Billings, MT - Keen, colored, and no-nonsense, the hard-working blue collar boys were the business as the demand for solid geldings continued at Billings Livestock Commission’s “Fall Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale October 23 - 24.

Occupying 15 of the top 20 selling positions, geldings had the market cornered - with honest geldings pushing the accelerator as folks came to gather the tried and true kind.

The top five geldings all wore color and a red dun, two grays, a palomino, and a red roan - averaged $6,030 while the top ten geldings brought $5,120 and included a sorrel, grulla, red dun, and two chestnuts.

To achieve the rank of a “top ten gelding”, this better-than-average set of horses came with a job description, had been used in that job capacity, were gentle and solid - and - talented enough to take on a new occupation. Good looks and genetics added to the packages.

It’s called product testing and watching them work and ride speaks volumes about the merchandise and the pre-sale previews for the cutters, ropers, and ride horses allowed the sale horses to show - or not show - their stuff.

With 868 horses offered, the market continues to see an increased call for an older, finished, pretty product - one that will stay that way, be it two days or two months while young, inexperienced, poorly conditioned horses are meeting with an even lessened demand.

Cowboys with jobs for young horses listen up - it’s a buyers market in the young horse division, including two and three year-olds, weanlings, and yearlings.

Horses sold to 16 states and Canada including West Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Utah, North Dakota, California, Washington, South Dakota, Oregon, Nebraska, Idaho, Wyoming, and Texas.

The day’s top selling horses - both geldings - were straight off a days work - a 96 AQHA Red Dun x Cols Lil Pistol and a 98 Grade Gray “Pistol”, came well used and gentle - and - brought $7,000 and $6,750 respectively.

Mares with arena credentials claimed sale positions 3-4-5 and included two cutters and a reiner.

Hip 172 “The Color of Cash” a 91 AQHA Bay Mare sired by Miss N Cash x Dash For Cash had earned over $2,200 in NCHA money and came bred to a son of Like A Diamond for a 2005 foal.

Owned, shown, and offered by Never Sweat Ranch, Hamilton, MT, the producing mare brought $6,500 and sold to Jason Schaper, Clarkston, WA.

She’d never left the hands of the folks that raised her, and Hip 116 “Miss Sun Command” a 2000 AQHA Sorrel Mare x RC Command was a finished reiner ready to head to the shows.

The AQHA Incentive Funded filly was consigned and shown in the preview by Jimmy Brown, Rockford, WA. The quality mare sold for $6,000 to Don Robertson, Shepherd, MT.

Currently in training and showing - and - offered by the breeder - Hip 166 “Classy Bar Clown” a 99 AQHA Sorrel Mare x Clown Solito was raised and consigned by Lois Dehaven, Halliday, ND.

A pretty mare, complete with a show record, brought $5,800 and sold to Marcia Hurd, Laurel, MT.

In the loose horse division, a full sale arena saw 336 head sell with the high selling loose horse bringing $1,275 followed by $1,200. Overall loose horse averages include the top five at $1,090, top ten at $978; top 20 came in at $831; top 50 loose averaged $642, and the top 100 brought $510.

Complete sale averages breakdown as follows - top five averaged $6,410; top ten at $5,795; top 20 at $4,728; top 50 averaged $3,381; with the top 100 horses sold bringing $2,544.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for November 27 and will feature the “Holiday Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale.

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