Talkin’ Ropin’

Billings, MT - Rope horses packed the horsepower with the hauled-and-won-on kind causing the big-bang at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s fourth annual "Rope Horse Special" Catalog Sale and regular monthly horse sale April 27 - 28.

The weekend was off and running with a "show and tell" rope horse jackpot - open only to sale horses - on Friday evening. With 90 teams entered, buyers and sellers alike watched the rope horses under competition circumstances.

Proving the point - 16 of the top 20 selling horses were cataloged as Rope horses and competed in the pre-sale jackpot.

A final tally of 812 head of horses were offered at the two-day sale spree - all classes, types, and occupations - brought to cowtown by sellers from 16 states and two Canadian provinces - and sold to buyers from 20 states and three Canadian Provinces.

Hauled to the big ones and cashed checks at them, too, Hip 175 "Jack’s Paleface" a 93 AQHA Gray Gelding x Jack Two Snips was a three-in-one package of head horse, heel horse, and tripping horse.

Honored as the reserve Champion last year in the Northwest Steer Roping Association, the quiet and sensible-gentle giant was consigned by Keith Magnus, Hayden Lake, ID and sold for $7,500 to R. Reetz, Pueblo, CO.

She’d qualified for every major Finals in the book from the NFR, USTRC, and CNFR and Hip 201 "Jenny Jo Chex" an 83 AQHA Brown Mare x Parky Chex was a dead-shot heel horse.

The only mare to crack the BLS top twenty in April, "Jenny Jo Chex" also claimed the top-spot at the BLS Team Roping jackpot.

She’d seen the lights of Las Vegas from the Thomas and Mack and Mike Hollibaugh, Chadron, NE purchased the big-time mare from Pat and Kay Lynn Beard, Walla Walla, WA for $6,750.

Young, right, and on his way - Hip 106 "Heza Sociable Ghost" a 97 AQHA sorrel gelding x Beaus Ghost was a head/heel combo package offered by Bart Harris, Firth, ID.

The get-along-wth-anyone kind of gelding brought a final bid of $6,300 and sold to Dave Duncan, Washougol, WA.

The top 50 working geldings offered over the weekend ranged from a low of $2,200 to a high of $7,500, depending on experience, condition, pedigree, and disposition.

Demand for gentle, finished geldings continues to be strong, while true value was found in the younger, less experienced horses.

A raving loose market continued at Billings Livestock for the fifth straight month - qualifying the sale as the top loose horse market in the nation - where the top loose horses brought $1,375, $1,325, and $1,150 - with the top five averaging $1,185, top ten brought $1,060, with the top 50 loose horses averaging $814.

Sale averages for the entire sale reflect a sound, solid market with the top five selling horses averaging $7,230; top ten brought $6,675; top 20 at $5,960; top 50 came in at $4,790; and the top 100 head of horses sold brought $3,737.

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 5 p.m. Friday, May 24 in the BLS Arena.

Cattle will be available both days 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