And - the horses came to town - baited by a better weather weekend - as officially, Billings Livestock welcomed 512 head of horses for the one-day sale event.

Grab those record books and write this one down - only 17 head of the entire day’s offering were passed out or “no saled” by the consignor - that’s 3% - living proof of the strength of the day’s trade.

Horses scattered to 13 states and Canada including Alaska, California, and Nevada.

A bell-ringer loose horse business saw 220 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 baby, as is, where is, how is - averaging right at $400 a piece.

Loose horse averages tell the story where the sale topper cashed in at $1,800 and the top five averaged $1,250, top ten $1,052, top twenty saw $903, top 50 came in at $712 and the top 100 - that’s nearly half - average $571.

Offering only collectible and used tack, the “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” seized a captive audience where the once-a-year tack event - held each January at BLS - sold bits to bridles and saddles to carriages, with the top pieces - a carriage and a set of spurs - commanding $2,000 and $1,500 respectively.

Ca. 1900 - 1930 and built by early Wyoming bit and spur maker Rex Schnitger, Gillette, Wy the exquisite pair of spurs sold to a Utah collector.

In the gelding department, the day’s top selling using horse wore the buckskin color and had a big dose of gentle and Hip 4 “Chaps” a 95 grade buckskin gelding brought $5,100.

Consigned by Billie Jo Symonds, Lodge Grass, MT, the big, solid horse sold to Darrell Luther, Forsyth, MT.

Good work teams gathered interest where two teams were offered - both had been used for feeding and were honest - bringing $2,600 and $3,400, with age, gender, and size the variables.

“Dual Valentine” a 97 AQHA Sorrel Mare by the famous Bar H sire Dual Pep - and out of a Doc O’Lena daughter, topped the day’s sale.

Offered by ARA Horse Company, Bixby, OK the trained cutting mare sold bred to D J Tracker and brought a final bid of $12,000.

All inclusive sale averages include the top five at $7,290; top ten at $5,355; top twenty at $3,972; Top fifty came in at $2,664, and the top 100 head of horse sold averaged $1,792.

February 28-29 will be the next horse sale event at Billings Livestock and will feature the “February Catalog Sale” highlighted by a special, limited session of “Sons and Daughters” of Champions and Money Earners in addition to the NFR Session.

A preview of the rope horses, cutting horses, and saddle horses is set for Friday, February 27 at 1 p.m. Horse Palace Arena.

For more information, to consign, or to request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or 1-800-635-7364. See it all at www.billingslivestock.com