Billings, MT - From the big, broke riding around ones to the little mini’s, Billings Livestock Commission’s “August Catalog Sale” offered a “one-stop shopping” opportunity August 28 - 29.

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

Nearly 1,000 head of horses came through the gates of Billings Livestock - officially 967 head - meeting with a strong August market as 462 buyers registered for the sale event.

Customers from 18 states and Canada made the trip to buy under the Big Sky including California, Indiana, Texas, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Pass out or “no-sale” percentage was 11%.

The weekend’s top two selling horses were both one-owner deals, coming home raised, ridden, and consigned by the breeders.

Wearing the Matt Dillon buckskin color and carrying famous genetics - Hip 142 “Flying Hearts Tuffy” a 2002 AQHA stallion x Sunfrost and out of a daughter of Tuff Time Peppy, ran off with the day’s top seller’s honors.

Raised and shown by Mike Hollibaugh, Flying Heart Ranch, Chadron, NE, the stallion was lightly started with 20 rides. Frank Krukow, Sheffield, IA purchased the pretty package for $14,500.

Sale horses competed in the Friday barrel race where 48 horses entered the open division of the NBHA sanctioned event.

Running the fastest time - by nearly a tenth of a second - Hip 77 “Laces N Te” a 96 AQHA Sorrel mare raised and ridden by Jon Ottun, Billings, MT.

The Ottun’s futuritied the mare in 2001 winning nearly $6,000, including paychecks at Belle Fourche Futurity, Barrel of Gold Futurity, and Prairie Gold Stallion Stakes in Canada.

By the Ottun’s stallion Last Little Te x Triple Te and out of a Raging Bull daughter, the special mare brought $7,750 and sold to Lee Caldwell, Lehi, UT.

Big and honest, been there and done that, the day’s top selling gelding Hip 156 “Ismays Beau Decka” a 95 AQHA Bay x Two Eyed Beau Hunk was also a finished and hauled head and heel horse.

They’d owned him since a weanling and Burton and Sherry Farley, Billings, MT used him on the ranch dragging calves, elk hunting, on the racetrack as a pony horse, and on wagon trains.

Dudley Shy, Billings, MT purchased the gentle, do everything fella for $6,500.

The gather continues on the good geldings as the top five averaged $5,000.

A screaming loose horse trade saw the top fifty average $1,050 - a new high for the BLS record books.

With 449 head presented “as is, where is, how is”, the top loose horse brought $2,300 with whopping averages including the top five bumping the $2,000 mark at $1,970, top 20 at $1,427, and the top 100 brought $839.

Sunday’s annual “Montana Miniature and Pony Sale” featured 78 head in a special session where the top pony brought $3,000 and the top miniature demanded $1,100.

Hip 418 “Sassy” a 90 grade pony mare consigned by Mike and Judy McInerney, Belle Fourche, SD had been run on barrels and poles, shown in halter, ridden in parades, and jumped in competition.

The cute, well made pony mare sold to Melinda Tillett, Lovell, WY.

The top five ponies averaged $1,980.

Offered by R and R Miniatures, Ranchester, WY, Hip 448 a 2004 AMHR Appaloosa mare x Knights Stars Flashback sold to Jimmy McKay, Frenchtown, MT for $1,000.

The weekend’s complete sale averages include the top five bringing $7,710; top 10 averaged $6,020; Top 20 at $4,725; The top 50 came in at $3,418, while the top 100 head of horses sold brought $2,603.

Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale is next on the BLS Sale agenda September 25 - 26.

Featuring “Rope Horses” and a special session of John Scott Ranch bred and branded horses.

All classes of horses will sell including mares, stallions, finished horses, prospects, and young stock. Cattle will be available to show the cutting horses, calf horses, and rope horses. Catalog deadline is September 5, with a supplement printed for later entries.

A jackpot on the rope horses is set for 1 p.m. Friday, September 24. Watch the sale horses under competition circumstances!

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