With buyers on the seats from 18 states and Canada, a packed house played host to 551 head of horses at the one-day sale event with quality - in all divisions - driving the market.

Specifically in the loose horse division, the top selling horse - on the loose - brought $1,550 - with the top five averaging $1,375, the top ten at $1,160, and the top twenty horses that sold loose - that is 10% of the days offering - averaging $962.

"Holiday Special Catalog Sale" event welcomed 305 head of cataloged stock where young, cow-bred, stallions with cutting-edge pedigrees - powered by major promotion - dominated the top three sale positions.

The top-gun sons of Peptoboonsmal, Tari’s Catalyst, and Shorty Lena - that were out of daughters of Dry Doc, Peponita, and Doc Quixote - claimed the top spots.

"Tums" took top honors as the day’s top sale horse bringing a final bid of $13,500. The 98 AQHA son of Peptoboonsmal - ranked the number one Freshman Sire for 2001 - was out of Dry Docs Red Ruby x Dry Doc.

The colt with the catchy-name came consigned by T.R. Green, Ruidoso Downs, NM and was purchased by Rimrock Livestock, Shawmut, MT.

They rode him around with a string and the started-in-reining-training show-stopping stallion "Cajun By Tari" was sired by AQHA World Champion and earner of $328,000 in NCHA money - Tari’s Catalyst - and out of Cajun Rey x Peponita.

Consigned by Don Denman, Dennis, TX, the good-to-get-along with stallion went home with Harvey Lewis, Livingston, MT for $10,000.

"Shortys J Quixote" a 97 AQHA Bay stallion x Shorty Lena - the producer of over $4 million in money earners - and out of his number-one cross - a daughter of Doc Quixote - brought a final bid of $6,200.

Consigned by Bill Richardson, Crowded Six Ranch, Tyler, TX, the dandy four-year-old stallion sold to Steve Hanson, Billings, MT.

Geldings continued to be the hottest brand going, with good geldings keeping the heat on with very strong demand for the tried and true kind.

The top five geldings alone averaged $4,930, with the top ten geldings bringing $4,310.

To acheive 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 solid and talented enough to take on a new occupation, and had eye-appeal and genetics to back it all up.

A solid sale, from start to finish, the overall sale averages breakdown as follows - top five came in at $8,240; top ten at $6,710; top 20 at $5,310; top 50 averaged $3,678; with the top 100 horses sold bringing $2,658.

Our next sale event at Billings Livestock Horse Sales is set for December 29 and will include the "New Year’s Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale.

Billings Livestock Horse Sales is proud of our western heritage and tradition - in honor of our Montana rodeo cowboys, special guests (at press time) at the December 29 Horse Sale event include: World Champion Bareback rider and 13 times NFR qualifier, Deb Greenough; 8 times NFR Bull riding qualifier and founding member of the PBR, Clint Branger; and 5 times NFR qualifer and two-time Calgary $50,000 winner, Scott Breding.

Billings Livestock invites you to an informal meet and greet at 11 a.m. prior to the sale.

For more information, 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