A grand total of 768 head of horses sold to buyers from California to New Hampshire.

Proving that previews matter, Friday afternoon’s team sorting allowed the sale horses to compete and buyers to take notes, and the 2013 Championship title went to Hip 324 “Coffee” a four-year-old Black John Mule offered by the Prairie Elk Colony, Wolf Point, MT and piloted by Matt Walter .

Rope bulls, tie off, heel calves or cut a cow, the big, black, broke mule brought $7,400 and came gentle and ranch used and sold to Carolyn and John Cruson, Potomac, WA.

Reserve Championship Sorting honors went to Hips 110 “TJ” a 2006 Grade Red Roan gelding owned and shown by Joe Fox, Hysham, MT and Hip 82 “Jrs Jeweled Haida” a 2003 AQHA Chestnut gelding x Haidas Little Pep offered and ridden by Edward Schwartz, Sanford, CO.

Both geldings came solid broke and brought $5,200 and $4,000 respectively.

Find him at the top of the high seller’s list, and Hip 78 “Vandys Yeller Bars” a 2005 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Paul Bunyon and out of Bold Patty Bar came quiet, gentle, and was a true all-around family horse offered by the Double K Ranch, McCook, NE.

A horse of a different color, the chocolate and silver showstopper had been ridden by a seven year old, used to gather pastures, pony colts, and sold to Rozamund Barclay, Auburn, WA for $15,000.

His names says it all and Hip 57 “Smart Super Flash” a 2010 AQHA Bay Roan Gelding x Dry Smart Crocker and out of Super Flash Ann x Lanes Super Cutter was offered by Steve Flint, West Point, UT.

Shown in Utah Reined Cow Horse Association events twice, both times to the pay window, the “three year old that rode like he was ten” had it all going on and showed capably in the sorting and previews.

Fred Lenertz, West Saint Paul, MN purchased the quality colt for $6,000.

Billings Livestock was proud to offer 26 head from Montana Horses, Inc., Kail and Renee Mantle, Three Forks, MT.

The final dispersion of their historic lease and trail horse string offered proven, gentle, recreational horses for all levels, in all colors and sizes.

The unique offering averaged $1,977, with Hip 222 “Moose” a 1997 Grade Brown Gelding topping the charts with a $6,000 price tag selling to John Fort, Lima, MT.

Ridden in kid camps, through Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, this gelding was safe for all levels and at 1200 pounds was a gentle giant.

A fun sale with wide variety of good horses, the sale averages show the top five at $8,460; top ten averaged $7,230; top 20 at $6,292; top 50 averaged $4,587; and the top 100 came in at $3,455.

Loose horses remained steady where the top five prospects averaged $1,430, top ten at $1,135; top 20 brought $912; top 50 $643; and the top 100 averaged $476.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event will be July 27-28.

The annual “Mid-Summer” Catalog Sale – features cutting and cow bred horses – with two full days of horse sales and previews.

All classes of horses will sell, including finished horses and prospects for ranch, roping, arena, cutting, or recreation.

Designed to allow the sellers an opportunity to showcase their consignments and at the same time, giving the buyer an honest, professional opportunity to assess the horses, Friday’s special preview of cutting horses on cattle will begin at 5 p.m. in the BLS Arena.

Saturday’s preview begins at 8:30 a.m. with another look at the cutters on cattle, followed by the saddle and ride horse demonstrations, with calf horses and team roping horses showing at 11 a.m. Catalog Sale Time is 12 Noon each day. Loose horses sell at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning.

300 plus catalog horses are expected with a catalog closing date of Friday, July 5.

Sale Report for May 25-26

Solid broke and user friendly, the better business brand of ranch horses and ponies drove the market at Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale” May 25-26.

Ranch horses had their time to shine in the “Best of the Remuda” Ranch horse competition Friday afternoon where the using horses showcased their  skills in a judged competition.

Buyers from California to Virginia had the opportunity to bid on 856 head of horses, 12 roping steers, and a Zebu.

It was pure pony-palooza in the little horse department as the weekend’s top sale horse was a pony and what a pony - Hip 175 “Star” a 2007 Grade Black mare was the total junior rodeo and ranch package brought to Billings, Montana by Ted and ReAnn Kautzman, Manning, ND.

Run barrels, poles, keyhole, goat tie, or use her on the ranch, the little dynamo brought $15,000 and sold to Cheryl Stern, White Earth, ND.

With 22 ponies offered in the catalog, there was a pony for every level and price point.

RMO Horses, Heber City, UT offered Hip 37 “Trigger” a 2002 Grade Palomino pony gelding that was safe for all ages.

Ridden in 4-H, parades, trail ridden and an honest starter pony, he sold to Bud Fay, Gillette, WY for $4,700.

Hip 64 “Magpie” a 2004 Grade Black & White pony gelding had been ridden on barrels, over jumps, bridges and was handy to do about anything on the ranch.

Consigned by Ross and Chrissy Peterson, Sturgis, SD and shown by nine-year-old Sidney, the ready-to-go pony brought $4,100 and sold to Chris and Latoya Holen, Wolf Point, MT.

Earning top honors in the “Best of the Remuda” Ranch horse competition was Hip 227 piloted by Chad Turner and offered by Turner Performance Horses, Stevensville, MT.

“Redneck Lena” a 2005 AQHA red roan gelding by Sonitas Bar Olena and out of a Doc O’Lena bred dam was attractive, easy going, and a fun ride on the ranch, trails, heading, or barrels.

Purchased by Ricky Brown, Warrantion, VA the 2013 BLS Champion Ranch Horse brought $8,750.

All dressed up in pretty yellow, Hip 63 “JA Sunfox Bandit” a 2008 AQHA Palomino gelding x PC Citisun Cline x Sun Frost was out of a Wilywood daughter.

Fancy, gentle, started heading in the arena, the good gelding had been owned since a baby by consignors Lawrence and Susan Vashus, Lamar, CO.

Anne Brett, Ridgecrest, CA purchased the stunning gelding for $9,500.

He showed well in the preview, and TN Roping Horses, Lawton, OK offered a hauled and won on calf horse and Hip 41 “Smart Tari Cody” a 2001 AQHA Sorrel gelding x Smart Tari Chic x Smart Chic Olena was out of a Copy Cody granddaughter.

The rodeo ready gelding had been hauled to PRCA rodeos and High School Rodeos and brought $7,500 and sold to Deric Severe, Oakley, ID.

Tallying up the entire sale event, strong sale averages include the top five at $9,750; Top ten averaged $8,100; Top 20 brought $6,580; Top 50 averaged $4,792; and the top 100 brought $3,582.

Loose horses remained steady as the top five prospects averaged $1,525; top 10 brought $1,330; top 20 at $1,131; top 50 came in at $774; and the top 100 averaged 4559.

Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale” is set for June 22-23 and will feature “Team Penning/Sorting” horses in addition to a special session of “Buckskins”. All classes and types of horses will sell, from prospects, mares, stallions, to finished horses. Cattle will be available to show the penning, sorting, and cutting horses in addition to rope horses on Saturday morning.

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

Tuned up and ready-to-roll, rope horses put on a show at Billings Livestock’s 15^th annual “April Special Catalog Sale” April 27-28.

Shine they did in the pre-sale rope horse jackpot held outside under sunny skies on a Friday afternoon at the HorsePalace Arena.

Sale weekend kicked off with a roping seminar conducted by PRCA World Champion and 23X NFR qualifier Mike Beers and followed by the roping produced by Dennis Tryan and the Wrangler Team Roping Championships.

The professional jackpot welcomed 160 teams in a two-go-around and finals format roping that put it all out there for the buyers to see.

If you wanted good geldings, prospects, or the finished kind, Billings Livestock had them in volume at the two-day sale event that drew 794 head of horses and 56 roping steers.  There was a horse for every level and all budgets.

First place in the average with 20.12 on 3 earned Hip 229 owned by H Lazy H Horses and Hip 233 owned by Jon Herschberger paychecks of $536/man, Gordy Alderson Trophy bits, Gator Ropes from the The Rope Shop, and BLS Championship Jackets.

An impressive set of horses came to Billings, Montana with red hot sale averages testifying to quality.

The top 20 averaged an all-time April high of $12,427.

Leading the pack in the Rope Horse Session was a one owner, family raised gelding offered by Roger Mack and Jody Wacker, Melstone, MT.

Hip 172 “Bogger Too” a 2000 AQHA Chestnut gelding x Badgers Rodeo Red and out of a Dial Of Fortune daughter was the total package - voted the 2010 Northern Rodeo Association Calf Horse of the Year in 2010, the big, strong, gentle guy had also cashed paychecks heading and heeling.

The Wacker girls had barrel raced on him, used him for ranch chores, and he’d also been breakaway on.

Cashing a fast go check in the BLS jackpot, showing outstanding in the previews, the good gelding brought $22,000 and sold to L-G Land and Cattle, Casper, WY.

The high selling horse of the weekend was offered by Bud Fay, Gillette, WY and Hip 224 “Shiney Darlin” a 2006 AQHA Palomino Mare x Shining Spark and out of Tari Darlin x Taris Catalyst was bred and raised by Carol Rose.

The flawless mare came loaded with credentials including the 2011 PHBA World Champion Junior Working Cowhorse title, NRCHA money earned, and AQHA Open Points on her record.

James Moldenhauer, Velva, ND purchased the stunning mare for $24,000.

Head, heel, ranch, or just ride around, Hip 183 “BCS Wyo Rocket” a 2005 AQHA Bay Roan Gelding x Bubba Roan Cowboy was the deal.

Used in the roping clinic as the demonstration horse, roped on in the jackpot and previews by Mike Beers, and offered for sale by Trent Peterson, Claresholm, Alberta, the gentle, kind gelding sold to Shane and Jaimie Johnson, New Town, ND for $16,000.

Mares with an occupation enjoyed stronger demand as five mares cracked the top 20 sellers listing including Hip 207 “Latigos Poco San” a 2007 AQHA Buckskin Mare x Latigos Luck Two consigned by Clay Shoop, Greeley, CO.

Shown in the jackpot on the heeling side, the stingy mare brought $7,500 and sold to Dawn Thompson, Camas, WA.

A fun sale, loaded with good horses, saw the best April sale averages on record for BLS and included the top five at $19,200; Top ten at $16,000. Top 20 averaged $12,427; Top 50 brought $8,519; and the top 100 averaged $5,962.

Loose horses sold well with the top five prospects bringing $1,325; Top ten at $1,257; Top 20 averaged $1,105, top 50 brought $774 and the top 100 loose averaged $550.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for May 25-26 and will feature the annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale in addition to the “Best of the Remuda” Ranch Gelding competition. Featured in May will be Ranch geldings along with kid’s ponies and horses.

Ranch Horse competition is set for Friday, May 24 at the HorsePalace Arena, Exit 437 on I-90.

Cattle will be available to preview the rope horses and cutting horses.

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 

Sale Report for March 23-24

The gentle, user friendly, ranch, ride, and recreation horses came in abundance as Outfitters, guides, and guest horses were the hot list feature at Billings Livestock Commission‘s “Spring Special Catalog Sale“ March 23-24.

  Easy going, easy to handle, easy to ride, and easy to drive, “Mike and Ike” had been used daily for sleigh rides, carriage rides, trail rides, and used to pack into hunting camp and participated in parades.  The no-nonsense team sold to Duane and Lucille Landols, Onoway , Alberta .

  Team number two, “Double Stuff and Oreo” had spent five years in the RMO outfit and had given countless sleigh rides, wagon rides, and had been used for feeding and parades, too.    The full brothers were a perfect match, pulled even, pulled hard, and had “no quit”.  Clay Nanni, Kimberly , ID purchased the eye-catching pair of geldings.

  The high selling riding horse was really a mule and ride, he did!  Hip 120 “Wapiti” a 2003 Grade Red Dun John Mule was offered by Deb Maage, Hardin , MT , shown in the previews roping, riding, and doing tricks with Brian Amos, and purchased by Tom Williams, Billings , MT.

  Used for all aspects of ranch work, the few-and-far-between-kind of mule had been used in steer roping, hunting camp, and sorting at the stockyards.  He brought $7,700.

  Back to horses, the high selling saddle horse was Hip 206 “Hold That King” a 2001 AQHA Chestnut Gelding consigned by Schmitt Horse Ranch, Holland, IA.

 Sired by Hold That Cow x Holidoc and out of a Continental King granddaughter, the gelding had “been there, done that” and came with his American Ranch Horse Association Register of Merits in All Age Ranch Cutting, Ranch Riding, Ranch Reining, and Ranch Trail, in addition to earning the 2012 ARHA World Champion Title in Youth Trail. 

  Ridden by all ages, the family gelding went home with Roger Sorenson, Ross , ND for $7,500.

 Josie Larson, Farmington, MN had outgrown her pony and offered Hip 104 “Malibu” a 2007 Grade Palomino pony mare at the March event.

  Shown in the previews running barrels and poles, the pony had been on trail rides and was good with a rope, too.  Cliff Dahl, Sidney , MT purchased the pretty, yellow standout for $7,000.

  With a grand total of 681 head of horses offered, a good weekend of good horses saw the top five average $8,080, top ten at $6,930; Top 20 brought $5,600; top 50 at $4,106; and the top 100 averaged $3,172.

  Gaining some ground, the loose horses saw increased demand, especially on the prospects, where the top loose horse of the day commanded $2,500.

  Loose horse averages include the top five at $1,675; top ten at $1,370; top 20 at $1,121; top 50 brought $771; and the top 100 averaged $579.

 Lots of cattle, lots of opportunities to watch the rope horses, including a jackpot team roping open only to sale horses set for Friday, April 26.

  Rope horses will show again in previews on Saturday and Sunday.

 All classes of horses will sell including mares, stallions, finished horses, prospects, and young stock.

  Cattle will also be available to show the cutting horses and calf horses.

  Catalog closing date is April 5, with a supplement printed for later entries.

Sale Report for February 22-23-24

Alot to Talk About

A rocket-buster horse sale weekend saw a hot list of horses, all kinds, all disciplines, flat out rock the market at Billings Livestock’s “February Special Catalog Sale” February 22-23-24.

Loaded with the “better kind“ of finished horses and prospects, a better-than-good selection showed to a full house as over 700 individuals registered to buy at the three-day sale which included an indoor preview of all performance horses.

So how good was it? The sale trumped all previous February sale statistics with a record setting top 100 sale average of $7,813, compared with $6,697 last year, and $5,797 in 2011 - that is a total of $111,000 better on 100 head of horses over one year ago.

Finished horses ruled the roost as horses with documented performance records - rodeo, roping, barrel racing, cutting, or reining - commanded finished horse price.

Wearing the 2012 title of “PRCA Heel Horse of the Year in the Montana Summer Circuit“, Hip 364 “Yellowhair Fellow” a 2006 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Haidas Little Pep and out of a daughter of Shining Spark was everything and more that he was bred to be.

Gentle, kind, perfect conformation, and rodeo ready, the proven heel horse was shown in the preview by Delon Parker, Worden, MT and topped the weekend’s offering with a $37,000 bid selling to Tom McGuire, Wheatland, WY.

As good as gold, Hip 306 “THR Spark Of Gold” a 2004 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Smoke N Sparks and out of a Dry Doc bred mare was offered by Ross and Casey Wagner, Park City, MT.

The hauled and won-on barrel and head horse also ran poles and came quiet, gentle, and safe.

The handsome, proven gelding brought $23,000 and sold to Heather Veld, Brandon, SD.

Krebs Ranch, Gordon, NE offered a nice set of horses including Hip 365 “Bennee Date” a 2005 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Smart Little Lena and out of the $117,000 money earning mare CD Date x CD O’lena.

The NCHA money earning gelding was shown on cattle in the preview by Kenny Platt and had also done duty on the Krebs Ranch as a using horse.

Kathy Markette, Missoula, MT purchased the royally bred gelding for $17,000.

Billings Livestock was proud to welcome NCHA Open Futurity Champion Russ Miller, St. Anthony, ID who offered four head from his program including Hip 408 “Dezi” a 2010 AQHA Sorrel Filly x Desires Little Rex and out of Quanahs Miss N Reno.

The on-track three-year-old brought $12,500 and sold to Alan Chappell, Purcell, OK.

Real rope horse prospects ran in big numbers and included Hip 368 “Hickorys Sweet Dual” a 2008 AQHA Chestnut Gelding by Dual Pep consigned by Scott Murdock, Loveland, CO and purchased by Blake Blatter, Livingston, MT for $14,750, and Hip 416 “MJG Solitary Five” a 2005 AQHA Bay Gelding x Peppys Boy 895 owned and shown by Turner Performance Horses, Stevensville, MT and selling to Shawn Anctil, Bellevue, Alberta for $13,000.

Good horses galore - all in one place, in one weekend, and all for sale- the top five average $21,450; top ten at $17,175; Top 20 brought $13,917; top 50 at $10,293; and the top 100 averaged $7,813.

Loose horses saw a solid market - inspite of the closure of all U.S. plants and the roadblocks that day after day get thrown in the way - BUT - Billings Livestock’s overall market, from top to bottom, saw steady demand.

On the loose the top five averaged $1,570; Top ten at $1,467; Top 20 brought $1,292; Top 50 at $907; and the top 100 averaged $626.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event will be the “Spring Special Catalog Sale” March 23-24 and will feature the annual “Outfitters, Guest, Dude Ranch and Trail Horse” offering in addition to a special session of “Roans Only”. All classes of horses will sell, in addition to a big selection of mules.

An indoor preview of the barrel horses, cutters, saddle horses, and rope horses is scheduled for Friday, March 22 at 3 p.m.

Sale Report for Janaury 26

Those Good Geldings

Super sale Saturday at Billings Livestock welcomed a one-day tally of 617 head of horses, all kinds and classes, for the “Winter Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale January 26.

It was good all the way as a sale savvy crowd saw one good gelding after the next.                  

Geldings continued their grip on the BLS top twenty sellers list where 18 out of  the top 20 were geldings - eight of them grade - and fetching a $3,535 average ticket price.

Grabbing the number one sale position for January was Hip 131 “Rockets Blue Leo” a 2003 AQHA Bay Roan Gelding x Speaks Blue Rocket x Drews Hancock consigned by Schmitt Horse Ranch, Holland , IA.

Big, blue, and gentle, the strong gelding had been used for riding lessons, gathering cattle, and would fit any level of rider.

An honest family horse, the nice guy brought $5,500 and sold to Ed Beyl, Miles City, MT.

Ditto on Hip 151 “Big Blue” a 2005 grade Blue Roan gelding offered by Medicine Bow Outfitters, Lucerne, CO.

“Blue” had been used to guide and lead the pack string, pack elk, pull the wagon, and in his spare time he worked and roped cattle in the feed yard and branding pen.

The solid, hard working horse sold to Charles Venezia, Marstons Mills, MA for $4,500.

They called him “Blue”, too, and Hip 94 was offered by Ryan Olson, St. Onge, SD. Ridden at the stockyards, used to doctor yearlings in the pasture, and started heading in the arena, the 2008 Grade Roan Gelding brought $3,100 and sold to Michael Miller, Fairfield , MT.

A true sale highlight was Hip 101 “Knight Ryder Hancock” a 2011 AQHA Black stallion bred, raised, and offered by Claire and Robert Lee, Dix , NE.

The stunning two year old stallion was sired by Jaybird Hancock and out of a daughter of Tomcat Blue Hancock and sold to Don Meyers, Lolo , MT for $2,700.             

Proof of an improved market and the quality offered is shown in the averages - only a $500 bill separates the top five at $4,880 and top ten at $4,340 and a $1,200 price variance from a top five horse to a top 20 ride at $3,535.  The top 50 horses averaged $2,616 compared to $2,378 last year, and the top 100 brought $1,932 versus $1,790 in January 2012.

Loose horse market was a buzz and the prospects pushed the market as the top five averaged $1,220; top ten at $1,057; top 20 brought $835; top 50 averaged $616; and top 100 at $499.

The annual “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” held each January attracted all kinds of treasures and trinkets selling in two sale sessions.                                                               

Next on the BLS Sale line up is Billings Livestock’s “February Special Catalog Sale” featuring an expanded three-day sale format February 22-23-24.

Contact Billings Livestock Commission Horse Sales for more information at 406-245-4151 or www.billingslivestock.com