rose, Gainesville, TX offered 11 head from her world renowned program including Hip 83 “Legally a Blonde” a 2006 AQHA Palomino mare x Shiners Lena Doc and out of Betty Dun It x Hollywood Dun It.

Started for reining or working cowhorse, the special mare brought $15,500 and sold to Larry and Gayleen Smith, Stetler, Alberta, Canada.

Head or heel, he’s the man for the job, and Hip 310 “Admiral” a 2000 grade sorrel gelding offered by Turner Performance Horses, Victor, MT showed outstanding in the rope horse previews.

Duncan and Pat Carey, Vermillion, Alberta, purchased the solid, all-around gelding for $6,800.

Quality was prevalent and better horses pushed the market, breaking all previous August sale records at Billings Livestock.

Proof of the quality represented in the August offering is reflected in the sale averages where the top five averaged: $31,400; top ten brought $23,420; top 20 averaged $17,205; top 50 brought: $11,125. And the top 100 figured at $7,504.

News in the loose trade showed a steady to better market as 446 head sold in that division where the day’s top selling prospect brought $2,200.

Loose averages include the top five at $1,390; top 10 at $1,187; top 20 brought $985; top 50 averaged $722; and the top 100 came in at $584 per head.

Billings Livestock’s next event is September 26-28 and features the annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale and fall “Team Roping” sale, in addition to our 10^th anniversary celebration.

A team roping jackpot on sale horses is scheduled for Friday, September 26 along with previews for the cutters, saddle horses, goat tying horses, team roping and calf horses again on Saturday morning.