Every horse in the top five sellers club at Billings Livestock Commission’s “Holiday Special Catalog Sale” November 25-26 boasted a sought after sire toting a big-time performance resume - including son’s of Peptoboonsmal, Smart Little Lena, Dual Rey, and daughters of Paddys Irish Whiskey and Frenchman’s Guy.

The top five selling horses brought an average ticket price of $10,180.

With 702 head of horses offered, the two-day sale, complete with preview for the barrel horses, saddle horses, cutters, and rope horses, saw a 90% completed sales percentage, sending horses to 14 states from Arizona to Tennessee.

The weekend’s top sale horse, Hip 150 “Tums” a 1998 AQHA sorrel stallion by the $9.3 million dollar sire “Peptoboonsmal”and out of Dry Docs Red Ruby by Dry Doc was offered by Cottonwood Colt Company, LLC, Joliet, MT. Selling breeding sound only, the stunning stallion brought $15,000 and sold to Tory and Lisa Holland, Dillon, MT.

Bred, raised, and offered by the Double Dove Ranch, Longmont, CO Hip 312X “Rey Cardo” a 2003 AQHA Sorrel gelding sired by the 2003 AQHA Freshman Sire and sire of $2.2 million to date in money earners - Dual Rey - was the weekend’s high selling gelding bringing $8,900.

Shown in the previews by NCHA Futurity finalist Casey Green, the extra-nice three-year-old sold to Cross Three Quarter Horses, LLC, LaCross, WA.

A special offering by Flying Heart Quarter Horses, Mike, Tammy, and Andy Hollibaugh, Chadron, NE included Hip 124 “Miss Frenchie Gal” a 1996 AQHA Buckskin mare sired by Equi-Stats number two Leading Sire of barrel horses for 2005 - Frenchman‘s Guy.

Bred back to the Hollibaugh’s sire, “Just Like Chicynn” by Smart Chic O’lena, the quality mare sold to Alan and Sherri Carr, Hugo, CO for $7,500.

“No suprise” geldings, trustworthy and tuned, continue to get the nod with the top ten geldings bringing $5,080.

Gentle and wise, Hip 177 “Victory Nic” a 2001 APHA Sorrel gelding x Docs Peppernic had been used in the mountains, packed meat, drug calves to the fire, and came with a world of ranching stories to tell.

Offered by Joe Fox, Hysham, MT the A-plus gelding brought $4,600 and sold to Montana Horseman’s Journal, Bozeman, MT.

Loose horses held their ground where the top five brought $1,060, top ten averaged $957, the top 20 came in at $804, and the top 50 at $601.

With minimal demand, the young, inexperienced horses continue to be found at the end of the pricing scale.

Catalog, open consignment, and loose, the overall sale averages include the top five at $10,180; top ten averaged $7,710; Top 20 brought $5,777; top 50 at $3,970, and the top 100 brought $2,845.

A big, one-day sale event is set for Saturday, December 30 with the “New Year’s Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale. Loose horses sell at 9 a.m. with catalog horses selling at 12 noon.