"Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale"  and our annual Fall Rope Horse Sale

Billings, MT - Know-it-all geldings complimented a hit-parade of the horse industry’s genetic superstars at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s annual "Cow Country Classic" Catalog sale event September 28 - 29.

An incredible market was fueled by quality consignments and 602 buyers from 22 states and Canada, pushing the final sale total on the weekend’s top 100 horses over the one-half million dollar mark - the top 100 horses sold averaged $5,057.

They watched them in the dirt at Billings Livestock and rope horses were the rage with a "show and tell" rope horse jackpot - open only to sale horses - on Friday afternoon. With 66 teams entered, buyers and sellers alike watched the rope horses under competition circumstances.

The two-day sale rampage offered a final tally of 925 head of horses- all classes, kinds, and quality - brought to Big Sky Country by consignors from 18 western states and Canada.

Of the top seven horses sold, six were mares, one a stallion - all seven sired by industry leaders in performance events - Freckles Playboy, Smart Chic Olena, Doc Quixote, Miss N Cash, Dual Pep, and SR Hallmark.

Three horses rang the bell at $18,000, sharing the top sale horse honors for September.

Two of the top three horses were consigned by Pauli, OK breeder, trainer, and cowboy - Pat Fitzgerald, owner of Smart Mate and the late Doc Quixote.

Sired by Mr. Fitzgerald’s industry impacting sire Doc Quixote - "Zadie Quixote" a 95 AQHA Bay mare was out of a daughter of Black Gold Zan. The extra-nice mare sold in foal to Smart Mate.

"Tick Tackatoo" a 95 AQHA sorrel mare was also sired by an industry impacting sire - Freckles Playboy. The young mare was out of a daughter of Doc O’Lena and also sold in foal to Smart Mate.

Both quality mares were purchased by Wagonhound Land and Livestock, Douglas, WY.

A combination of two "million-dollar sires" produced "Chics Dun It" a 2000 model AQHA Buckskin stallion sired by Jim Babcock’s Smart Chic Olena and out of a daughter of Tim McQuay’s Hollywood Dun It.

The two-year-old with a great start and even greater genetics was consigned by John Conely, Layton, UT and sold for $18,000 to Open Spear Ranch, Melville, MT.

In the gelding department, tried and true horses were the talk of the town, with the "take- you-to-the-pay-window-now" kind in keen demand.

From roping, cutting, or reining, the geldings with the goods came packing their own records in the performance arena.

Performance-proven geldings averaged $9,360 on the top five, and $7,545 on the top ten.

General ranch and ride geldings brought from $1,200 to $4,000 depending on education and experience, eye-appeal and pedigree.

An absolute explosive loose horse trade kept folks on the seats Sunday, where records were shattered and America’s loose horse trade grabbed a gear - the top loose horse brought $2,200, while the top five averaged $1,700, and the top 50 head of horses - sold loose - as is, where is - brought $901. The top 100 head - over 33% of the loose horses offered - averaged $633.

The entire sale averages set records at BLS, with the five averaging $17,000, top ten brought $15,050, top twenty came in at $11,230, top 50 averaged $7,209, and the top 100 head of horses sold - nearly 10% of the days offering - averaged $5,057.

Strength of the market is reflected in the no sale, or pass out percentage - a slim 13%.

Weanlings sold from a high of $4,000 - a Gene Escott, Faith, SD consignment - a 2002 Palomino filly by GE Frosty Drift and out of a Frenchmans Guy daughter, to a median price of $567 a head.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for October 26. The "Fall Special" Catalog Sale features "Performance Horses" and will offer all classes of horses, including finished horses, prospects, mares, stallions, geldings, and young stock.

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