December 28, 2002 SALE REPORT

Billings, MT - Holiday shoppers from California to Canada selected from 248 head of horses at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s "New Year’s Special" Catalog Sale and regular monthly horse sale December 28.

With weather warming to 50 degrees, the preview arena was in full swing with rope horses previewing on cattle to a solid crowd of spectators for the one-day sale event.

Consignments were met with a positive market and a solid demand - only 12 head of the 248 horses offered were "passed out" by the consignor, computing to a mere 5% pass-out percentage for the day’s offering.

Testimony to the strength of the day’s trade at Billings Livestock - one-half of the entire sale, from the bottom to the top - 124 head - averaged $1,355 across the board.

A hot little number with a high octane pedigree, Hip 20 "Minnie Dots" - a 93 AQHA Chestnut mare sired by one of the best in the business - Dual Pep - and out of a Doc’s Jack Sprat daughter - topped the day’s sale with a final bid of $11,750.

Slick as oil, the young mare rode like a house-a-fire and had already produced a $3,405 NCHA money earner with her first foal to show by Lenas Jewel Bars.

Purchased by Warren Podany, Pilger, NE, the smart looking mare’s current produce record included foals by Lenas Jewel Bars, Shorty Lena, Miss N Cash, and Smart Little Jerry.

Using geldings, from ranchers to ropers, held their dominance with geldings claiming 12 of the top 20 selling positions in December.

The gig on the geldings proved that performance and honesty pack-a-punch in the gelding department, where five of the top 12 geldings - that’s one out of four horses in the top 20 sellers - were grade - and sold on their ability, disposition, and conformation with no registration papers or pedigree to back it up.

Sale highlights included a hauled-and-won-on set of rope horses consigned by Todd and Vivian Chamberlain, Riverton, WY.

A Chamberlain consignment and head horse deluxe, Hip 101 "Azeem" a 90 model grade black gelding had seen many trips to the pay window and showed his stuff in the pre-sale rope horse preview.

Bill Nugent, Water Valley, Alberta purchased the hard running, get-you-there head horse for $4,000.

World Champion Bareback rider Deb Greenough, Fromberg, MT consigned Hip 59 "Devlish Professional" a 99 APHA Bay gelding by I Am Professional.

Greenough’s had used the young gelding all summer in the Pryor Mountains gathering, sorting, branding, doctoring, over and under timber, through rough country, and in tight spots.

The big, "stays broke" gelding brought $2,700 and sold to South Morrill Feeders, Nebraska.

He’d received his education on the famous Sunlight Ranch and his manners and business-like presence told his story - he’d had a job, had a good cowboy in the saddle, and was now ready to move on - and Hip 96 Bilachia a 99 AQHA Brown Stallion x Motatin For Cash was a true cow horse consigned by Johnny Stewart, Wyola, MT.

Justin Blankenship, Ashland, MT purchased the real ranch horse for $2,000.

Younger horses saw increased demand over previous months, including the two and three year olds.

Loose horses remained steady, with the top five averaging $819, top 10 at $773; and top 20 on the loose averaging $675.

Overall sale averages include the top five coming in at $7,230; top 10 at $5,185; top 20 at $3,657; top 50 at $2,295; top 100 at $1,569; and one-half of the entire sale - loose to catalog - averaging $1,355.

January 25 will feature the "Winter Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale in addition to the "Cabin Fever" Tack Sale offering collectible and used tack. To receive a catalog or consign to future BLS sale events, call Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers, for more information at 406-245-4151 or e-mail info@billingslivestock.com