Billings, MT - Ready-made and reliable, rippin’ good geldings proclaiming the “stay broke” promise - today, tomorrow, and two months from now - powered the market August 26-27 at Billings Livestock’s “August Catalog Sale Event”.

Featuring speed bred and performance horses, the all-out western weekend welcomed 1,068 head of horses and kicked off Friday evening with an Open/NBHA approved barrel race while Sunday’s sixth annual “Montana Miniature and Pony” sale wrapped up the two-day horsesaleathon where 515 individuals representing 15 states and three Canadian provinces registered to buy.

Market confidence continued to build for “Instant geldings” - those requiring minimal maintenance - as serious buyers scrambled to get the good ones.

Post-sale results provide the proof - 14 out of the top twenty selling horses - that’s 70% - were geldings six-years-old or older, batting an average of $5,853 per head.

92% of the 1,068 head of horses offered actually sold - only 96 head were “passed out” or “no-saled” by the consignor.

They came from far and wide to get him, and Hip 111 “Cowboy” a ten-year-old grade gelding consigned by the Double K Ranch in Hulett, WY, stopped the show.

Described as “bombproof” the good gelding was put through his paces in the preview, including dragging a tarp, riding double, laying down to mount, and demonstrating his tolerant nature.

Ridden miles and miles on cattle, the ranch used, willing gentleman brought a final bid of $16,250 and sold to Grayeagle, California buyer Edna Bayliff.

Barrel horses made a splash including two “teenagers” - both 13 years old - who earned a spot in the top ten seller’s listing.

Hip 58 “Trigger” a 93 grade black gelding offered by Tammy Thompson, Ramsay, MT, ran barrels, poles, and was an excellent ranch horse.

Sound and sensible, “Trigger” sold to Nicole Meibos, Farr West, UT for $5,400.

Also a 93 model, “Tonys Copy” a AQHA Bay gelding consigned by E. Paul Miller, Inkom, ID and shown by Stephanie Miller, earned the $100 bonus for the sale horse with the fastest time in the NBHA/Open barrel race held Friday, clocking a 14.585.

Sired by Tonys Gear Jammer x Hempen, and out of a Duplicate Copy/Jet On bred mother, the “take-you-to-the-pay-window” gelding had been hauled to High School rodeos.

Wendy Scalise, Malad, ID purchased the quality gelding for $5,250.

Sired by Equi-Stats number seven top barrel horse sire - all ages, all divisions - “Dash For Perks” Hip 177 “Dash of Whiskey” a 04 AQHA Brown gelding was out of a Two-Eyed Jack bred dam.

Calm, quiet, and gently started, the boy with the business sold north of the border to barrel racer Chelsea Driedger, Virden, Manitoba, Canada for $10,000.

The mini and pony business rocked as Sunday’s sale feature saw the top pony offered bring $2,600.

Hip 417 “Burt” a 94 model grade bay quarter/welsh pony gelding had seen his share of youngsters, including giving rides at public events, standing patiently to be groomed, and was classified as a “babysitter”.

Offered by Lance and Cindy Lidstrom, Worden, MT, the good guy sold to Audra Crouse, Basin, WY.

In the miniature department, Hip 437 “Tibbs Mistic Mercedes” a 04 AMHR/AMHA Sorrel stallion raised and consigned by Tim Tibbs, Fort Pierre, SD commanded the day’s top mini price - $1,100 - selling to Doug Stoddard, Billings, MT.

The top five ponies averaged $2,080, while the top ten minis and ponies brought $1,565.

A new high was reached in the loose department, where the top selling loose horse - no rider, no speech, no guarantee - hammered all previous records with an incredible $3,500 selling price.

The top five loose horses - offered one by one, selling 100 per hour - brought $2,300, the top ten averaged $1,850, top 20 at $1,462, top 50 brought $1,016, and the top 100 averaged $782.

Inclusive sale averages - from beginning to the end, from top to bottom - include the top five at $9,910, top ten came in at $7,640; top 20 averaged $5,932; top 50 brought $4,283; with the top 100 at $3,265.

Expanded to three days, Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale is next on the BLS Sale agenda September 22 - 24.

The big, fall sale event will headline “Rope Horses” and a special session of John Scott Ranch bred and branded horses.

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.

A jackpot on the rope horses is set for 1 p.m. Friday, September 22. Watch the sale horses under competition circumstances!

See it all at www.billingslivestock.com or contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151.