Billings, MT - Showcased by a spectacular set of stock horse geldings, Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale May 22 - 23 featured an array of “extreme geldings“ some straight out of the calving pasture or branding corral brought to town by the regions top ranches and cowhands.

Complimented by the “Best of the Remuda” Ranch horse competition Friday evening, the using geldings came to town to show their stuff in a judged competition - and - geldings claimed 19 out of the top 20 selling positions, ten of them wearing the red roan, blue roan, dun, or buckskin color.

Buyers from California to Tennessee had the opportunity to bid on 908 head of horses and 1 cowdog.

"Boots" stole the show - a real cowdog offered by Galen Humble, Ft. Pierre, SD. The excellent working dog brought $1,500 and sold to Brian Adams, Tremonton, UT.

Mr. Adams reported that three little girls did not want to go to school on Monday.

Folks watched and witnessed 50 head of working class geldings test their stockhorse skills with Hip 71 “Dandys Last Ace” a 94 AQHA sorrel gelding owned and shown by Jared Florell, Timnath, CO taking home the Championship buckle.

The winning gelding was also the day's top sale horse bringing a final bid of $9.500. The extra-special gelding sold to Jay Johnson, Wheatland, WY.

Three of the top eight selling horses were Canadian born and bred and offered by Canadian consignors, including the day’s second top seller - Hip 308 “Doc Straws Dude” a 95 AQHA sorrel gelding by Zippy Dude Bandit x Doc O Dude.

He’d been to the rodeos and jackpots, too, and the hauled and won on head horse was offered by Chelsea Driedger, Virden Manitoba and sold to Sweeney Livestock, Lewistown, MT for $6,600.

A great set of geldings were brought to Billings Livestock by well known rodeo and ranching family, Pat Linger, Miles City, MT including Hip 43 “Juniors Cinnamon”.

The 98 AQHA Red Roan son of Gumbo Roany had been ridden in the mountains and been to town, too, could pull anything you could get your rope on, and the 16 hand gentle giant brought $6,500.

Miles City, MT cowhands were well represented and well mounted as the third/fourth place “Best of the Remuda” winner, Russ Burrows, offered Hip 42 “Krogs Baker” a 96 AQHA Gray Gelding x Krogs Leo Mount.

The soggy gray gelding moved to McMinnville, TN with Carolyn Richmond for $6,100.

Raised by Sid Newman, Melstone, MT and owned since a weanling by Miles City cowboy Mike Landers, Hip 156 “To Johnny Hughes” a 98 AQHA Dun gelding had seen four solid years of ranch work in big country.

The quality using horse brought $4,750.

Older, educated, and honest - the horses in demand continue to be the trustworthy kind with an occupation.

Younger horses with little or no riding and horses in poor condition continue to meet with lessened demand.

Ranch and using geldings brought from $1,300 to $9,500.

Sale averages include the top five at $6,960; top ten brought $6,115; Top 20 at $5,175; Top 50 brought $3,999, and the top 100 averaged $3,154.

In the loose horse division - as is, where is, how is - the day's top horse brought $2,000, followed by $1,900, $1,850, with the top five averaging $1,790, top ten averaged $1,570, top 20 brought $1,309; Top 50 at $995; And the top 100 averaged $775.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for June 26 and will feature “Team Penning” horses. All classes and types of horses will sell, from prospects, mares, stallions, and finished horses. An open, draw-pot team penning is set for Friday, June 25 at 2 p.m. with one horse in each team being a sale horse.

Cattle will be available to show the cutting horses and rope horses beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. Ride horse preview will follow.

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