SALE REPORT NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Good ‘N Gentle
Tried and true geldings made the market at Billings Livestock’s “Holiday Special Catalog Sale” November 28.
Billings Livestock’s final sale of 2015 hosted 428 head of horses.
The day’s top sale horse was offered by Brian McCarty, Sheridan, WY and Hip 13 “Sonny Fleetline” a 2006 AQHA Red Roan Gelding by Bold Sonny Dee had drug hundreds of calves to the fire and had been used for every aspect of ranch workSALE REPORT NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Good ‘N Gentle
Tried and true geldings made the market at Billings Livestock’s “Holiday Special Catalog Sale” November 28.
Billings Livestock’s final sale of 2015 hosted 428 head of horses.
The day’s top sale horse was offered by Brian McCarty, Sheridan, WY and Hip 13 “Sonny Fleetline” a 2006 AQHA Red Roan Gelding by Bold Sonny Dee had drug hundreds of calves to the fire and had been used for every aspect of ranch work.
The attractive gelding showed outstanding in the roping preview, came gentle and stayed that way, had been ridden in the mountains and sold to Ed Brainard, Belgrade, MT for $14,000.
Reserve sale honors went to Hip 87 “Tecs Chex” a 2008 AQHA Bay Gelding x ER Hot Chex x Nu Chex To Cash offered by J & Horse Ranch, Preston, MN.
With NRHA earnings, the handsome gelding came extremely broke, started on the heelomatic, patterned on the barrels, and was ready to go any direction.
Jason Furnival, Casper, WY purchased the quality gelding for $10,700.
Talented and cute, Hip 85 “Mo Mo Cat” a 2013 AQHA Sorrel Stallion by Hydrive Cat and out of a daughter of Smart Chic Olena was consigned and shown on cattle by Scott Hulme, Arimo, ID.
Ranch ridden, the well bred cutting and cowhorse prospect brought $9,000 and sold to Lori Crowell, Big Timber, MT
Nice, nice and drove the best, Hips 79 and 79X “Snuff and Tuff” a seven and eight year old team of draft cross blue roan geldings that had been used to disc the arena, drag meadows, in addition to being broke to ride and pack.
Driven all over Billings Livestock, the team was consigned and shown by Jeff and Christina Tift, Banner, WY and brought $9,000 selling to Rockin J Ranch, Philipsburg, MT.
Rock solid from beginning to end, the top five averaged $10,240, top ten at $8,525, top 20 borught $6.657; top 50 averaged $4,409, and the top 100 came in at $3,115.
Loose horses were again driven by the prospects as the top five averaged $1,575, top ten at $1,347, top 20 at $1,151, top 50 averaged $869, and the top 100 brought $683.
Get set for one big day of horses, tack, and more horses on Saturday, January 23 as Billings Livestock kicks off the New Year with the “Winter Special Catalog Horse Sale” and annual “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” offering used and collectible tack.
See it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT OCTOBER 24, 2015
An Upward Trend
Strong demand continued for accredited performance horses and top-shelf ranch geldings at Billings Livestock Commission’s “Fall Special Catalog Sale” October 24.
With a one-day total of 611 head of horses, the top twenty averaged $7,740 and included four grade geldings and a listing of registered horses sired by industry leaders including Smooth As A Cat, Thomas E Hughes, Woodbridge, and Frenchman’s Guy.
Hip 29 “Red Neck” a 2007 Grade Red Roan gelding offered by McNabb Livestock, Cody, WY earned top sale honors with a final sale price of $20,000.
Quiet, kind, and gentle, the attractive gentleman had been ranch raised and ridden, had seen miles of trailing of cattle, used in horsemanship clinics and sold to Janet Lange, Wentzville, MO,.
Sired by NCHA Horse of The Year “Smooth As A Cat” and totally on her game, Hip 137 “Cats Missin Jewel” a 2008 AQHA Sorrel Mare was out of the $89,000 money earning mare My Jewels Missin by Lenas Jewels Bars.
Offered by Tania Ugrin-Capabianca, Red Bluff, CA, and shown in the cutting previews by Will Nuttall, the solid, flashy, ready-to-go-show mare sold to Sheana Rambauer, Hamilton, MT for $17,200.
Hip 211 “Frank Dun It” a 2007 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Freeway Frank and out of a Hollywood Dun It mare, came with a solid resume that included NRHA earnings, Ranch Pleasure accolades, and gave the Iowa State Cowgirl her winning competition run.
Owned by the Westfork Ranch, Sheffield, IA, the special gelding brought $11,000.
Originally bred by Carol Rose and sold at Billings Livestock as a weanling, Hip 164 “Soula Hula” a 2009 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Soula Jule Star and out of a Genuine Doc daughter, was offered by Dave Collins, Melstone, MT.
As pretty as they come and ridden miles upon miles of big, Montana ranch country, the superstar ranch hand brought $10,500.
North Country Quarter Horses, Fred, Linda, and Grace Finke, Big Sandy, MT consigned 21 head of weanlings from their program with Hip 184 “LF Top Dog” a 2015 AQHA Gray Stallion x Kay Cross Cajun x Frenchmans Guy and out of a Dash For Perks dam topping the offering with a final bid of $3,600.
The quality set of weanlings averaged $1,400.
Overall sale averages include the top five at $13,860, top ten brought $10,520, top 20 at $7,740, top 50 at $5,236, and the top 100 averaged $3,836.
Loose horses felt the seasonal shift as supply beat demand, however, prospects continued their hot streak as the top five loose averaged $2,300; top ten at $1,920; top 20 brought $1,608; top 50 at $1,126; and the top 100 averaged $762.
Billings Livestock's next sale event is set for November 28 and will include an indoor preview of cutters, ride horses, and rope horses on Friday, November 27 at the HorsePalace Arena.
As part of the Holiday Sale weekend, a $2,000 added money barrel racing and $2,000 added money team roping exclusively for Billings Livestock customers “R Customers Rock” will kick off Friday’s events.
For more information, to consign or request a catalog, contact Billings Livestock Commission Horse Sales at 406-855-1947or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT SEPTEMBER 25, 26 & 27, 2015
Talent-To-Go
With 21 horses bringing $10,000 or better, Billings Livestock’s “Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale” September 25-27 set new records and offered a “one-stop” shop for performance horses, prospects, and good geldings.
The feature was “Rope Horses” and the sale stats include a weekend total of 892 head of horses, 77 pass outs or no sales, 453 registered buyers with 267 actually purchasing horses, 114 buying two or more head, and horses selling to 23 states and four Canadian provinces.
The top five averaged $18,300 and included three standout rope horses, a gelding by Colonels Smoking Gun, and a seasoned cutting horse mare by High Brow Hickory.
BLS was proud to welcome PRCA World Champion Team Roper, Tee Woolman, Llano, TX who conducted a well attended, informative, roping seminar prior to the sale horse jackpot Friday afternoon at the HorsePalace arena.
The professional roping jackpot followed and saw 129 teams compete in a two-go-around and finals format where Hip 257 “Bueno Azure Te Rebel” consigned by Michael and Dana Smith, Raymond, Alberta and ridden by Jason Thorstenson on the head side, paired with Hip 268 “Snikle Fritz Peppy” offered by Siggins Horse Co., Coolidge, AZ and ridden by Lane Siggins on the heel side, laid down three steers in 22.75, took home first place paychecks, Gordy Alderson Trophy Bits, and Ropes from Rocky Mountain Rope Co. The horses brought $4,200 and $6,700 respectively.
There was a horse for every budget and skill level, and good horses saw good demand as the top 100 horses averaged $7,613, and the 12 rope horses representing the top six in the jackpot, averaged $5,664.
Stamped with quality, Hip 175 “One Gun Shiner” a 2009 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Colonels Smoking Gun and out of a daughter of Shining Spark took home top sale honors with a $25,000 sale price.
Offered by Westfork Ranch, Sheffield, IA, the NRHA money earner was kind, honest, and seasoned, had been shown right up to sale day, and was purchased by Brianne Hawks, Norco, CA.
Bringing $20,000, reserve sale honors to Hip 173 “Dry Golden Gun” a 2006 AQHA Buckskin Gelding x PG Golden Gun x Playgun and out of a Johnny Dry bred mother.
Consigned by Schmitt Horse Ranch, the gelding had been hauled on the head side, ridden on the trails and ranch used, as well.
The “ready-made” kind - arena horses to ranch horses to trail horses - carry the clout as buyers continue their quest for a finished product.
NFR Qualifier Ty Erickson, Helena, MT offered Hip 124 “Map Flying Bar Drift” a 2002 AQHA Bay Gelding x Tallywood Do It x Tally Man that had been hauled heading, heeling, and hazing.
With a couple of PRCA Circuit Finals qualifications on his resume, the seasoned gelding brought $13,200 and sold to Terry and Dawn Powlesland, Laurel, MT.
Rope horses claimed 15 positions in the BLS Top Twenty Seller’s List, including four head offered by National Finals Rodeo qualifiers.
Overall, the top ten averaged $15,545; Top 20 at $13,097; Top 50 brought $9,948; and the top 100 averaged $7,613.
The fire was lit on the loose trade as the top loose horse of the day gathered $2,050 and a whopping prospect trade pushed the averages to $1,900 on the top five; Top ten at $1,642; To 20 brought $1,387; Top 50 at $1,033; and top 100 averaged $823.
Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for October 24 and will feature Performance Horses. A complete indoor preview of barrel horses, cutters, saddle/ride/reiners, and rope horses is set for Friday, October 23 at 3 p.m. .
Read all about it at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT AUGUST 22, 2015
On Their Game
Seasoned performance veterans and fashionably pedigreed young competitors were the products in demand August 22 at Billings Livestock’s “August Catalog Sale Event”.
Performance horses - with a push on barrel and speed bred horses - flavored the weekend’s offering where the top five selling horses averaged $13,200 - and - included a grade gelding, a Frenchman’s Guy, High Brow CD, and a hauled and won on barrel horse.
Friday night’s UBRC Showdown barrel race in the BLS Arena rocked with 76 runs including sale horses and welcomed reigning World Champion Barrel Racer, Fallon Taylor.
Two horses claimed the high seller’s position with a $15,500 sales price, and included Hip 78 “Squirt” a 2006 Grade Bay Gelding consigned by three-year-old Jackson Langdeau, Rapid City, SD and Hip 156 “Wild Wanda 409” a 2009 AQHA Sorrel Mare by Wild Thing DNA offered by Barry and Michelle Barnes, Lewiston, ID.
Hip 78 “Squirt” was a very gentle kid’s ranch horse and had been Jackson’s personal ranch gelding and hauled to many playdays. Broke enough for adults to get work done on and gentle enough for kids, the quiet gentleman had also been breakaway and heeled on and sold to Ed Brainard, Belgrade, MT.
Sharing the top spot was Hip 156 “Wild Wanda 409” a finished cutting mare with $31,370 in NCHA earnings with wins that included the Open Futurity and Open Derby at Big Sky Aged Event, and a finalist this past May at the NCHA Western National’s in Reno.
The solid mare was purchased by Greg Burrington, Graham, WA.
A big selection of better-end, reliable geldings all with “gentle” as the common denominator - continue to drive the overall market as traditional ranch geldings stay double solid.
The top stock horse gelding brought $7,500.
Shown in the previews and offered by Bill Pinz, Wyola, MT, Hip 21 “Boonsmals Bobby Chex” a 2006 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Chromesmal x Peptoboonsmal was a real ranch horse that had seen it all and was fancy enough to show or take to the team ropings.
Sharon Norskog, Watford City, ND purchased the class gelding.
Raised, shown, and consigned by RaeAnn Svedberg, Hardin, MT Hip 127 “Shotgun N Pep” a 2006 AQHA Sorrel Gelding by Sergeants Enterprise and out of Peppy Mahia had been used for every ranch chore, brandings, shown in ranch horse competitions, and could cover big country with ease.
The extra broke gelding brought $6,900 and sold to Pitchfork Cattle, LLC, Big Timber, MT.
Inclusive sale averages - from beginning to the end, from top to bottom - include the top five at $13,200, top ten came in at $10,180; top 20 averaged $7,767; top 50 brought $4,790; with the top 100 at $3,254.
Loose horses maintain their market strength as the top loose prospects commanded $2,250 and $2,200 and made the top five average $1,930, top ten at $1,667, top 20 at $1,371, top 50 averaged $989, and top 100 at $764.
Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale is next on the BLS Sale agenda September 25-27.
The big, fall sale event will headline “Rope Horses” with a team roping jackpot for sale horses only at 1 p.m. Friday, September 25.
Billings Livestock will also welcome 3X PRCA World Champion Team Roper, Tee Woolman, Llano, TX for a complimentary roping seminar prior to the sale horse jackpot.
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.
See it all at www.billingslivestock.com or contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151.
SALE REPORT JULY 25, 2015
All. Star. Rides.
Winning genetics put performance pedigrees front and center at Billings Livestock’s “Mid-Summer Special Catalog Sale” July 25.
The one-day sale offered 764 head of horses, including 278 Cataloged horses selling to over 400 registered buyers with 178 actually purchasing livestock.
Stallions lead the way as top sale honors and reserve sale honors were both claimed by stallions bringing $17,200 and $16,000, respectively.
Red roan and ready-to-go, Hip 110 “KR Fantallicka” a 2013 AQHA Stallion sired by Metallic Cat and out Fancy Zack x Zack T Wood was raised by and offered by Krebs Ranch, Eldon and Louisa Krebs, Gordon, NE.
Sired by Metallic Cat - NCHA Hall of Fame, NCHA Open Futurity Champion, earner of $637,000 and sire of over $4.2 million - the fancy two-year-old came with a big future and sold to Jimmy Kinnison, Yuma, CO.
In addition to the top selling horse, Krebs Ranch offered 15 head from their select breeding program and included sons and daughters of High Brow Cat, Cats Moonshine, Horseplayin, and Reys Dual Badger.
Another standout from the Krebs program , Hip 205 “KR Shining Fancy” a 2012 AQHA Sorrel Filly sired by Cats Moonshine and out of the same mare as the day’s high selling horse - Fancy Zack, a $37,000 NCHA money earner and dam of five performers - the well bred filly was stout, broke, and ready-to-go.
The handy mare sold for $10,750 to Julie Arellano, Wellington, FL.
Reserve sale honors to Hip 152 “My Ticket To Fame” a 2009 AQHA Gray Stallion sired by Faming Perry x Dash Ta Fame and out of a daughter of Dream Fantasy.
Purchased by Dusti Percival, Oxford, NE, the handsome gentleman brought $16,000.
The top selling gelding was previewed and offered by Tom and Carmen Buckingham, Bruneau, ID and Hip 41 “Golden Sugar King” a 2007 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Kings Colonel Tari had been used to doctor, brand, gather, and came started on the head side roping.
Also used at rodeos as a pick up horse, the gentle gelding brought $13,000 and sold to John Yocum, Athol, ID.
An accelerated loose horse market, again lead by the prospects, continue their hot streak where the top five selling loose averaged $2,420 and - 30 head brought $1,000 or better - no rider, no speech, no footnotes.
The top weigh up horses brought 38 to 45 cents per pound.
Overall sale averages include the top five at $1,4240; Top ten at $11,785; Top 20 brought $9.685; Top 50 at $7,168 and the top 100 averaged $5,116.
Billings Livestock’s next sale event includes the annual “August Catalog Sale August 22.
UBRC barrel race with $300 added - open to all barrel racers - will kick off the weekend’s activities on Friday afternoon August 21 in the BLS Arena.
Sale horses are encouraged to compete and enter with a $100 bonus awarded to the sale horse clocking the fastest time.
To enter, consign or request a catalog, contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-855-1947or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT JUNE 27, 2015
Hot Summer Geldings
An all-star cast of professional-grade geldings with resumes that included ranch, arena, or recreation work, claimed every spot on Billings Livestock‘s Top 20 Sellers list for the “Summer Special Catalog Sale“ June 27.
That set of 20 geldings averaged $7,812.
Straight to the top they went, and Hips 112 and 112X “Pete and Charlie“ a solid black percheron team of full brothers, bred, raised, and offered by Merry Teiken, Waubun, MN, had been used in parades, weddings, could pull wagons, discs, and full size winter sleds.
The shiny seven and eight year old team was also broke to ride, brought $13,800 and sold to Megan Koltiska, Sheridan, WY.
Runnerup sale honors to Hip 179 “Some Kinda TR” a 2011 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x TR Dual Rey and out of the $380,000 money earner and NCHA Open Futurity Champion mare, Some Kinda Memories.
Offered by West Fork Ranch, the solid, finished cutter brought $10,200.
Robison Ranch and Rope Horses, Weatherford, TX offered Hip 185 “ThirdRateRomance” a 2010 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Third Cutting that came extra broke and well started heading in the roping pen.
The gentle gelding had seen plenty of ranch miles and sold to Tom O’Grady, White Owl, SD for $10,000.
Ed Fryer, White Sulphur Springs, MT consigned Hip 96 “LF Dashing Doc Bar” a 2006 AQHA Bay Gelding x Frosty Sabre Glo and out of Dashing Lil Monkey.
Quiet around cattle, handy around the corrals and alleys, pasture roped on, started colts, and made plenty of big circles in big country, the good ranch gelding brought $7,500 and sold to Kevin Campbell, Bondurant, WY.
Talk about fancy, Hip 128 “Weavers Blue Poco” a 2008 AQHA Blue Roan Gelding x Poco Ima Doc was offered by Cliff Milliron, Polson, MT.
Used for a bit of everything, he had seen mountain trails, gathered cattle, and was started in the arena roping and on barrels and was purchased by Ray Ellsworth Hill, Ennis, MT for $7,000.
Sale statistics smoked it with 665 head of horses offered and an impressive set of sale averages: Top five averaged $10,250; Top ten at $8,960; Top 20 brought $7,812; Top 50 at $6,088, and top 100 averaged $4,577.
The strength of the loose market continues as the top end of the processing horses brought 38 cents with a frenzy on the loose prospects as 44 head of horses brought $1,000 or better, lead off with $3,000, $2,675, and $2,550 on the top three.
Top five loose averaged $2,485; top 10 brought $2,150; Top 20 at $1,818; top 50 came in at $1,402, and top 100 loose averaged an all-time high of $1,088.
Billings Livestock’s “Mid Summer Special Catalog Sale” is next on the agenda July 25. Loose horses will sell at 8 a.m. with catalog sale time 12 Noon. A special preview of cutting horses on cattle will be featured on Friday evening.
Contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406.855.1947 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT MAY 23, 2015
A super show of handy horses demonstrated their abilities in the annual “Best of the Remuda” ranch horse competition held Friday afternoon where Hip 79 “Haidas Cat Ichi” a 2006 AQHA Sorrel Gelding sired by Cat Ichi and out of a daughter of Haidas Little Pep took home Championship Honors.
The top two selling horses of day - both shown in the ranch horse division and both carrying proven arena credentials - brought $20,500 and $19,500 respectively, the top five selling horses, all geldings, averaged $17,140.
Spring in Big Sky Country saw 630 horses came to town for the Memorial Day weekend sale with 94% completed sales, 313 catalog horses, 302 on the loose, and 15 offered on the open consignment.
Shown in the ranch horse competition and in the roping previews, Hip 239 “Magnum Mania” a 2006 AQHA Chestnut Gelding by Magnum Chic Dream x Smart Chic Olena was offered by Turner Performance Horses, LLC, East Helena, MT.
The professional heel horse and stand out ranch gelding knew his job, did it well, brought $20,500 and sold to Shane and Jaimie Johnson, New Town, ND.
Runnerup sale honors went to Hip 144 “SNW Heavenly Jaz” a 2002 AQHA Red Roan Gelding x Ima Bit Of Heaven consigned by Jessica Krueger, Kalispell, MT.
A 1D barrel horse, the strawberry roan was also shown in the competition and the handsome, multi disciplined gelding brought $19,500.
A standout individual, owned since a weanling by the consignor, Hip 93 “Wrangler 499” a 2006 AQHA Buckskin Gelding sired by Milky Way 499 and out of a Two Eyed Fox/Doc’s Lynx bred dam was owned and shown by Dan Levine, Wolf Creek, MT.
Used on the ranch, started in the arena, packed, too, the fancy, tailor-made gelding was purchased by Arnie Guimont, Mandaree, ND for $14,000.
Solid, honest, and offered by the ranch who raised him, Hip 58 “Western Quincy Jo” a 2007 AQHA Bay Roan Gelding by Jo High Jinks offered by Bill Harris, Mosby, MT had been used in the Missouri Breaks an a working cow ranch.
Roped on a lot outside, the easy traveling gelding brought $8,000 and sold to Cody Shaw, Buffalo, WY.
An amped up loose trade kicked off the day where 28 horses brought a $1,000 bill or better and the top five sold for $3,600, $2,800, $2,350, $2,200, and $2,100.
The strong, strong loose trade lead by the prospects produced high sale averages including the top five at $2,610; top ten at $2,275; Top 20 at $1,906; top 50 averaged $1,555; and top 100 - that’s one-third of the loose session - averaged $604 a head.
Catalog sale averages also reflect an improved market where the top ten averaged $14,095; top 20 at $11,145; top 50 brought $7,534 and the top 100 averaged $5,212.
Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale” is next on the agenda set for June 27. Loose horses will sell at 8 a.m. with catalog sale time 12 Noon.
Contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406.855.1947or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT APRIL 25 & 26, 2015
HAPPY-GO-ROPPIN'
Rope horses found their fame and fortune at Billings Livestock’s “April Special Catalog Sale” April 24-25-26.
Finished or prospects, the focus was on the rope and arena horses and oh, how they shined.
The leader of the pack brought $27,000 and the top five averaged $18,600.
A weekend total of 687 head were offered, including 100 rope horses.
It all started Friday afternoon with a well attended roping seminar instructed by PRCA World Champion Jhett Johnson and AQHA Judge and Trainer Justin Johnson.
A supershow of rope horses rocked it in the sale horse jackpot as 132 teams knocked it out in a two-go around and finals format, and when it was all said and done, 2015 Spring Championship Honors went to Hips 204 "Pocos Peppy Lena" owned by Chelsea Brown, Big Sandy, MT and ridden by Paul Griemsman on the head side, and Hip 326 "Jackson" owned and shown by Jack Fletcher, Ames, IA on the backside. The horses brought $8,000 and $5,900 respectively.
Head, heel, breakaway, ranch or just ride, Hip 140 “Just A Scatter Gun” a 2006 AQHA Bay gelding sired by PG Dry Fire was as good as good can get.
Shown in the jackpot on the head side, the striking gelding had been hauled to all major ropings and had qualified for the 2015 World Series finale in the 12.
Offered by Turner Performance Horses, East Helena, MT the ready-to-win gelding sold to Shane and Jamie Johnson, New Town, ND for $27,000.
Reserve Sale Honors to Hip 157 “Mark of Dashinction” a 2003 AQHA Palomino Gelding sired by PC Frenchman’s Mark - a full brother to “Bozo” - and out of a producing daughter of Miss N Cash.
Shown by MPRC Champion, Theresa Walter, the solid, 1D barrel horse brought $18,000 and sold to Meghan Gee, Great Falls, MT.
Hip 146 “Oh Buck” a 2010 AQHA Buckskin Gelding by Two Eyed Snowbuck was a flashy, well on his way prospect offered by Schmitt Horse Ranch, Holland, IA.
SALE REPORT FOR MARCH 28, 2015
Occupation Recreation
A mega-selection of recreational mules, quarter drafts, teams, trail and guest horses filled Billings Livestock’s “Spring Special Catalog Sale” March 28
The top twenty averaged $7,655 and included 13 grade horses or mules, and six draft or draft crosses.
Many had seen the majestic sights of the west’s stellar National and State Parks, seen miles and miles of back country trails and awe inspiring wilderness and many had made their very first trip to town on that Saturday.
Truly a unique set of livestock, 626 head in all, that included 57 mules, 30 drafts or quarter drafts, and six teams.
Met by a ready-to-do-business crowd a mere six head were no-saled or passed out by the consignor, setting an all-time record for Billings Livestock .
Hips 140 & 140X “King and Kody” a big, blue roan pair of Percheron Geldings, half brothers, six and seven years old, were truly a one-of-a-kind team standing 17.3 hands and weighing over a ton a piece.
Used on all farm machinery, wagons, sleighs, and been hauled to county fair demonstrations, the beautiful pair claimed top sale honors with an $18,000 bid.
Owned and shown in the previews by Brandon Kieson, Watford City, ND the dynamic duo sold to Tony Zeman, Bassett, NE.
Reserve sale honors to Hip 110 “Free River No Smokn” a 2006 AQHA Buckskin Gelding x HR No Smoken Zone offered by Joe Fox, Hysham, MT.
Gentle, handsome, and with a solid ranch resume, the striking gelding had worked for a living on the Froze To Death Grazing District and sold to Steve Griemsman, Worland, WY for $11,200.
J & A Horse Ranch, Preston, MN consigned Hip 148 “Jack” a 2009 Grade Red Dun Gelding that was trained to lay down to mount, came gentle, kind, and would go where you pointed him.
Ridden by beginners to the experienced, the special gelding brought $9,600 and sold to James Boles, Cody, WY.
Black Mountain Outfitters, Scott and Sandy Sallee, Emigrant, MT brought 13 head of mules and horses that had been used in their Outfitting business hunting or for pack trips and included Hip 69 “Silk” a 2010 Grade Black Molly that had packed elk and been ridden in the mountains.
The gentle mule brought $5,000 and sold to Randy Reed, Helena, MT.
The 2013 Orvis Outfitter of the Year, Rocky Mountain Outfitters/RMO Horses, Heber City, UT offered an A-list set of trail horses and the team of Waylon and Willie, Hips 146 & 146X - 2000 and 2002 model Bay Draft Cross Geldings.
Driven in parades the flashy team had been used daily on sleigh rides, could also be ridden, and brought $8,200.
Strong sale averages include the top five at $11,260; Top ten at $9,420; top 20 brought $7,655; Top 50 at $5,698, and the top 100 averaged $4,429.
Driven by worldwide demand and shortened supply, the processing horse market was on fire. The top 100 on the loose brought a full $100 more per head than one year ago.
Top five on the loose averaged $1,730, followed by the top ten at $1,575, top 20 at $1,337, top 50 brought $1,019, and the top 100 averaged $836.
Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for April 24-26 and will feature the annual spring “Rope Horse Special” catalog sale and regular monthly horse sale.
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 24.
PRCA World Champion Team Roper, Jhett Johnson, along with his brother, AQHA Judge and horse trainer, Justin Johnson will be on-site Friday, April 24 at 12 noon, prior to the jackpot, for an informal, free roping seminar which will touch on scoring, horse position, facing, stopping, and roping basics.
Rope horses will show again in Saturday performance previews.
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.
For more information, contact BLS Horse Sales at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 27, 28 & MARCH 1, 2015
Rockstar Rides
All time sales records set at February Sale Event
A hard-core selection of proven horses shared the stage with an outstanding selection of prospects as new sales records were set at Billings Livestock‘s “February Special Catalog Sale” February 27-28 & March 1.
The three day, sale showcase saw record prices paid for quality horses in all disciplines, as a diversified set of performance horses including arena horses and solid using horses pushed the market to an all-time high as the top 50 horses averaged a whopping $14,128 and the top 100 head averaged $10,613.
43 head of horses brought $10,000 or more.
716 horses were offered with 62 pass outs.
The top five sale leaders averaged $24,600 and include four tried and true performance horses, and one special prospect sired by industry leading sires including A Streak Of Fling, Zack T Wood, and Dash Ta Fame.
In the top sale spot for February, Hip 364 “Streakers Surprise” a 2007 AQHA Blue Roan Mare sired by Brian and Lisa Fulton’s Million Dollar Barrel horse sire, A Steak of Fling and out of the Kitaman granddaughter Hey Follow Me brought $33,000.
Offered by Ross and Casey Wagner, Park City, MT, the 1D barrel mare had also been heeled on and was patterned on the poles and sold to NFR barrel racer, Jane Melby, Burneyville, OK.
Reserve sale honors to Hip 326 “Hickorys Sweet T” a 2009 AQHA Sorrel mare by Zack T Wood and out of the Doc’s Hickory daughter, Hickory’s Sweetheart.
She’d earned $33,837, made the Limited Amateur and Unlimited Amateur finals at the 2014 Super Stakes, made the finals at the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association’s Fall Classic/Challenge $100,000 Amateur, came ready to show with one more year of LAE and 5,000 eligibility, and sold to Bill Retterath, Center, ND for $26,000.
With big things on the horizon, Hip 336 “Short Way Ta Fame” a 2014 AQHA Sorrel Stud Colt by the barrel horse industry’s number one sire - Dash Ta Fame - was all he was bred to be and more.
The colt with charisma was out of Short Stop Sis by Shorty Lena, second dam by Grays Starlight, and was offered by Dennis and Holly Ginkens, Billings, MT and purchased by Clay Trollinger, Ten Sleep, WY for $24,000.
Turner Performance Horses, East Helena, MT offered Hip 380 “First Class and Busy” a 2006 AQHA Black Gelding by SS Trickolena and out of a daughter of Tuf N Busy.
The double fancy, hauled and won on head and heel horse came gentle and ranch ridden and sold to Korey Abbott, Duchesne, UT for $20,000.
Records were also set in the loose session where the top horse selling as is, where is, how is - no rider, no catalog, no speech - brought $4,000, followed by $3,000, $2,600 and $2,050.
Definitely fueled by the riding prospects, the loose averages are the highest recorded at Billings Livestock, where the top five brought $2,675, top 10 at $2,152, top 20 at $1,770, top 50 brought $1,273, and top 100 averaged $986.
Billings Livestock‘s “Spring Special Catalog Sale” March 28 offers one big day of horses and mules and features 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 mules, barrel horses, cutters, saddle horses, and rope horses is scheduled for Friday, March 27 at 3 p.m.
For more information, to consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, Billings Livestock Commission Horse Sales at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT FOR JANUARY 24, 2015
Xtreme Performance
A “little bit of everything” peppered Billings Livestock Commission’s January 24 “Winter Special Catalog Sale” and “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” where a horse happy crowd had the opportunity to bid on everything from collectible tack to top-end using horses.
Baited by a better weather weekend - officially, Billings Livestock welcomed 330 head of horses for the one-day sale event, where a mere eight head were no-saled or passed out by the consignor.
Top January sale honors to Hip 87 "Oshoto Suprise" a 2007 AQHA Gray Gelding by San Badger Drift by PC Sun Socks offered by 11X NFR Qualifier, PRCA World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Wayne Herman, Halliday, ND.
The real deal ranch gelding brought $8,000 and sold to Clint Moore, Carnduff., Saskatchewan.
Schmitt Horse Ranch, Holland, IA consigned Hip 77 “Hollywood Sandino” a 2006 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Little Sandino and out of a Smart Little Lena mare.
A finished cutter that had been shown at ranch cuttings, the double-fancy gelding was gentle, fun to ride, and had seen ranch use, too.
The handsome gelding sold to Angela Murray, Miles City, MT for $6,700.
A youth rodeo dream, Hip 80 “FQHR Royal McKeag” a 1997 AQHA Blue Roan Gelding by McKeag was a hauled and won on barrel & pole horse, head horse, and heel horse.
Ridden most recently by a youth rider, the gelding who loved his job had also been roped on by #1 to #5’s at WTRC’s and World Series Ropings.
Respectful and good looking, the gelding brought $4,900 and sold to Carl Fowler, Lewistown, MT.
A rock solid sale on rock solid horses where the top five averaged $6,660; Top 10 at $5,900, top 20 brought $5,150 top 50 averaged $3,830, and the top 100 brought $2,788.
A bell-ringer loose horse business saw 168 head offered on the loose with a measurable upswing in the general loose horse market where across the board - that’s every loose horse offered, from big to little, as is, where is, how is - averaging right at $599 a head.
Three big horse sale days complimented by an indoor, all inclusive preview of the sale horses, sets off the “February Special Catalog Sale” February 27-28 & March 1.
Highlighted by a special, limited session of “Sons and Daughters” of Champions and Money Earners the February Sale is loaded with quality consignments.
See it all at www.billingslivestock.com
attractive gelding showed outstanding in the roping preview, came gentle and stayed that way, had been ridden in the mountains and sold to Ed Brainard, Belgrade, MT for $14,000.
Reserve sale honors went to Hip 87 “Tecs Chex” a 2008 AQHA Bay Gelding x ER Hot Chex x Nu Chex To Cash offered by J & Horse Ranch, Preston, MN.
With NRHA earnings, the handsome gelding came extremely broke, started on the heelomatic, patterned on the barrels, and was ready to go any direction.
Jason Furnival, Casper, WY purchased the quality gelding for $10,700.
Talented and cute, Hip 85 “Mo Mo Cat” a 2013 AQHA Sorrel Stallion by Hydrive Cat and out of a daughter of Smart Chic Olena was consigned and shown on cattle by Scott Hulme, Arimo, ID.
Ranch ridden, the well bred cutting and cowhorse prospect brought $9,000 and sold to Lori Crowell, Big Timber, MT
Nice, nice and drove the best, Hips 79 and 79X “Snuff and Tuff” a seven and eight year old team of draft cross blue roan geldings that had been used to disc the arena, drag meadows, in addition to being broke to ride and pack.
Driven all over Billings Livestock, the team was consigned and shown by Jeff and Christina Tift, Banner, WY and brought $9,000 selling to Rockin J Ranch, Philipsburg, MT.
Rock solid from beginning to end, the top five averaged $10,240, top ten at $8,525, top 20 borught $6.657; top 50 averaged $4,409, and the top 100 came in at $3,115.
Loose horses were again driven by the prospects as the top five averaged $1,575, top ten at $1,347, top 20 at $1,151, top 50 averaged $869, and the top 100 brought $683.
Get set for one big day of horses, tack, and more horses on Saturday, January 23 as Billings Livestock kicks off the New Year with the “Winter Special Catalog Horse Sale” and annual “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” offering used and collectible tack.
See it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT OCTOBER 24, 2015
An Upward Trend
Strong demand continued for accredited performance horses and top-shelf ranch geldings at Billings Livestock Commission’s “Fall Special Catalog Sale” October 24.
With a one-day total of 611 head of horses, the top twenty averaged $7,740 and included four grade geldings and a listing of registered horses sired by industry leaders including Smooth As A Cat, Thomas E Hughes, Woodbridge, and Frenchman’s Guy.
Hip 29 “Red Neck” a 2007 Grade Red Roan gelding offered by McNabb Livestock, Cody, WY earned top sale honors with a final sale price of $20,000.
Quiet, kind, and gentle, the attractive gentleman had been ranch raised and ridden, had seen miles of trailing of cattle, used in horsemanship clinics and sold to Janet Lange, Wentzville, MO,.
Sired by NCHA Horse of The Year “Smooth As A Cat” and totally on her game, Hip 137 “Cats Missin Jewel” a 2008 AQHA Sorrel Mare was out of the $89,000 money earning mare My Jewels Missin by Lenas Jewels Bars.
Offered by Tania Ugrin-Capabianca, Red Bluff, CA, and shown in the cutting previews by Will Nuttall, the solid, flashy, ready-to-go-show mare sold to Sheana Rambauer, Hamilton, MT for $17,200.
Hip 211 “Frank Dun It” a 2007 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Freeway Frank and out of a Hollywood Dun It mare, came with a solid resume that included NRHA earnings, Ranch Pleasure accolades, and gave the Iowa State Cowgirl her winning competition run.
Owned by the Westfork Ranch, Sheffield, IA, the special gelding brought $11,000.
Originally bred by Carol Rose and sold at Billings Livestock as a weanling, Hip 164 “Soula Hula” a 2009 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Soula Jule Star and out of a Genuine Doc daughter, was offered by Dave Collins, Melstone, MT.
As pretty as they come and ridden miles upon miles of big, Montana ranch country, the superstar ranch hand brought $10,500.
North Country Quarter Horses, Fred, Linda, and Grace Finke, Big Sandy, MT consigned 21 head of weanlings from their program with Hip 184 “LF Top Dog” a 2015 AQHA Gray Stallion x Kay Cross Cajun x Frenchmans Guy and out of a Dash For Perks dam topping the offering with a final bid of $3,600.
The quality set of weanlings averaged $1,400.
Overall sale averages include the top five at $13,860, top ten brought $10,520, top 20 at $7,740, top 50 at $5,236, and the top 100 averaged $3,836.
Loose horses felt the seasonal shift as supply beat demand, however, prospects continued their hot streak as the top five loose averaged $2,300; top ten at $1,920; top 20 brought $1,608; top 50 at $1,126; and the top 100 averaged $762.
Billings Livestock's next sale event is set for November 28 and will include an indoor preview of cutters, ride horses, and rope horses on Friday, November 27 at the HorsePalace Arena.
As part of the Holiday Sale weekend, a $2,000 added money barrel racing and $2,000 added money team roping exclusively for Billings Livestock customers “R Customers Rock” will kick off Friday’s events.
For more information, to consign or request a catalog, contact Billings Livestock Commission Horse Sales at 406-855-1947or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT SEPTEMBER 25, 26 & 27, 2015
Talent-To-Go
With 21 horses bringing $10,000 or better, Billings Livestock’s “Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale” September 25-27 set new records and offered a “one-stop” shop for performance horses, prospects, and good geldings.
The feature was “Rope Horses” and the sale stats include a weekend total of 892 head of horses, 77 pass outs or no sales, 453 registered buyers with 267 actually purchasing horses, 114 buying two or more head, and horses selling to 23 states and four Canadian provinces.
The top five averaged $18,300 and included three standout rope horses, a gelding by Colonels Smoking Gun, and a seasoned cutting horse mare by High Brow Hickory.
BLS was proud to welcome PRCA World Champion Team Roper, Tee Woolman, Llano, TX who conducted a well attended, informative, roping seminar prior to the sale horse jackpot Friday afternoon at the HorsePalace arena.
The professional roping jackpot followed and saw 129 teams compete in a two-go-around and finals format where Hip 257 “Bueno Azure Te Rebel” consigned by Michael and Dana Smith, Raymond, Alberta and ridden by Jason Thorstenson on the head side, paired with Hip 268 “Snikle Fritz Peppy” offered by Siggins Horse Co., Coolidge, AZ and ridden by Lane Siggins on the heel side, laid down three steers in 22.75, took home first place paychecks, Gordy Alderson Trophy Bits, and Ropes from Rocky Mountain Rope Co. The horses brought $4,200 and $6,700 respectively.
There was a horse for every budget and skill level, and good horses saw good demand as the top 100 horses averaged $7,613, and the 12 rope horses representing the top six in the jackpot, averaged $5,664.
Stamped with quality, Hip 175 “One Gun Shiner” a 2009 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Colonels Smoking Gun and out of a daughter of Shining Spark took home top sale honors with a $25,000 sale price.
Offered by Westfork Ranch, Sheffield, IA, the NRHA money earner was kind, honest, and seasoned, had been shown right up to sale day, and was purchased by Brianne Hawks, Norco, CA.
Bringing $20,000, reserve sale honors to Hip 173 “Dry Golden Gun” a 2006 AQHA Buckskin Gelding x PG Golden Gun x Playgun and out of a Johnny Dry bred mother.
Consigned by Schmitt Horse Ranch, the gelding had been hauled on the head side, ridden on the trails and ranch used, as well.
The “ready-made” kind - arena horses to ranch horses to trail horses - carry the clout as buyers continue their quest for a finished product.
NFR Qualifier Ty Erickson, Helena, MT offered Hip 124 “Map Flying Bar Drift” a 2002 AQHA Bay Gelding x Tallywood Do It x Tally Man that had been hauled heading, heeling, and hazing.
With a couple of PRCA Circuit Finals qualifications on his resume, the seasoned gelding brought $13,200 and sold to Terry and Dawn Powlesland, Laurel, MT.
Rope horses claimed 15 positions in the BLS Top Twenty Seller’s List, including four head offered by National Finals Rodeo qualifiers.
Overall, the top ten averaged $15,545; Top 20 at $13,097; Top 50 brought $9,948; and the top 100 averaged $7,613.
The fire was lit on the loose trade as the top loose horse of the day gathered $2,050 and a whopping prospect trade pushed the averages to $1,900 on the top five; Top ten at $1,642; To 20 brought $1,387; Top 50 at $1,033; and top 100 averaged $823.
Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for October 24 and will feature Performance Horses. A complete indoor preview of barrel horses, cutters, saddle/ride/reiners, and rope horses is set for Friday, October 23 at 3 p.m. .
Read all about it at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT AUGUST 22, 2015
On Their Game
Seasoned performance veterans and fashionably pedigreed young competitors were the products in demand August 22 at Billings Livestock’s “August Catalog Sale Event”.
Performance horses - with a push on barrel and speed bred horses - flavored the weekend’s offering where the top five selling horses averaged $13,200 - and - included a grade gelding, a Frenchman’s Guy, High Brow CD, and a hauled and won on barrel horse.
Friday night’s UBRC Showdown barrel race in the BLS Arena rocked with 76 runs including sale horses and welcomed reigning World Champion Barrel Racer, Fallon Taylor.
Two horses claimed the high seller’s position with a $15,500 sales price, and included Hip 78 “Squirt” a 2006 Grade Bay Gelding consigned by three-year-old Jackson Langdeau, Rapid City, SD and Hip 156 “Wild Wanda 409” a 2009 AQHA Sorrel Mare by Wild Thing DNA offered by Barry and Michelle Barnes, Lewiston, ID.
Hip 78 “Squirt” was a very gentle kid’s ranch horse and had been Jackson’s personal ranch gelding and hauled to many playdays. Broke enough for adults to get work done on and gentle enough for kids, the quiet gentleman had also been breakaway and heeled on and sold to Ed Brainard, Belgrade, MT.
Sharing the top spot was Hip 156 “Wild Wanda 409” a finished cutting mare with $31,370 in NCHA earnings with wins that included the Open Futurity and Open Derby at Big Sky Aged Event, and a finalist this past May at the NCHA Western National’s in Reno.
The solid mare was purchased by Greg Burrington, Graham, WA.
A big selection of better-end, reliable geldings all with “gentle” as the common denominator - continue to drive the overall market as traditional ranch geldings stay double solid.
The top stock horse gelding brought $7,500.
Shown in the previews and offered by Bill Pinz, Wyola, MT, Hip 21 “Boonsmals Bobby Chex” a 2006 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Chromesmal x Peptoboonsmal was a real ranch horse that had seen it all and was fancy enough to show or take to the team ropings.
Sharon Norskog, Watford City, ND purchased the class gelding.
Raised, shown, and consigned by RaeAnn Svedberg, Hardin, MT Hip 127 “Shotgun N Pep” a 2006 AQHA Sorrel Gelding by Sergeants Enterprise and out of Peppy Mahia had been used for every ranch chore, brandings, shown in ranch horse competitions, and could cover big country with ease.
The extra broke gelding brought $6,900 and sold to Pitchfork Cattle, LLC, Big Timber, MT.
Inclusive sale averages - from beginning to the end, from top to bottom - include the top five at $13,200, top ten came in at $10,180; top 20 averaged $7,767; top 50 brought $4,790; with the top 100 at $3,254.
Loose horses maintain their market strength as the top loose prospects commanded $2,250 and $2,200 and made the top five average $1,930, top ten at $1,667, top 20 at $1,371, top 50 averaged $989, and top 100 at $764.
Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale is next on the BLS Sale agenda September 25-27.
The big, fall sale event will headline “Rope Horses” with a team roping jackpot for sale horses only at 1 p.m. Friday, September 25.
Billings Livestock will also welcome 3X PRCA World Champion Team Roper, Tee Woolman, Llano, TX for a complimentary roping seminar prior to the sale horse jackpot.
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.
See it all at www.billingslivestock.com or contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151.
SALE REPORT JULY 25, 2015
All. Star. Rides.
Winning genetics put performance pedigrees front and center at Billings Livestock’s “Mid-Summer Special Catalog Sale” July 25.
The one-day sale offered 764 head of horses, including 278 Cataloged horses selling to over 400 registered buyers with 178 actually purchasing livestock.
Stallions lead the way as top sale honors and reserve sale honors were both claimed by stallions bringing $17,200 and $16,000, respectively.
Red roan and ready-to-go, Hip 110 “KR Fantallicka” a 2013 AQHA Stallion sired by Metallic Cat and out Fancy Zack x Zack T Wood was raised by and offered by Krebs Ranch, Eldon and Louisa Krebs, Gordon, NE.
Sired by Metallic Cat - NCHA Hall of Fame, NCHA Open Futurity Champion, earner of $637,000 and sire of over $4.2 million - the fancy two-year-old came with a big future and sold to Jimmy Kinnison, Yuma, CO.
In addition to the top selling horse, Krebs Ranch offered 15 head from their select breeding program and included sons and daughters of High Brow Cat, Cats Moonshine, Horseplayin, and Reys Dual Badger.
Another standout from the Krebs program , Hip 205 “KR Shining Fancy” a 2012 AQHA Sorrel Filly sired by Cats Moonshine and out of the same mare as the day’s high selling horse - Fancy Zack, a $37,000 NCHA money earner and dam of five performers - the well bred filly was stout, broke, and ready-to-go.
The handy mare sold for $10,750 to Julie Arellano, Wellington, FL.
Reserve sale honors to Hip 152 “My Ticket To Fame” a 2009 AQHA Gray Stallion sired by Faming Perry x Dash Ta Fame and out of a daughter of Dream Fantasy.
Purchased by Dusti Percival, Oxford, NE, the handsome gentleman brought $16,000.
The top selling gelding was previewed and offered by Tom and Carmen Buckingham, Bruneau, ID and Hip 41 “Golden Sugar King” a 2007 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Kings Colonel Tari had been used to doctor, brand, gather, and came started on the head side roping.
Also used at rodeos as a pick up horse, the gentle gelding brought $13,000 and sold to John Yocum, Athol, ID.
An accelerated loose horse market, again lead by the prospects, continue their hot streak where the top five selling loose averaged $2,420 and - 30 head brought $1,000 or better - no rider, no speech, no footnotes.
The top weigh up horses brought 38 to 45 cents per pound.
Overall sale averages include the top five at $1,4240; Top ten at $11,785; Top 20 brought $9.685; Top 50 at $7,168 and the top 100 averaged $5,116.
Billings Livestock’s next sale event includes the annual “August Catalog Sale August 22.
UBRC barrel race with $300 added - open to all barrel racers - will kick off the weekend’s activities on Friday afternoon August 21 in the BLS Arena.
Sale horses are encouraged to compete and enter with a $100 bonus awarded to the sale horse clocking the fastest time.
To enter, consign or request a catalog, contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-855-1947or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT JUNE 27, 2015
Hot Summer Geldings
An all-star cast of professional-grade geldings with resumes that included ranch, arena, or recreation work, claimed every spot on Billings Livestock‘s Top 20 Sellers list for the “Summer Special Catalog Sale“ June 27.
That set of 20 geldings averaged $7,812.
Straight to the top they went, and Hips 112 and 112X “Pete and Charlie“ a solid black percheron team of full brothers, bred, raised, and offered by Merry Teiken, Waubun, MN, had been used in parades, weddings, could pull wagons, discs, and full size winter sleds.
The shiny seven and eight year old team was also broke to ride, brought $13,800 and sold to Megan Koltiska, Sheridan, WY.
Runnerup sale honors to Hip 179 “Some Kinda TR” a 2011 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x TR Dual Rey and out of the $380,000 money earner and NCHA Open Futurity Champion mare, Some Kinda Memories.
Offered by West Fork Ranch, the solid, finished cutter brought $10,200.
Robison Ranch and Rope Horses, Weatherford, TX offered Hip 185 “ThirdRateRomance” a 2010 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Third Cutting that came extra broke and well started heading in the roping pen.
The gentle gelding had seen plenty of ranch miles and sold to Tom O’Grady, White Owl, SD for $10,000.
Ed Fryer, White Sulphur Springs, MT consigned Hip 96 “LF Dashing Doc Bar” a 2006 AQHA Bay Gelding x Frosty Sabre Glo and out of Dashing Lil Monkey.
Quiet around cattle, handy around the corrals and alleys, pasture roped on, started colts, and made plenty of big circles in big country, the good ranch gelding brought $7,500 and sold to Kevin Campbell, Bondurant, WY.
Talk about fancy, Hip 128 “Weavers Blue Poco” a 2008 AQHA Blue Roan Gelding x Poco Ima Doc was offered by Cliff Milliron, Polson, MT.
Used for a bit of everything, he had seen mountain trails, gathered cattle, and was started in the arena roping and on barrels and was purchased by Ray Ellsworth Hill, Ennis, MT for $7,000.
Sale statistics smoked it with 665 head of horses offered and an impressive set of sale averages: Top five averaged $10,250; Top ten at $8,960; Top 20 brought $7,812; Top 50 at $6,088, and top 100 averaged $4,577.
The strength of the loose market continues as the top end of the processing horses brought 38 cents with a frenzy on the loose prospects as 44 head of horses brought $1,000 or better, lead off with $3,000, $2,675, and $2,550 on the top three.
Top five loose averaged $2,485; top 10 brought $2,150; Top 20 at $1,818; top 50 came in at $1,402, and top 100 loose averaged an all-time high of $1,088.
Billings Livestock’s “Mid Summer Special Catalog Sale” is next on the agenda July 25. Loose horses will sell at 8 a.m. with catalog sale time 12 Noon. A special preview of cutting horses on cattle will be featured on Friday evening.
Contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406.855.1947 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT MAY 23, 2015
A super show of handy horses demonstrated their abilities in the annual “Best of the Remuda” ranch horse competition held Friday afternoon where Hip 79 “Haidas Cat Ichi” a 2006 AQHA Sorrel Gelding sired by Cat Ichi and out of a daughter of Haidas Little Pep took home Championship Honors.
The top two selling horses of day - both shown in the ranch horse division and both carrying proven arena credentials - brought $20,500 and $19,500 respectively, the top five selling horses, all geldings, averaged $17,140.
Spring in Big Sky Country saw 630 horses came to town for the Memorial Day weekend sale with 94% completed sales, 313 catalog horses, 302 on the loose, and 15 offered on the open consignment.
Shown in the ranch horse competition and in the roping previews, Hip 239 “Magnum Mania” a 2006 AQHA Chestnut Gelding by Magnum Chic Dream x Smart Chic Olena was offered by Turner Performance Horses, LLC, East Helena, MT.
The professional heel horse and stand out ranch gelding knew his job, did it well, brought $20,500 and sold to Shane and Jaimie Johnson, New Town, ND.
Runnerup sale honors went to Hip 144 “SNW Heavenly Jaz” a 2002 AQHA Red Roan Gelding x Ima Bit Of Heaven consigned by Jessica Krueger, Kalispell, MT.
A 1D barrel horse, the strawberry roan was also shown in the competition and the handsome, multi disciplined gelding brought $19,500.
A standout individual, owned since a weanling by the consignor, Hip 93 “Wrangler 499” a 2006 AQHA Buckskin Gelding sired by Milky Way 499 and out of a Two Eyed Fox/Doc’s Lynx bred dam was owned and shown by Dan Levine, Wolf Creek, MT.
Used on the ranch, started in the arena, packed, too, the fancy, tailor-made gelding was purchased by Arnie Guimont, Mandaree, ND for $14,000.
Solid, honest, and offered by the ranch who raised him, Hip 58 “Western Quincy Jo” a 2007 AQHA Bay Roan Gelding by Jo High Jinks offered by Bill Harris, Mosby, MT had been used in the Missouri Breaks an a working cow ranch.
Roped on a lot outside, the easy traveling gelding brought $8,000 and sold to Cody Shaw, Buffalo, WY.
An amped up loose trade kicked off the day where 28 horses brought a $1,000 bill or better and the top five sold for $3,600, $2,800, $2,350, $2,200, and $2,100.
The strong, strong loose trade lead by the prospects produced high sale averages including the top five at $2,610; top ten at $2,275; Top 20 at $1,906; top 50 averaged $1,555; and top 100 - that’s one-third of the loose session - averaged $604 a head.
Catalog sale averages also reflect an improved market where the top ten averaged $14,095; top 20 at $11,145; top 50 brought $7,534 and the top 100 averaged $5,212.
Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale” is next on the agenda set for June 27. Loose horses will sell at 8 a.m. with catalog sale time 12 Noon.
Contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406.855.1947or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT APRIL 25 & 26, 2015
HAPPY-GO-ROPPIN'
Rope horses found their fame and fortune at Billings Livestock’s “April Special Catalog Sale” April 24-25-26.
Finished or prospects, the focus was on the rope and arena horses and oh, how they shined.
The leader of the pack brought $27,000 and the top five averaged $18,600.
A weekend total of 687 head were offered, including 100 rope horses.
It all started Friday afternoon with a well attended roping seminar instructed by PRCA World Champion Jhett Johnson and AQHA Judge and Trainer Justin Johnson.
A supershow of rope horses rocked it in the sale horse jackpot as 132 teams knocked it out in a two-go around and finals format, and when it was all said and done, 2015 Spring Championship Honors went to Hips 204 "Pocos Peppy Lena" owned by Chelsea Brown, Big Sandy, MT and ridden by Paul Griemsman on the head side, and Hip 326 "Jackson" owned and shown by Jack Fletcher, Ames, IA on the backside. The horses brought $8,000 and $5,900 respectively.
Head, heel, breakaway, ranch or just ride, Hip 140 “Just A Scatter Gun” a 2006 AQHA Bay gelding sired by PG Dry Fire was as good as good can get.
Shown in the jackpot on the head side, the striking gelding had been hauled to all major ropings and had qualified for the 2015 World Series finale in the 12.
Offered by Turner Performance Horses, East Helena, MT the ready-to-win gelding sold to Shane and Jamie Johnson, New Town, ND for $27,000.
Reserve Sale Honors to Hip 157 “Mark of Dashinction” a 2003 AQHA Palomino Gelding sired by PC Frenchman’s Mark - a full brother to “Bozo” - and out of a producing daughter of Miss N Cash.
Shown by MPRC Champion, Theresa Walter, the solid, 1D barrel horse brought $18,000 and sold to Meghan Gee, Great Falls, MT.
Hip 146 “Oh Buck” a 2010 AQHA Buckskin Gelding by Two Eyed Snowbuck was a flashy, well on his way prospect offered by Schmitt Horse Ranch, Holland, IA.
SALE REPORT FOR MARCH 28, 2015
Occupation Recreation
A mega-selection of recreational mules, quarter drafts, teams, trail and guest horses filled Billings Livestock’s “Spring Special Catalog Sale” March 28
The top twenty averaged $7,655 and included 13 grade horses or mules, and six draft or draft crosses.
Many had seen the majestic sights of the west’s stellar National and State Parks, seen miles and miles of back country trails and awe inspiring wilderness and many had made their very first trip to town on that Saturday.
Truly a unique set of livestock, 626 head in all, that included 57 mules, 30 drafts or quarter drafts, and six teams.
Met by a ready-to-do-business crowd a mere six head were no-saled or passed out by the consignor, setting an all-time record for Billings Livestock .
Hips 140 & 140X “King and Kody” a big, blue roan pair of Percheron Geldings, half brothers, six and seven years old, were truly a one-of-a-kind team standing 17.3 hands and weighing over a ton a piece.
Used on all farm machinery, wagons, sleighs, and been hauled to county fair demonstrations, the beautiful pair claimed top sale honors with an $18,000 bid.
Owned and shown in the previews by Brandon Kieson, Watford City, ND the dynamic duo sold to Tony Zeman, Bassett, NE.
Reserve sale honors to Hip 110 “Free River No Smokn” a 2006 AQHA Buckskin Gelding x HR No Smoken Zone offered by Joe Fox, Hysham, MT.
Gentle, handsome, and with a solid ranch resume, the striking gelding had worked for a living on the Froze To Death Grazing District and sold to Steve Griemsman, Worland, WY for $11,200.
J & A Horse Ranch, Preston, MN consigned Hip 148 “Jack” a 2009 Grade Red Dun Gelding that was trained to lay down to mount, came gentle, kind, and would go where you pointed him.
Ridden by beginners to the experienced, the special gelding brought $9,600 and sold to James Boles, Cody, WY.
Black Mountain Outfitters, Scott and Sandy Sallee, Emigrant, MT brought 13 head of mules and horses that had been used in their Outfitting business hunting or for pack trips and included Hip 69 “Silk” a 2010 Grade Black Molly that had packed elk and been ridden in the mountains.
The gentle mule brought $5,000 and sold to Randy Reed, Helena, MT.
The 2013 Orvis Outfitter of the Year, Rocky Mountain Outfitters/RMO Horses, Heber City, UT offered an A-list set of trail horses and the team of Waylon and Willie, Hips 146 & 146X - 2000 and 2002 model Bay Draft Cross Geldings.
Driven in parades the flashy team had been used daily on sleigh rides, could also be ridden, and brought $8,200.
Strong sale averages include the top five at $11,260; Top ten at $9,420; top 20 brought $7,655; Top 50 at $5,698, and the top 100 averaged $4,429.
Driven by worldwide demand and shortened supply, the processing horse market was on fire. The top 100 on the loose brought a full $100 more per head than one year ago.
Top five on the loose averaged $1,730, followed by the top ten at $1,575, top 20 at $1,337, top 50 brought $1,019, and the top 100 averaged $836.
Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for April 24-26 and will feature the annual spring “Rope Horse Special” catalog sale and regular monthly horse sale.
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 24.
PRCA World Champion Team Roper, Jhett Johnson, along with his brother, AQHA Judge and horse trainer, Justin Johnson will be on-site Friday, April 24 at 12 noon, prior to the jackpot, for an informal, free roping seminar which will touch on scoring, horse position, facing, stopping, and roping basics.
Rope horses will show again in Saturday performance previews.
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.
For more information, contact BLS Horse Sales at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 27, 28 & MARCH 1, 2015
Rockstar Rides
All time sales records set at February Sale Event
A hard-core selection of proven horses shared the stage with an outstanding selection of prospects as new sales records were set at Billings Livestock‘s “February Special Catalog Sale” February 27-28 & March 1.
The three day, sale showcase saw record prices paid for quality horses in all disciplines, as a diversified set of performance horses including arena horses and solid using horses pushed the market to an all-time high as the top 50 horses averaged a whopping $14,128 and the top 100 head averaged $10,613.
43 head of horses brought $10,000 or more.
716 horses were offered with 62 pass outs.
The top five sale leaders averaged $24,600 and include four tried and true performance horses, and one special prospect sired by industry leading sires including A Streak Of Fling, Zack T Wood, and Dash Ta Fame.
In the top sale spot for February, Hip 364 “Streakers Surprise” a 2007 AQHA Blue Roan Mare sired by Brian and Lisa Fulton’s Million Dollar Barrel horse sire, A Steak of Fling and out of the Kitaman granddaughter Hey Follow Me brought $33,000.
Offered by Ross and Casey Wagner, Park City, MT, the 1D barrel mare had also been heeled on and was patterned on the poles and sold to NFR barrel racer, Jane Melby, Burneyville, OK.
Reserve sale honors to Hip 326 “Hickorys Sweet T” a 2009 AQHA Sorrel mare by Zack T Wood and out of the Doc’s Hickory daughter, Hickory’s Sweetheart.
She’d earned $33,837, made the Limited Amateur and Unlimited Amateur finals at the 2014 Super Stakes, made the finals at the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association’s Fall Classic/Challenge $100,000 Amateur, came ready to show with one more year of LAE and 5,000 eligibility, and sold to Bill Retterath, Center, ND for $26,000.
With big things on the horizon, Hip 336 “Short Way Ta Fame” a 2014 AQHA Sorrel Stud Colt by the barrel horse industry’s number one sire - Dash Ta Fame - was all he was bred to be and more.
The colt with charisma was out of Short Stop Sis by Shorty Lena, second dam by Grays Starlight, and was offered by Dennis and Holly Ginkens, Billings, MT and purchased by Clay Trollinger, Ten Sleep, WY for $24,000.
Turner Performance Horses, East Helena, MT offered Hip 380 “First Class and Busy” a 2006 AQHA Black Gelding by SS Trickolena and out of a daughter of Tuf N Busy.
The double fancy, hauled and won on head and heel horse came gentle and ranch ridden and sold to Korey Abbott, Duchesne, UT for $20,000.
Records were also set in the loose session where the top horse selling as is, where is, how is - no rider, no catalog, no speech - brought $4,000, followed by $3,000, $2,600 and $2,050.
Definitely fueled by the riding prospects, the loose averages are the highest recorded at Billings Livestock, where the top five brought $2,675, top 10 at $2,152, top 20 at $1,770, top 50 brought $1,273, and top 100 averaged $986.
Billings Livestock‘s “Spring Special Catalog Sale” March 28 offers one big day of horses and mules and features 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 mules, barrel horses, cutters, saddle horses, and rope horses is scheduled for Friday, March 27 at 3 p.m.
For more information, to consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, Billings Livestock Commission Horse Sales at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com
SALE REPORT FOR JANUARY 24, 2015
Xtreme Performance
A “little bit of everything” peppered Billings Livestock Commission’s January 24 “Winter Special Catalog Sale” and “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” where a horse happy crowd had the opportunity to bid on everything from collectible tack to top-end using horses.
Baited by a better weather weekend - officially, Billings Livestock welcomed 330 head of horses for the one-day sale event, where a mere eight head were no-saled or passed out by the consignor.
Top January sale honors to Hip 87 "Oshoto Suprise" a 2007 AQHA Gray Gelding by San Badger Drift by PC Sun Socks offered by 11X NFR Qualifier, PRCA World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Wayne Herman, Halliday, ND.
The real deal ranch gelding brought $8,000 and sold to Clint Moore, Carnduff., Saskatchewan.
Schmitt Horse Ranch, Holland, IA consigned Hip 77 “Hollywood Sandino” a 2006 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Little Sandino and out of a Smart Little Lena mare.
A finished cutter that had been shown at ranch cuttings, the double-fancy gelding was gentle, fun to ride, and had seen ranch use, too.
The handsome gelding sold to Angela Murray, Miles City, MT for $6,700.
A youth rodeo dream, Hip 80 “FQHR Royal McKeag” a 1997 AQHA Blue Roan Gelding by McKeag was a hauled and won on barrel & pole horse, head horse, and heel horse.
Ridden most recently by a youth rider, the gelding who loved his job had also been roped on by #1 to #5’s at WTRC’s and World Series Ropings.
Respectful and good looking, the gelding brought $4,900 and sold to Carl Fowler, Lewistown, MT.
A rock solid sale on rock solid horses where the top five averaged $6,660; Top 10 at $5,900, top 20 brought $5,150 top 50 averaged $3,830, and the top 100 brought $2,788.
A bell-ringer loose horse business saw 168 head offered on the loose with a measurable upswing in the general loose horse market where across the board - that’s every loose horse offered, from big to little, as is, where is, how is - averaging right at $599 a head.
Three big horse sale days complimented by an indoor, all inclusive preview of the sale horses, sets off the “February Special Catalog Sale” February 27-28 & March 1.
Highlighted by a special, limited session of “Sons and Daughters” of Champions and Money Earners the February Sale is loaded with quality consignments.
See it all at www.billingslivestock.com