Billings - Real ranch horses spiffed up, headed to town, and showed their stuff - in the
“Best of the Remuda” ranch gelding competition that headlined the “Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale Event” at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s May 26 -27 sale weekend.

With a total of 807 horses consigned, BLS’s horse market was fueled by an extraordinary set of geldings that competed in a judged ranch horse competition on Friday evening.

As the crowd witnessed, 50 head of better-than-average using geldings tested their stock horse skills with Hip 134 “WFive Getaway Tucker” getting away with the championship prize - a Tom Balding Bit.

No stranger to the championship trophy, consignor Rory Patton, Buck Lake, Alberta brought a very nice horse to town - the 97 AQHA Sorrel gelding was a grandson of Doc Tom Tucker and sold to M.C. Rosselott, Cardwell, MT for $5,200.

Shown, grown, and shattering the BLS gelding sale record, Hip 85 “Freckles Little Cowboy” was part of the Tom and Jamie Buckingham, Bruneau, ID, reduction sale offering.

Absolutely as broke-as-can-be, the absolute great gelding brought a record-breaking price of $12,500 - the highest price on record for any gelding sold at Billings Livestock.

Sired by the Buckingham’s stallion “Cols Lil Champ”, the 97 AQHA Bay gelding had already earned $1,500 in reined cow horse events, was started at both ends in the arena, and sold to Edwards Angus Ranch, Denton, MT.

Mares maintained their magic- claiming 7 out of the top 20 sale positions - with a Dual Pep daughter leading the way.

Consigned by Marty McCormick, Weatherford, TX, Hip 189 “Dual Jewel” - a 92 AQHA daughter of Bar H Ranches super-sire “Dual Pep” - brought $19,000 and sold to Rimrock Livestock, Shawmut, MT.

They don’t make them anymore and they knew it - a 95 AQHA daughter of Tanquery Gin and out of a Peppy San Badger daughter with $48,000 in earnings - came complete with her own NCHA COA - brought a final bid of $13,500.

A genuine sale highlight, “Gins Buttercup” showed in the preview on cattle and sold to Rimrock Livestock, Shawmut, MT.

Rimrock Livestock shows and stands “Playboys Phoenix” by Freckles Playboy and will offer 60 head from their program on September 22 at Billings Livestock.

Overall May sale averages breakdown as follows - top five at $12,620, the top ten averaged $9,040, the top 20 brought $6,590, and the top 50 horses sold averaged $4,457.

An amazing loose horse market saw the top loose bringing $1,725 with the top five prospects averaging $1,470 and the top ten loose horses bringing $1,359 - and - loose horses scattered to eight states and Canada.