** A WORK IN PROGRESS **

Past Horse Sales 2005

Past Horse Sales 2004

Past Horse Sales 2003

December 27 Sale Report

Winter Wonderland! One third of sale averages $2,269

From start to finish, from the loose offering straight through the catalog, solid horses saw solid demand at Billings Livestock Commission’s “New Year Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale December 27.Even as winter weather pounded the west bringing upwards of a foot of needed snow to some areas and highways and interstates closed, the one-day sale event offered buyers from Utah to Minnesota the opportunity to bid on 149 head of horses where one-third of the entire sale - 50 head - including loose to the purple pedigreed - averaged $2,269.They make them here in the west, and ranch ridden, honest geldings complete with work-place experience saw genuine demand throughout the day as 13 out of the top 20 selling horses were geldings.He wore the red roan color and came a real cowhorse, and Hip 98 “Rands Cash” a 97 AQHA gelding x Cash Available was the using kind. The gentle, classy gelding had worked on the ranch, drug elk out of the Missouri Breaks and was consigned by Justin Hanley, Miles City, MT.Page Livestock, Dillon, MT purchased the quality cow pony for $4,000.Kind, quiet, broke to ride, and bred - the day’s top sale horse “Gun Shy Ann” was a pretty, buckskin package of pedigree, class, and sense.Sharing the same mother as $180,000 in money earners, including Dos Palomino, the 96 AQHA Buckskin mare x Young Gun and out of Docs Flying Sug x Docs Sug sold bred to Shorty Lenas Promise.Diamond J Ranch, Woodland, UT, bought the mare for $11,000. Offered by the one of America’s top horse hands, Bobby Lewis, Clovis, NM, Hip 29 “Its Cash on Lena” a 2002 AQHA sorrel stallion x Miss N Cash and out of a Commander King and Doc O’Lena granddaughter.The extra-keen stallion prospect brought a final bid of $4,000 and sold to Don Meyers, Lolo, MT.Looking every bit the part of a rope horse, he came ranch ridden and pasture roped on, and Hip 4 “Raney Oak Bar” a 98 AQHA sorrel gelding x Apaches Tank was consigned by Bob Albrecht, Hershey, NE.The top arena prospect brought $3,200 and went home with Monte Mallett, Broadus, MT.Billings Livestock was proud to welcome six head from Bubel Quarter Horses, Center, ND. The intensely race bred offering included sons and daughters of Bubel’s stallions “Blurr the Bux” x Murrtheblurr and “Up to Victory” x Victory Dash.A very low pass-out percentage - a slim 8% of the day’s offering - proved a strong market which is reflected in the overall sale averages - top five horses brought $7,250; top ten at $5,375; top 20 averaged $3,817; top 50 came in at $2,269 and the top 100 at $1,422.Loose horses saw the day’s top selling horse sold on the loose bring $1,275, top five $975, and the top ten average $843.

January 24 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

 November 22 Sale Report!

BIG SCREEN BOUND!

A “cowboy kind of morning” greeted sale goers on November 22 as unseasonably cold weather pushed it’s way west to Billings Livestock Commission Company’s “Holiday Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale.

Even with interstate highways closed,  buyers put weather woes aside, and came to bid on the “ready to go to work” kind - including “Hitch and Giddyup” a grade team of seven and eight year-old black percheron mares offered by Randy Bancescu, Oak Lake, Manitoba.They’re headed to star on the big screen as the team of work horses sold to John Scott, Longview, Alberta, for use in the movie production of “Little House on the Prairie”. The quiet, gentle team were the day’s top sellers bringing $4,000. Horses are the tools of his trade so he always rides a good one and working cowboy Joe Fox, Hysham, MT brought Hip 10 “Bobbies True Bum” a 97 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Bunny Sax and out of a True Roman daughter to town.Used on the largest contiguous ranch in Montana - J.B. Grierson Cattle Company - the real cowhorse was used branding, dragging calves, and gathering in those big pastures for the past three years.Paul Hansen, Dillon, MT purchased the “all business” package for $3,800.Strawn Valley Ranch, Strawn, TX, home of Peppys Boy 895 - offered six head of two-year-olds - all riding well and started on cattle - and - all buckskins or palominos - from their well-known program.“Bingos Pep” - an 01 AQHA Buckskin Mare x Peppys Boy 895 and out of a daughter of Bingo Hickory brought $3,500 and was purchased by Chris Evans, Elwood, UT.His mother is a daughter of Doc‘s Oak who has $29,000 in earnings and “Oaks Peppydonna” - an 01 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Peppys Boy 895 was packed with promise and purchased by Wyatt Harbert, Manhattan, MT for $3,500.South Dakota cowboys Billy Martin of Faith, and Justin Swires from Isabel, brought a nice set of using geldings to the November offering, including Hip 72 “Sugar Hancock Bars” a 99 AQHA Red Roan gelding x Tiny Sugar Bars and out of a Quarter Hancock granddaughter. Handy combined with pretty brought $3,100 and sold to Jack Wipplinger, Roberts, MT.501 head were offered, including 270 loose horses. The top selling loose horse of the day brought $1,750, followed by $1,350 and $1,200. Offered as is, where is, how is, the loose horse averages include the top five at $1,290, top ten $1,090, top 20 came in at $844, while the top fifty averaged $591.Overall sale averages - including the cataloged horses - show the top five averaging $3,610, top ten at $3,140, top twenty came in at $2,620, while the top fifty averaged $1,990.Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for December 27 with the “New Year’s Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale.

To consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

October 26 -27  Sale Report

Men’s Club

Billings, MT - Breeding stallions , arena geldings, or ranch hands - it was “Men Only” as geldings and stallions claimed the entire top ten sellers list at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s “Fall Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale October 25 - 26.A record number of horses were offered - 990 head - at the two-day sale blitz with a market driven by quality - the top-end horses continued to hold their own and drive demand, while plainer, less experienced type horses met with a softer market.Every horse in the top ten - all stallions or geldings - were proven performers, some complete with show records, or true prospects, sired by industry leaders - from barrel racing, reining, cutting, or reined cowhorse - and out of mares with their own credentials. All were products of a plan.A well attended pre-sale preview for the cutters, ropers, and ride horses allowed the sale horses to show their stuff.Shown on cattle in the preview, the weekend’s top selling horse was offered by Hutchings Quarter Horses, Mel and Virginia Hutchings, Thayne, WY and “RM Arizona Playboy” a 94 AQHA stallion x Freckles Playboy brought $18,000 and sold to Robbin Thayn, Oxford, NE.As cool as they come, and as class as can be, Hip 132 “Dudes Te” a 97 AQHA sorrel stallion x The Big Te and out of a daughter of Blondys Dude packed the points to prove it and was offered by Harold and Kathy Ott, Troy, ID. With his GQ looks and 64 AQHA points - in halter, heading, and heeling - the easy to look at stud horse was a big-time rope horse. With a list of wins and credentials that read like a who’s who, the superhorse sold to Alpine Vet Service, Billings, MT for $14,000.A solid, top-end gelding market was lead by son’s of Doc’s Oak and Frenchman’s Guy, and the top five geldings averaged $6,140.Nine-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier and currently the number four professional steer wrestler in the world, Birch Negaard and his wife, Louise, Sundance, WY consigned Hip 136 “CG French Fry” a 2000 model AQHA Sorrel gelding x Frenchman’s Guy.He’d been ranched on, calved on, roped on, and started around the barrels, and the gelding with the shiny bright future brought $7,100.Folks purchasing horses in the top twenty came from Nebraska, California, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming and Montana.Sale highlights included offerings from BNH Quarter Horses, Buster and Helen Brown, Whitlash, MT, Thomas Ranch Offering, Harry Thomas, Harrold, SD, and 246 Ranch, Harold and Deb Adema, Sundance, WY.Complete sale averages include the top five at $11,420; top ten averaged $8095; top twenty came in at $5767; followed by the top 50 at $3898; and the top 100 head of horses sold - averaged $2875.Continuing the trend, value remains in the younger, less experienced horses looking for a job, while buyers scramble to purchase the finished, honest and proven type horses.In the loose horse division, 491 head of horses were offered “as is, where is, how is” with the top horse fetching $1,500, followed by $1,250, and $1,200.Loose averages include the top 5 at $1230; top 10 at $1095; top 20 averaged $958; top 50 at $758; and the top 100 averaged $595. Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for November 22 and will feature the “Holiday Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale.

To consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

SEPTEMBER 27 - 28   SALE REPORT

Ropin in the Rockies!

Top 100 average $4,398!

A ripping good offering of true-blue rope horses, traditional ranch horses, and breeding stock with powerhouse performance pedigrees brought 582 buyers to town for Billings Livestock Commission Company’s annual “Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale” September 27 - 28.

Studs stole the show as five of the top six selling horses were stallions, coming complete with show and produce records or bred for the performance promise. The top five averaged $14,500.Mares also made their mark with seven mares claiming a spot in the top twenty sellers list - including daughters of Hollywood Dun It, High Brow Cat, Smart Mate, Meradas Money Talks, Like A Diamond, and two mares by Peppy San Badger. The top twenty averaged $8,380.Sound and solid, the 864 head of horses offered over the two-days met with extremely strong demand as evidenced by the low “pass out” or “no sale” percentage of 12%. Horses sold to 24 states.Rope horses strutted their stuff Friday afternoon in a pre-sale team roping jackpot where 90 teams competed aboard sale horses under competition circumstances. Hips 114 “Spiderman” an 87 Grade Black gelding consigned by Brad Carpenter, Nampa, ID, and shown by Mark Eldridge, Caldwell, ID and Hip 42 “Pepper Bars Pepper” a 96 AQHA Sorrel Gelding offered by Taylor Bang, Killdeer, ND and ridden by Dennis Tryan, Huntley, MT won the championship buckles with a time of 23.68 on three head. The horses brought $2,400 and $5,000 respectively.He had it all going on - head, heel, breakaway, or gather cattle, he was an all-around kind of guy wearing the Matt Dillon buckskin color and Hip 88 “Cragos Doctor Nick” a 90 AQHA Buckskin stallion x Docs Decatholon passed on his no-nonsense disposition and sought after color to his offspring.Shown in the team roping jackpot - entered on both the head side and heel side- the versatile pretty boy joined the BLS High Sellers Club with a final bid of $20,000.Consigned by Mill Creek Genetics, Bellevue, Iowa, the guy with the glitter sold to Carl Rivers, Tulsa, OK.Daniel and Louis Mauch, Fordyce, NE purchased Hip 32 “Hickorys Diamond Man” a 95 AQHA Sorrel stallion x Doc’s Hickory.The finished cutter was offered by Richard and Edna Grabow, Douglas, WY and brought $17,000.Sired by the number one sire of cutting horses, the NCHA Triple Crown winner, and sire of over $26 million in money earners - Smart Little Lena - and - out of a Peppy San daughter that had earned $103,357 herself and produced earners in excess of $146,000 - Hip 182 “Lynneas Lena, a 2000 AQHA Sorrel Stallion had all the right genetics.Paid to date in the NCHA Futurity, the rising star was offered by Pat Fitzgerald, Pauli, OK and sold for $16,000 to Dean and Wendy Briggs, Whitehall, MT. The gig on the geldings proves that age and occupation matter - 18 out of the top 20 selling geldings were five years old or older, 15 out of the 20 wore the black, gray, dun, buckskin, or roan color, and 16 out of the top 20 were entered in the rope horse session. The top 20 geldings alone brought from $4,000 to $6,000.The top 50 working geldings offered over the weekend ranged from a low of $1,200 to a high of $6,000, depending on experience, condition, pedigree, and disposition.Offered by the folks who raised him, the one owner gelding “Primetime Azure” a 96 AQHA Gray gelding x Band of Azure took home the honors of Top Selling Gelding. Brought to town by Sue Rogers, Temecula, CA, the special gelding brought $6,000 and sold to Joe Painter, Buffalo, SD.Demand for gentle, finished geldings continues to be strong, while true value was found in the younger, less experienced horses.Montana’s cowboy climate saw the overall sale averages strong - the top five averaged $14,500 followed by the top ten at $11,045; The top 20 brought $8,380; top 50 averaged $5,918; and the top 100 head averaged $4,398.A sale highlight included the famous Two Dot Ranch offering including their King Ranch branded stallion “Badgers Spirit” - a 96 AQHA Bay stallion x Ritas Sweet Badger. The stallion who was ridden and used daily at the famous Cody, Wy ranch brought $9,000 and sold to Kylan Campbell, Jasper, AR. An absolute screaming loose horse trade saw 262 head offered “as is, where is, how is” with the number one selling loose horse bringing $2,400 followed by $2,000 and $1,900.America’s number one loose horse market saw the top five average $1,850, top ten loose at $1,540; top 20 came in at $1,280; top 50 at $949; and the average on 100 - 40% of the loose horses sold - brought $733.Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for October 25  - 26 - and will feature the annual “Fall Special Catalog Sale” in addition to the BNH Production Sale Offering and Harry Thomas Quarter Horses Consignments .All classes and types of horses will sell with Performance Horses featured.Cattle will be available both days to preview the rope horses and cutting horses.For more information, to consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

 AUGUST 23 - 24, 2003 Sale Report:

Arena Ready!

Paycheck packing, polished and proven - the “all business” boys were the buzz at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s August 23-24 sale event.Featuring speed bred and performance horses, the “August Catalog Sale” kicked off with a WPRA/NWBRA approved barrel race Friday afternoon while Sunday’s “Montana Miniature and Pony” sale wrapped up the sale weekend. Arena ready and ridden, four of the top five selling horses were geldings - coming complete with earnings or points, while the fifth - a mare - had produced two money earners. All were five years old or older.With 625 head offered over the two-days, horses came and went across the globe - including 16 states and three Canadian provinces, from Washington to New Hampshire and from Manitoba to Texas.Top guns showed their stuff each day in the pre-sale preview, including the saddle horses, cutting and rope horses. It keeps on getting better as quality ran deep - the top fifty horses averaged $3,326 - an increase of $534 per head over August 2002, while - the top five averaged an incredible $2,960 over 2002 figures, averaging $7,040 per head.The weekend’s top sale horse was made-to-order for high school or college rodeo competition, a do-it-all kind of guy, qualifying for the National High School Rodeo Finals four times in the goat tying, four times in the breakaway roping, three times in team roping, and twice in pole bending, and Hip 173 “Hand Ford Doc Bailey” a 94 AQHA Chestnut gelding by Allee Hand and out of a Doc’s Rickashay bred dam was offered by Chelsea Driedger, Virden, Manitoba.Voted the 2002 Manitoba High School Rodeo Association “Girl’s Quarter Horse of the Year”, the honest competitor brought a final bid of $10,000 and sold to Barbara Barber, Manhattan, MT.Earning the $100 cash bonus to the BLS Sale Horse that clocked the fastest time in the WPRA/NWBRA barrel race, Hip 128 “Dash For Music” a 98 AQHA Sorrel gelding sired by Motatin For Cash and out of a Super Tease/Jet Music bred mare had been started right and offered by Corlene Phillips, Rozet, WY.Bringing $5,500, the headed-to -the-pay-window gelding sold to Jim Riggle, Woodenville, WA.Billings Livestock was proud to welcome IPRA World Champion Team Roper, Bonny Holt, San Jacinto, CA who purchased Hip 126 “Freckled Ace” a 97 AQHA Sorrel gelding consigned by Steve and Audrey McLean, Dayton, WA.Used branding calves, team penning, sorting, turning back, and in the mountains, the gelding had earned his general business diploma and was lightly started in the arena.Sired by Ace O’Lena x Doc O’Lena, and out of a Colonel Freckles grandddaughter, the mega-gelding cost $5,600.Experience and work ethic are sought after virtues, and he came spiffed up and riding better than many horses, and Hip 287 “Festus” a 91 Grade John Mule was a no-nonsense, do what it takes gentleman.Ride or pack, sun-up to sun-down, broke to picket and hobble, the extra-nice mule was offered by Allen Lloyd, Round Mountain, Nevada and sold for $3,700 to Jake Clark, Powell, WY.Young, plainer, less experienced horses, including weanlings and yearlings, were again the buy of the weekend, while traditional ranch geldings - the dependable, honest, and educated kind - propelled the market, with the older, seasoned geldings selling well throughout the two-days.Sunday’s “Montana Miniature and Pony Sale” saw Hip 405 “Zorro” an 89 Quarter Pony gelding bring $3,900. Roped on in the team roping preview, the all-around pony ran barrels, poles, heeled, and breakaway, too.Bart Byrd, Douglas, WY purchased the well-exposed fellow for $3,900.Mini’s, both AMHR and AMHA registered averaged $825 on the top five, with the top selling mini bringing $1,000.A solid market from start to finish is reflected in the overall sale averages for the weekend - the top five averaged $7040; top ten brought $5,740; top 20 averaged $4,600; the top 50 came in at $3,326, while the top 100 head of horses sold averaged $2,424.The heat was on in the loose horse trade - again - where the top selling horse offered “as is, where is, how is” pushed the market at $1,600, followed by $1,550, and $1,300.With 215 offered on the loose, the top 20 averaged $1,133, while the top ten averaged $1,273, and the top 50 - that’s nearly 25% of the day’s loose offering - averaged $915, while the top 100 - nearly one-half - averaged $708.Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale is next on the BLS Sale agenda September 27 - 28.Featuring “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.

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

JULY 26 - 27, 2003 Sale Report:

Playboy Stallion Brings $22,000

Billings, MT - Cowbred came to cowtown - with progressive, genetic packages from promoted and proven programs pushing the market at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s “Mid-Summer Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale July 26 - 27.

True market strength was evidenced by the sale average of $3,467 per head on the top 100 selling horses  - a whopping $456 per head increase over July 2002.

With a total of 727 head of horses offered during the two-day sale event, and a 15% no-sale or “pass-out” percentage overall, all sale averages - from the top five to the top 100 - reflected a substantial boost from last year’s figures.

Cutters were the feature, and contemporary cowhorse breeding was the business as mares and stallions claimed nine out of the top ten selling positions - with stud horses grabbing the top two.

Horses scattered to 18 states, with a steady, solid demand for sharp, honest using horses continuing - while - it’s all about supply and demand - and the supply is ample while the demand is limited - for the younger, plainer, less experienced horses who were again the buy of the weekend.

Sons and daughters of Freckles Playboy, Peppy San Badger, Playgun, Haidas Little Pep, and three head by Doc’s Hickory - graced the top-end of the market where the top ten averaged $9,825.

His mother is a daughter of Doc Bar and his sire is Freckles Playboy - the $20 million dollar producer of NCHA money earners, $100,000 in the NRHA, $155,000 in NRCHA, and 6,239 AQHA points, and - Hip 189 “Peppy Belles Player” a 91 AQHA Sorrel stallion was himself an NCHA money earner and producer.

Shown on cattle in both cutting previews and offered by Rhett Searle, Vernal, UT, the extra-nice sire and show horse brought a final bid of $22,000 and sold to Neal Livermont, Interior, SD.

This guy‘s dam is an NCHA futurity champion - Millie Montana - and his sire the NCHA Reserve Champion - Haidas Little Pep - and Hip 127 “Peppys Intrepid” a 94 AQHA Sorrel stallion was bred to be special.

Consigned by Ronald Wheeler, Idaho Falls, ID and previewed by Mike Gianinni, Blackfoot, ID, the pretty boy sold to Bernard Lauing, Blunt, SD for $11,500.

Offered by the man who raised her and owns her AQHA World Champion sire, Hip 122 “Si Olena Maria” a 98 AQHA Sorrel Mare x Si Olena and out of a Little Peppy daughter, was a stand-up mare brought to town by Lowell DenBesten, Platte, SD.

The cover girl deluxe brought $10,500 and moved to Jasper, Arkansas with Collin Campbell.

Ranch and using geldings made up the bulk of the weekend’s sale offerings, with demand strong on the finished, honest kind made in the west everyday.

A horse for every trade, from common to spectacular, pricing on the cow horse geldings was dependent on pedigree, quality, occupation, and honesty, ranging from $1,200 to $7,500.

A hot to trot loose horse trade played to a full sale arena, and again, saw Billings Livestock set the pace for the nation with the top selling loose horse bringing $2,000, $1,550, and $1,325.

Loose horse sale averages include the top five at $1,470, top ten $1,185; and the top 50 horses on the loose averaged $777, while the top 100 head purchased “as is, where is, how is“ brought $615.

Overall sale averages summarized the weekend’s quality offerings with the top five averaging $12,500; top ten $9,825; top 20 brought $7,235; top 50 averaged $4,811, while the top 100 came in at $3,467.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event includes their annual “August Catalog Sale”, and “Montana Miniature and Pony Sale” in a three-day sale blitz set for August 22-23-24.

WPRA and NBHA approved barrel race will kick off the weekend’s activities on Friday morning, August 22 in the BLS Arena.

To enter, consign or request a catalog, contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

 JUNE 28, 2003 Sale Report:

Cowhorse Crazy

Billings, Montana - Five-star geldings by the fistful - the kind that had earned their business degree in and out of the arena and looked good doing it - were in full-force and full-demand at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s June 28 “Summer Special Catalog Sale” and regular monthly horse sale. With 701 horses brought to town for the one-day sale binge, the day’s offering met with a big crowd ready to do business - only 11% of the day’s offering were passed out or no saled by the consignor.Horses hit the road to twenty states and two Canadian provinces, from New York to California, with 392 buyers registering to play ball."Team Penning" horses were featured as a good set of horses competed in a pre-sale team penning jackpot of Friday afternoon in the BLS Arena.  The championship team of David Pancost, Penrose, CO, JB Lockie, Minnesota, and Donny Stevens, Kalispell, MT took home the buckles awarded to the number one team.The good geldings were golden as 16 of the top 20 selling horses were geldings - four of them grade.All of the geldings gracing the Billings Livestock Top Seller’s list were five years old or older - with five of the geldings being 1994 models - making them nine-years old - and coming as a been-there, done-that package with an occupation. In addition, the top five selling geldings wore the black, buckskin, or gray color - and hammered home a $5,950 head average.Proof that quality ran deep, only $600 separated the top five gelding average from the top ten average - the top ten geldings averaged $5,350 a piece.Testimony to the call for quality - that if you have it, sale order is secondary- he sold 11 hours into the sale and six horses from the end of the catalog - and Hip 353 took home the day’s top gelding honors.Deserving of his title, the 94 AQHA Buckskin gelding “Silk Can Run” x Buckskin An Silks back to Go Man Go and out of a Sea Bar/Go Man Go mother, was consigned by Nichols and Kara Caspers, New Underwood, SD.Hauled to some calf ropings, the finished breakaway and heel horse had earned his arena credentials while covering a lot of country day-working on ranches.Purchased by Kirk Baty, Middleton, ID, the extra-nice gelding brought a final bid of $6,500.Geldings number two and three on the top selling chart were both coal black and classy critters, bringing $6,250 and $6,000 respectively.Number two “Yankee” a 96 Grade black gelding offered by Lee Pedersen, Milestone, Saskatchewan, stood 16.1 hands and tipped the scales at 1,350 pounds.Balanced and fancy, the big guy sold to Lisa Clarke, Billings, MT.Third on the gelding list was Hip 65 “Cowtown Drifter” a 96 AQHA Black gelding consigned by J.T. Collingwood, Greybull, WY.With a ranching background, the quiet, gentle gelding had sorted pairs, branded, roped and drug calves, hunted on, packed elk - all in addition to his arena experience - where you could rope either end.Bruce Millward, Jackson Hole, WY bought the easy to look at, multi-talented individual.Sired by the NRHA Futurity Winner and World Champion reined cowhorse, Todaysmyluckyday - and out of the great mare “Patiences Reward” - Hip 155 “Rebas Lucky Day” a 99 AQHA Bay mare carried all the right genetics and topped the day’s sale event .Offered by Mark Robinson, Billings, MT the class mare came eligible for the Reining Breeders Classic and sold to Clyde Krebs, Glen Ullin, ND - home of RW Peppy O’lena - for $8,750.The BLS loose horse market rocked again where the top selling horse on the loose brought $2,350, followed by $1,525 and $1,500. With 332 head offered as is, how is, where is - Montana makes the market - where the top five averaged $1,540, top ten at $1,325, top 20 at $1,150, top 50 averaged $906, and almost one-third of the day’s loose offering - 100 head deep - averaged $711.Total sale averages for the one-day event include the top five at $6,600; top ten averaged $5,805; Top 20 came in at $4,847; Top 50 brought $3,675, and beating the 2002 figures on the top 100 head by a $300 bill, the top 100 averaged $2,734.Billings Livestock’s next sale event is the “Mid-Summer Catalog Sale” featuring cutting horses - set for July 26 - 27.All classes of horses will sell, including finished horses and prospects for ranch, roping, arena, cutting, or recreation.

To consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, Horse Sale Managers, at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

MAY 24 - 25, 2003 Sale Report:

Tried and True

Billings, MT - Time-clock punching "good ole boys" played it big - as geldings, some straight off a day's work, were the preferred property at Billings Livestock Commission Company's "Cow Country Classic" Catalog Sale featuring the"Best of the Remuda" Ranch Gelding Sale Session May 24 - 25.

It was full speed ahead with genuine ranch geldings fueling a strong market where a total of 788 head of horses were bought and sold during the two-day sale spree.Reflecting the solid market was a 13% pass out or "no sale" percentage overall.As the crowd witnessed, 44 head of the "real deal" geldings tested their stockhorse skills Friday evening in a judged "Ranch Horse Competition" with Hip 83 "Mr Powder River" a 99 AQHA Palomino gelding owned and shown by Lyle Mitchell, Wolf, WY taking home the Championship buckle.Geldings were the stars of the show and shine they did as 16 of the top 20 selling horses were geldings, three of them grade. The top five selling geldings alone averaged $6,010, and the top ten brought $5,435.Top gelding honors went to Hip 443 "Continental Storm" a 95 APHA Sorrel Overo gelding who came packing his ROM points in Youth barrel racing, Youth pole bending, and Youth key hole.Sired by Adios Omega and out of a Continental Dude bred dam, the quiet, flashy guy was offered by Lisa Redfield, Opheim, MT and sold for $6,900 to Diane Taylor, Canon City, CO.Roan, gentle, and grade - Hip 19 "Dallas" a 91 model red roan gelding consigned and shown in the ranch horse competition by Clint Humble, Newell, SD, was also a finished head and heel horse.Purchased by Glenn Stuckey, Kiowa, CO, for $5,700, the quiet, unassuming guy had also been used to pick up broncs at rodeos.Used in the mountains of Utah on elk and deer hunts and ridden by the entire family, Hip 84 "Woody" an eight-year-old dun gelding consigned by Shawn Kelly, Midway, UT, was a big, standup fellow who was easy to be around.The real gelding brought $4,250 and sold to Bob McIlhattan, Bozeman, MT.Stallions snuck in and claimed the number one and two selling spots of the weekend, where color, conformation, and parentage played a part in their appeal.Bringing a final bid of $17,000 and heading north to Macklin, Saskatchewan, Hip 94 "Peponita Lena Flo" a 00 AQHA Black stallion sired by NCHA Open Futurity reserve champion Mr. Peponita Flo and out of a daughter of Shorty Lena, rode like a reiner and was started and shown on cattle.Purchased by Len Bast, Macklin, Sask, the stallion deluxe was shown and offered by Marty McCormick, Weatherford, TX.A buckskin beauty with a disposition to match, Hip 175 "True Collins Jessie" a 00 AQHA Buckskin stallion consigned by Jackie Entzel, Killdeer, ND had been used on the ranch and was lightly started in the arena.Sired by True Command N Moore and out of a Friendly Fritz granddaughter, the pretty boy brought $11,500 and sold to Lon Brest, Richey, MT.The only mare to crack the BLS top twenty in May was Hip 73 "Poco San Holly" a 94 AQHA chestnut mare by Poco San Lena and out of a Hollywood Gold bred dam.Shown and owned by Sarah Ann Parrish, Joplin, MO, the trained cutting mare sold to Tres Lund, Minnetrista, MN for $6,000.It was "loose horse lunacy" as fireworks continued in the BLS loose horse department where 291 head were offered to a full sale arena and - get this - the top 50 on the loose - that's 17% of the day's loose horse offering - averaged an unheard of $998 each.They came to get them as is, where is, and how is at BLS where the top loose horse of the day brought $1,850, followed by $1,525, and $1,500.Loose averages hammered all previous records - again - with the top five averaging $1,510; top ten bringing $1,365; top 20 at $1,215, and the top 50 averaged just two dollars shy of $!,000 apiece. And...even deeper, the top 100 head on the loose averaged a whopping $811 a head.Tallying up the entire sale event, overall sale averages for the second month in a row at Billings Livestock Horse Sales exceeded the figures from a year ago.The top five averaged $9,580; Top ten at $7,525; Top 20 came in at $6,040; Top 50 brought $4,407, while the top 100 averaged $3,381 - a $118 increase over 2001.Billings Livestock's next sale event is set for June 28 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 27 at 3 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

APRIL 26 - 27, 2003 Sale Report:

Ropin' Lessons

 Some came ready for the Friday night jackpot and some were consigned by World Champions, and a class collection of rope horses - 140 in all - came jackpot and rodeo ready for Billings Livestock Commission Company's fifth annual "Rope Horse Special and April Catalog Sale" April 26 - 27.

Performance power was proven in a packed pre-sale team roping jackpot held Friday afternoon at the Horse Palace Arena where 144 teams - all aboard sale horses - showed their stuff under competition circumstances.When it was all said and done, a weekend total of 897 head of horses - all kinds and classes - were bought and sold, finding new homes in 20 states and scattering across the map from California to New Jersey.The gather was on the ropers as 12 out of the top 20 selling horses - 3 of them grade - were cataloged as rope horses and shown in the pre-sale jackpot.And rope he did, entering the jackpot as both a heel horse and head horse, and Hip 140 "Niks Trip" a 92 AQHA Gray gelding by Kaniksu Kid and out of a Jet Deck bred mother, was a solid, stylish, and all-business kind of guy, turning heads and bringing a final bid of $8,500.Shown by Jeff Bailey, Bend, OR, and owned by Tonya Mott, Bend, OR, the 15.3 hand, 1275 lb., gelding moved to the Silver State with Garry Rogers, Sparks, Nevada.Another switch-ender who had seen plenty of trips to the pay window, Hip 146 "Blue" a 96 Grade Blue roan gelding consigned by Pablo Good, Greybull, WY had the magic mix of talent, gentleness, and eye appeal.Placing in the jackpot on the heading side and with a background in ranching, the quality arena and using gelding brought $7,000 and sold to Double RL Ranch, Ridgeway, CO.They don't make them anymore and "Neats Star" was every bit the star she was bred to be, and the 00 AQHA Red Dun mare by Gray's Starlight and out of AQHA World Champion "Neats Prescription" x Docs Prescription topped the weekend's sale event with a selling price of $14,500.Consigned by Double D Creek Ranch, Sauk Rapids, MN the special mare was purchased by J H & Associates, Kimball, SD.Bred to be a cowhorse and earning his living as a top flight calf horse, "Especially Chick" an 86 AQHA Sorrel gelding x Especial was the hauled and won on kind having won go-arounds and earning paychecks in the last two months at PRCA rodeos and Circuit Finals.Offered by Chris Witcher, Miles City, MT, the dead-shot rope horse sold to Corey Alban, Sidney, MT for $7,500.Offered by three-time World Champion Allen Bach, Millsap, TX and purchased by PRCA Stock contractor and NFR Qualifier - Ike Sankey, Joliet, MT, Hip 162 "Frosty Fourteen" by Frosty Eddie was a tried and true head horse. Shown in the pre-sale jackpot by well known roper, Phil Luman, Poplar, MT, the 91 AQHA Bay gelding brought $3,900.He's living proof that it's wild out west and Hip 424 "Taz" - a 99 Tri-colored Longhorn cross steer - was gentle, broke to ride, used to wrangle the saddle horses, ridden in the Days of 76 parade in Belle Fourche, SD, and the Sturgis Bike Rally parade last summer.A cool dude, the steer was owned and ridden in the saddle horse preview by Troy Crowser, Whitewood, SD.The big guy with the good attitude moved to Green Bank, New Jersey with Buddie Pino for $2,700.Loose horses rock and rolled with 293 head offered "as is, how is, where is" - from riders to buckers - with Billings Livestock's loose horse market again setting the pace for the nation.The top horse on the loose demanded $1,600, followed by $1,400, $1,350, and $1,300. Loose horse averages came in at $1,360 on the top five; top ten at $1,197; Top 20 brought $1,044, the top 50 averaged $851, and the top 100 head of loose horses brought $686.The top 50 working geldings offered over the weekend ranged from a low of $1,800 to a high of $8,500, depending on experience, condition, pedigree, and disposition.Demand for gentle, finished geldings continues to be strong, while true value was again found in the younger, less experienced horses.

Seeing an increase over last year's figures, sale averages for the entire sale reflect a sound, solid market for quality individuals - the top five selling horses averaged $9,600 - a $2,400 increase over 2002 - while the top ten averaged $8,190 - a $1,500 increase over last year, followed by the top twenty at $6,830 - a $900 increase - the top 50 at $5,115 - a $300 increase, and the top 100 head of horses sold averaged $3,956 - a $220 per head increase.

Billings Livestock's next sale event is set for May 24 - 25 and will feature the annual "Cow Country Classic" catalog sale in addition to the "Best of the Remuda" Ranch Gelding competition. Featured in May will be Ranch geldings along with kid's ponies and horses.

Ranch Horse competition is set for 5 p.m. Friday, May 23 in the BLS Arena.Cattle will be available both days to preview the rope horses and cutting horses.

For more information, to consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

MARCH 22 - 23, 2003 Sale Report:

Geldings Gone Wild !It was all about "men at work" - and arena ready, range ridden, ranch using geldings were all the roar at Billings Livestock Commission Company's "Spring Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale March 22 - 23.Firm facts of a powerful market is evidenced by the 5% pass out rate for the weekend - out of 570 head of horses offered, all kinds and classes, from the top to the bottom, only 32 were passed out or "no saled" by the consignor.They came for the real thing - and backed by Billings Livstock's soundness guarantee - and gettin' around geldings glimmered in cowtown where a blistering gelding market saw the top selling gelding of the day bring $8,000, followed by $7,400, and $7,000.From the mountains to the plains, folks came to gather them under the Big Sky as the two-day sale spree welcomed over 400 buyers who took horses to new homes in 17 states and Canada.Outfitters, guides, and guest horses were the month's sale feature with gentle, user friendly, ranch, ride, and recretation horses aplenty - and depending on quality - had final price tags from $800 to $2,500.Saddle horses, rope horses, and cutting horses previewed on cattle and under blue skies prior to the sale allowing buyers and sellers alike an honest opportunity to view and show the consignments.He's a pretty boy and he packed the famous Scott Ranch brand and all the genetics that come with it, and Hip 155 "Hickory Merada Peppy" a 99 AQHA Bay stallion by Paddys Irish Whiskey and out of Miss Hickory Merada x Freckles Merada was a finished reiner ready to go show.Courteous and respectful, the very balanced stallion was in training with Ann Salmon, Aubrey, TX.Purchased for $17,000, he headed to South Dakota to compliment a first-class horse program and broodmare band, including daughters of Grays Starlight and Paddys Irish Whiskey, and will stand to a limited number of outside mares at Mike and Terri Karrells, Belvediere, SD.Billings Livestock was proud to host the John and Lois Hill dispersion including get from their nationally ranked barrel horse sires "Cash in Your Bux" and "Vegas the Third".The majority of the horses offered were eligible for seven barrel futurities including the NorthWest Breeders, 5-State, Bold Heart, SunRise, Valley Girls, Speed Horse, and Barrel Breeders Incentive in addition to the Hill's Quarter Horse Incentive Program.Hill's offered 69 head from their program, including Hip 130 "Flyin To Vegas" a 96 AQHA Sorrel Mare by Flying Effort and out of their well-known, $50,000 barrel racing money earning mare "Acute".In addition to being a finished barrel mare, "Flyin" was also started heading and heeling, had been ranch used, and sold for a final bid of $12,000 to Boehm Land and Livestock, Rudyard, MT, Aaron Boehm, who purchased the mare for his granddaughter, Whitney Kline, Great Falls, MT.Earning the title of "quantity buyer", 7 Cattle Company, Lodge Grass, MT purchased six head from the Hill's program.A special mare, Hip 181 "Truely A Pandemar" a 93 AQHA Sorrel Mare x Pandemar, had been Lois' personal using horse for the past five years. Ridden in the barrel futurities by Bunny Bail, Camp Crook, SD the money-earning barrel horse had also been used extensively on the ranch and in the arena as a heading horse.Tony Triplett, Burlington, WY purchased the exceptional mare for $7,250.Hill's horses claimed two out of the top five selling positions for March and sold into seven states and Canada.Big, roan and ranchy - Hip 53 "Rich Roan Fool" a 98 AQHA Blue Roan gelding offered by Mike Landers, Miles City, MT had seen steady employment calving over 1,000 first calf heifers in the past three years.The solid, ultra-gelding was sired by Smokeys Fool and out of a High Rolling Roany daughter, and sold for $6,250 to Charles Jerviss, Oak View, CA.The goods on the geldings included the top five averaging $7,130, and the top ten coming in at $6,175.Again, a "something for everyone" gelding market pushed by quality, pedigree, and education, ran the entire spectrum of the market from a low of $1,200 to an $8,000 high. A tiger-by-the-tail loose horse trade saw 183 offered as is, where is, with the top loose horse cashing in at $2,450, followed by $1,750.Calculating the loose horse averages, the top five came in at $1,490, top ten at $1,216, top 20 at $1012., top 50 at $776, and the top 100 - that's 54% - averaging $590.Across the board, complete sale averages, including all catalog entries, figured the top five at $10,330, followed by the top ten at $8,390, top 20 at $6,627, top 50 at $4,670, and the top 100 head averaging $3,548.Sale-goers were treated to four Native American dancers from the Montana Mavericks 4-H Club from the Northern Cheyenne Reservation who performed Native American dances as part of their cultural Cheyenne tradition.Billings Livestock's next sale event is set for April 26 - 27 and will feature the fifth annual "Rope Horse Special" catalog sale and regular monthly horse sale.A jackpot team roping - open only to sale horses - will kick off the weekend's activities on Friday, April 25, where buyers and sellers alike will have the opportunity to watch the rope horses under competition circumstances.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 April 5, with a supplement printed for later entries.

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

FEBRUARY 22 - 23, 2003 Sale Report:

Billings, MT - Breeding stock with credentials cruised to the top of the Billings Livestock high seller charts at Billings Livestock Commission Company's annual "February Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale February 22 - 23.Hammering the hot spot home, stallions and mares swelled the BLS top 20 list, claiming 19 out of the top 20 selling positions while geldings claimed one.Birthright and occupation partnered with pedigree and proven programs, to push 17 out of the top 20 sellers over the $10,000 mark.Weather woes wanted to be a factor, however,with a final tally of 560 head of horses offered, folks came from Virginia to California, Ohio to Texas, and 382 buyers registered for the two-day sale spree sending horses to new homes in 20 states and two Canadian provinces. Quality abounded as the weekend was accented by a special session of "Sons and Daughters" of AQHA Champions and Money Earners, offering sons and daughters of a "who's who" in the horse business with a definite focus on genetics and proven programs.Cowboys and cowhorses are always honored in cowtown, and Billings Livestock welcomed seven National Finals Rodeo qualifiers, including five World Champion cowboys to the "NFR Session" of the February Sale, including Deb Greenough, Bruce Ford, Mel Hyland, Bobby Harris, Paul Tierney, and NFR qualifiers Rick Smith and Bill Parker. The weekend was off and running with a well attended "show and tell" preview for the cutting horses, rope horses, and ride horses on Friday afternoon at the Horse Palace Arena.The power of pink packs a punch and "Cgos Pepto Quixote" a 99 AQHA Red Roan stallion sired by the hottest brand in the business - Peptoboonsmal - proved the power of pink by joining the BLS High Seller's Club.Offered by the man who rode and trained him, Jerry Bob Seago, Claremore, OK, the finished cutting horse brought $33,000 and sold to the 73 Ranch, Mosby, MTThe special stallion will join 73 Ranch sires CD Blue Boon in Me and Poco Okie Doke, and will stand to outside mares in 2003.Jim Babcock and Babcock Ranch, Gainesville, TX offered a sampling of their famous genetics including "The Best Hobby" an 86 AQHA sorrel mare x Hobby Doc and out of a daughter of Docs Jack Frost.The first-class mare sold bred to Smart Chic O'lena - the the leading sire of AQHA performance horses as well as the sire of winners of over $5 million dollars in the reining, cutting, and reined cow horse associations.The package was purchased by Judy Box, Crow Heart, WY for $22,000.Pick your passion - head, heel, rope calves, or barrel race - "Jumpin Jack Solano" had already earned $50,000 in the rodeo arena and looked good doing it.The 94 AQHA Buckskin stallion had been hauled and won on at major PRCA rodeos, and had earned two Foundation Quarter Horse Registry national championships.Polite and pretty, the standout stallion was offered by Randy Wilson and shown by Casey Wilson, Jamestown, ND.A final bid of $18,000 by Barbara Daniels, Douglas, WY purchased the ready-to-rodeo stallion.In the gelding department, an exceptional line-up of using geldings graced the sale, with the top selling gelding Hip 296 "Dun Buggin Lena" a 96 AQHA Dun gelding x Dun Buggins 086 bringing $8,500.Shown and owned by Jeff Bailey, Redmond, OR, the stand-up gelding sold to Cress Mummert, Kalispell, MT.Using geldings brought anywhere from $1,200 to $8,500, depending on quality, condition, pedigree, and education.Averages for GELDINGS ONLY include: Top five geldings at $5,380 and the top 20 at $3,827. With nine PRCA World Championships won between the two of them, Bruce Ford, Kersey, CO, and Mel Hyland, Gadsby, Alberta entertained Sunday sale-goers with a very special cowboy singing session prior to sale-time. In addition to their talents in the rodeo arena, the World Champions "picked and sang" to a full house.Loose horses at BLS continue to be a runaway, with the top selling loose horse bringing $1,650, followed by $1,600, $1,475, and $1,425, with the top five loose horses averaging $1,500, top ten $1,335, top 20 $1,180, top 50 at $920, while the top 100 (only 128 were offered on the loose) averaging $625.Overall sale averages reflect the level of quality offered at this particular sale, with the top five horses averaging $21,600; top ten bringing $17,750; top 20 at $14,100, top 50 came in at $8,284, while the top 100 head sold averaged $5,431.Billings Livestock's next sale event will be March 22 - 23 and will feature the "March Catalog Sale" featuring foundation-bred horses and a special session of Outfitters, Guest, and Dude Ranch horses.The March sale event also includes the John and Lois Hill dispersion offering on Saturday, March 22. Loose horses will sell Sunday, March 23 at 9 a.m. Contact Bill or Jann Parker, Billings Livestock Horse Sale Managers to consign or request a catalog at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

 JANUARY 25, 2003 Sale Report:

Crackerjack geldings called the shots and continued their hold on Billings Livestock Commission Company's "most wanted" list while blue-blooded breeding stock - both stallions and mares - maintained their front and center presence at Billings Livestock's January 25 "Winter Special Catalog Sale".

               The day's events started on a high where a frenzied loose horse trade ran red-hot and smokin with 80 head offered on the loose and the highest average per head recorded in an 18 month period.

               An enterprising loose horse market saw the top 50 - that is two out of three horses selling "as is, where is" - averaging $618, while the top seller himself - a bay gelding - brought $1,550.

               Loose horse sale averages include the top five at $1,210; Top ten at $1,044; and the top 20 - that's 25% - averaging $892.

               Always held in January and only held once a year, the annual "Cabin Fever" tack sale offered an over-abundance of collectible and used tack.

                On to the catalog sale where stallions secured first and second sale spots for the day, with Hip 48 "Poco Okie Doke" an 86 AQHA Chestnut Stallion x Docs Okie Quixote joining the ranks of the BLS high sellers club.

                A breeding horse he is, and the "little big horse" - a finalist in the 1989 NCHA Futurity - and with $13,000 in NCHA earnings - passed on his winning ways producing over $100,000 in money earning offspring.

               Purchased for a final bid of $9,000 by the73 Ranch, Winnett, Montana, the magic mix of Doc Bar and Poco Tivio mares crossed on a daughter of Poco Pine produced "Poco Okie Doke".

                Opportunity knocked with Hip 65 "Dual Fly" a 99 model AQHA Sorrel stallion by the $11 million dollar sire Dual Pep.                   With a mother who had earned over $4,000, the ready to ride and breed stallion was consigned by Chad Green, Roanoke, Alabama and sold to Vicki Boyd, Fromberg, MT for $8,500.

                 Inga and Helga - a registered team of Fjord mares - a rare offering at Billings Livestock, drew a crowd and caused commotion. Broke to ride or drive double, triple, or four-abreast, the choice pair of mares were consigned by Urban Donnafield, Sheridan, WY and purchased by Jake Clark, Powell, WY for $6,000.

               Geldings were good to go and go they went - with the high selling gelding bringing $5,750 and the top five geldings alone averaged $4,030.

              Hip 132 "San Jeta Bars JB" a 98 APHA Black gelding consigned by Chris Witcher, Miles City, MT was gentle, easy to look at, and had been used heavily in the feedlot and on the ranch.

               The started head-horse sold to Sam Habib, Fowler, CA.

Strength in the gelding market is validated in the "BLS Top 20" where 12 out of the top 20 selling horses were geldings - three of them grade.

             Again, the solid, honest, seen-a-day's-work kind of gelding saw the highest demand, while plainer, younger stock remained the buy of the day.

             Demand remained strong throughout the day as a full house of buyers had the opportunity to bid on a total of 238 head.                Confirmation of a solid market is reflected in the "pass out" or "no sale" percentage - a lean 5% of the day's offering - repeating December's record breaking figures.

             Breakdown on the day's sale averages include the top five at $6,670; Top ten $5,065; Top 20 at $3,862; Top 50 averaged $2,547; while the top 100 head of horses sold brought $1,780.

             February 22-23 will be the next horse sale event at Billings Livestock and will feature the "February Catalog Sale" highlighted by a special, limited session of "Sons and Daughters" of Champions and Money Earners along with a session of "NFR" horses - horses consigned by NFR qualifiers.

             For more information, to consign, or to request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or 1-800-635-7364. See it all at www.billingslivestock.com

Past Horse Sales 2002

Reports 1999 ~ Reports  2000 ~ Reports 2001   Reports 2002 ~  Reports 2003 ~ Reports 2004

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

November 23, 2002

Breeders Bonanza! Sired by the boys who made the big-bang in the business - Peppy San Badger and Doc O’Lena - direct sons and daughters bearing their industry-impacting genetics brought the folks to town for the November 23 "Holiday Special Catalog Sale" at Billings Livestock Commission Company.They are no longer in production and the top five selling horses tell the story - three sired by the $24 million dollar sire - Peppy San Badger - and two sired by the $15 million dollar sire - Doc O’Lena. Top-shelf breeding stock was available - and - in strong demand - while tried and true using geldings maintained their dominance in the ride horse department.With nearly 400 buyers from 20 states and three Canadaian provinces registered for the one-day sale spectacular, a total of 693 head of horses passed through the gates of Billings Livestock.The sale was headlined by a designer set of mares - 30 in all - offered by the Burdettes’ of Lufkin, TX. 22 of the mares were bred to their former stallion - Badger Starlight - who has since been sold - including daughters of Peppy San Badger, Doc Tari, Doc’s Sug, Doc Fair, Doc Clabber, and Doc O’Lena. All eyes were on Hip 118 "RW Peppy Olena" as he set a new, all-time sale record at Billings Livestock Commission Company demanding a final bid of $42,000."RW Peppy Olena" a 93 AQHA Bay stallion by Peppy San Badger and out of Partner in Law by Doc O’Lena was all he was bred to be - smart, stylish, and a show-stopper. The finished cutter, complete with AQHA points, stood 15.1 hands, weighed 1,200 lbs.and moved like a cat. Offered as part of the Burdette consignment, the class stallion was purchased by Clyde Krebs, Glen Ullin, ND. "RW Peppy Olena" will stand to outside mares in 2003.Daughters of Doc O’Lena - both possessing size and substance - seized the number two and three sale positions bringing $12,500 and $9,000."Bitsy Bar O’Lena" a 91 AQHA Sorrel Mare x Doc O’Lena and out of a Peppy San daughter was offered by the Purdy Ranches, Buffalo, WY and sold to John Johnson, Brookings, SD.Consigned by the Burdettes, Hip 125 "Deb O’Lena" an 83 AQHA Sorrel Mare x Doc O’Lena and out of a daughter of Jericho Lark sold bred to Badger Starlight and moved north with Gerhard Loeffeler, Canim Lake, British Columbia.The good geldings continued to meet with strong demand - both registered and grade - with the top five geldings averaging $5,000.A something for everyone market, real using geldings brought from a low of $1,500 to a high of $5,000.Defining the areas of demand, 19 of the top 20 selling horses were over the age of five and had an established occupation - from broodmare, arena money-earner, to using ranch horse - they had found their permanent calling. Softness in the market continues to be in the younger, plainer horses looking for work.In the loose horse division, 340 head sold with the top loose horse ringing the bell at $1,950, followed by $1,750, and $1,350.On the loose, the prospects pushed the market with the top five loose horses averaging $1,530, top ten at $1,315, top 20 bringing $1,084, top 50 came in at $775, while the top 100 loose horses brought $579.As a whole, the entire sale averaged $15,800 on the top five; top ten at $10,960; top 20 came in at $7,660; top 50 at $5,066; while the top 100 head of horses sold averaged $3,613.Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for December 28 and will feature the "New Year’s Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale at BLS. To consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

October  26, 2002"Fall Special Catalog Sale"

High-octane geldings grabbed the market and gripped a front and center presence during the October 26 "Fall Special Catalog Sale" event and regular monthly horse sale at Billings Livestock Commission Company.Gathering up 15 out of the top 20 selling positions, all-business geldings governed the market, with the fit, fancy, and finished kind continuing to meet solid demand.The one-day sale event welcomed 686 head of horses.He’d been through school and worked for a living and Hip 114 "Buddy" a 95 grade gray gelding consigned by Tim and Jackie Bernstein, Faith, SD had been headed, heeled, and breakaway roped on - and did it all again in Saturday morning’s preview - in addition to seeing some long day’s dragging calves to the fire. The model using gelding brought $4,250 and sold to Jeff Thompson, Prairie View, KS.Consigned by Marc Matlick, Rapid City, SD, Hip 105 "Mitos Houdini" a 97 AQHA gray gelding x Mito Cody came with a solid ranching background and showed ‘em all in the rope horse preview that he was well started heading. They always ride a good horse and Ediger Quarter Horses, Wolf Point, MT purchased the stout, everything in order gelding for $4,900.A seasoned show horse, "Invitational" a 95 AQHA sorrel gelding x Invitation Only and out of a granddaughter of Doc Prescription and The Investor, came complete with a good attitude and his AQHA points.Offered by Tina Elmer Morris, Colbert, WA, the "gentle for youth or amateur" gelding brought a final bid of $7,000 and sold to Ann Wells, Victor, ID.All-in-all, the top five geldings - all with solid backgrounds and chosen careers - averaged $5,000.The day’s top selling horse - a weanling - "Flying Heart Playboy" brought $7,300.The 2002 AQHA Bay stallion x Sunfrost was out of a daughter of Wilywood that was out of a daughter of Freckles Playboy.With pedigree to burn from three of the industry’s top breeding programs, the real stallion prospect was brought to BLS by Mike and Tammy Hollibaugh, Hollibaugh Flying Heart Ranch, Chadron, NE and purchased by Tim Goodman, Greenfield, MO.Hollibaugh’s also consigned Hip 151 "Flyinghearts Lady" a 2000 model sorrel filly x Frenchman’s Guy.Riding like a million-bucks with a mere 20 rides, the bred to run-the-barrels mare was eligible for five barrel futurities and sold to Jake Clark, Powell, WY for $5,000.Catalog sale averages breakdown as follows - top five brought $5,790; top ten at $4,830; Top 20 came in at $3,810; and the top fifty averaged $2,626.A rampant loose horse trade tells its own tale with the top loose horse of the day fetching $1,825, followed by $1,700, $1,475, and $1,250.Rhyme and reason being a full slate of buyers in attendance at BLS - from top-end to bottom-end - from prospects to recipients - from riders to buckers - the buyers are on the seats to buy them "as is, how is" and that’s why the top five on the loose averaged $1,500 across the board, with the top ten commanding $1,290, the top 20 at $1,068, top 50 came in at $857, while top 100 loose horses averaged an unprecedented $699 each.Featured loose horses included an offering from three separate bucking horse producers - from South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for November 23 and will feature the "Holiday Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale. To consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

September 28-29 2002"Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale"  and our annual Fall Rope Horse Sale

Billings, MT - Know-it-all geldings complimented a hit-parade of the horse industry’s genetic superstars at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s annual "Cow Country Classic" Catalog sale event September 28 - 29.An incredible market was fueled by quality consignments and 602 buyers from 22 states and Canada, pushing the final sale total on the weekend’s top 100 horses over the one-half million dollar mark - the top 100 horses sold averaged $5,057.They watched them in the dirt at Billings Livestock and rope horses were the rage with a "show and tell" rope horse jackpot - open only to sale horses - on Friday afternoon. With 66 teams entered, buyers and sellers alike watched the rope horses under competition circumstances. The two-day sale rampage offered a final tally of 925 head of horses- all classes, kinds, and quality - brought to Big Sky Country by consignors from 18 western states and Canada.Of the top seven horses sold, six were mares, one a stallion - all seven sired by industry leaders in performance events - Freckles Playboy, Smart Chic Olena, Doc Quixote, Miss N Cash, Dual Pep, and SR Hallmark. Three horses rang the bell at $18,000, sharing the top sale horse honors for September.Two of the top three horses were consigned by Pauli, OK breeder, trainer, and cowboy - Pat Fitzgerald, owner of Smart Mate and the late Doc Quixote.Sired by Mr. Fitzgerald’s industry impacting sire Doc Quixote - "Zadie Quixote" a 95 AQHA Bay mare was out of a daughter of Black Gold Zan. The extra-nice mare sold in foal to Smart Mate."Tick Tackatoo" a 95 AQHA sorrel mare was also sired by an industry impacting sire - Freckles Playboy. The young mare was out of a daughter of Doc O’Lena and also sold in foal to Smart Mate. Both quality mares were purchased by Wagonhound Land and Livestock, Douglas, WY.A combination of two "million-dollar sires" produced "Chics Dun It" a 2000 model AQHA Buckskin stallion sired by Jim Babcock’s Smart Chic Olena and out of a daughter of Tim McQuay’s Hollywood Dun It.The two-year-old with a great start and even greater genetics was consigned by John Conely, Layton, UT and sold for $18,000 to Open Spear Ranch, Melville, MT.In the gelding department, tried and true horses were the talk of the town, with the "take- you-to-the-pay-window-now" kind in keen demand.From roping, cutting, or reining, the geldings with the goods came packing their own records in the performance arena.Performance-proven geldings averaged $9,360 on the top five, and $7,545 on the top ten.General ranch and ride geldings brought from $1,200 to $4,000 depending on education and experience, eye-appeal and pedigree.An absolute explosive loose horse trade kept folks on the seats Sunday, where records were shattered and America’s loose horse trade grabbed a gear - the top loose horse brought $2,200, while the top five averaged $1,700, and the top 50 head of horses - sold loose - as is, where is - brought $901. The top 100 head - over 33% of the loose horses offered - averaged $633. The entire sale averages set records at BLS, with the five averaging $17,000, top ten brought $15,050, top twenty came in at $11,230, top 50 averaged $7,209, and the top 100 head of horses sold - nearly 10% of the days offering - averaged $5,057.Strength of the market is reflected in the no sale, or pass out percentage - a slim 13%. Weanlings sold from a high of $4,000 - a Gene Escott, Faith, SD consignment - a 2002 Palomino filly by GE Frosty Drift and out of a Frenchmans Guy daughter, to a median price of $567 a head.Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for October 26. The "Fall Special" Catalog Sale features "Performance Horses" and will offer all classes of horses, including finished horses, prospects, mares, stallions, geldings, and young stock.For more information, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers, at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

August 23-24-25 2002"August Catalog Sale"featuring Speed Horses and our Montana M iniature and Pony Sale

Gelding GustoGood geldings proved good property during the three-day horse sale blitz August 23-24-25 at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s annual August catalog sale extravaganza."Speed Horses" were the flavor-of-the-day on Friday, where a $500 added money barrel race highlighted barrel horses consigned to that evening’s "Montana Select Speed Horse Sale".Saturday’s "August Catalog Sale" offered finished horses, prospects, mares, stallions, and young stock, while Sunday’s events included the third annual "Montana Miniature and Pony Sale".A total of 774 horses were bought and sold over the three days, with genuine using geldings maintaining their stronghold on the BLS horse market while the plainer, younger type horses continued to meet with lessened demand.Hammering the point home - true stock-horse geldings monopolized the BLS Top Twenty list, where 18 of the top 20 horses sold were geldings - and - every one of the top geldings was four years old or older.Traditional ranch geldings - the dependable, honest, and educated kind - propelled the market, with the older, seasoned geldings selling well throughout the three-days.Horses sold to 23 states and Canada.A red-hot and smokin’ loose horse trade saw the top two selling loose horses bring $1,700 each - followed by $1,475, $1450, and $1,425. The top ten on the loose brought over $1,000.Loose horse averages pushed past last month’s figures with the top 20 coming in at $1,108, the top 50 averaging $817, and the top 100 bringing $617.She’s moved back to the Lone Star State and Hip 158 "Chuca De Peppy" was a diva-deluxe that packed the brands that proved it. The 1980 AQHA Sorrel Mare sired by Mr. San Peppy was King Ranch branded on every corner and was the weekend’s high selling horse.Consigned by Tex Prewitt, Twisp, WA, the special mare was purchased by Kaufman, Texas breeder Tom Miller for $4,200.Colorado trainers Mark and Lisa Bernhardt offered Hip 241 "EP Savannah Sixmoons" a 94 AQHA Sorrel gelding by Martha’s Six Moons. Well started on barrels, the big gelding brought $3,200 and sold to Jeanette Morris, Cozad, NE.Mini’s and ponies highlighted Sunday’s events with the little rascals setting a new sale record for the "Montana Mini and Pony Sale" - the top selling mini - Hip 412 "Tibbs Kid Rock" a 00 AMHR/AMHA Buckskin Stallion consigned by Tim and Linda Tibbs, Pierre, SD brought a final bid of $1,600.The 29 inch show-stopper sold to Riley Cook, Frannie, Wy.Mini’s marched to their own drummer and quality was the name of the game - with 90 head offered the top five averaged $1,212, top ten $971, and the top 20 averaging $715.A solid market from start to finish is reflected in the overall sale averages for the weekend - the top five averaged $4,080; top ten brought $3,750; top 20 averaged $3,360; the top 50 came in at $2,792, while the top 100 head of horses sold averaged $2,269.Billings Livestock’s annual "Cow Country Classic" catalog sale is next on the BLS Sale agenda September 28 - 29.Featuring "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.See it all at www.billingslivestock.com or contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151

July 27 - 28, 2002
"Mid Summer Catalog Sale" featuring Cutting Horses!

Cutting ClassBillings, MT - Cowhorses filled cowtown with finished, proven products pushing the market at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s "Mid Summer Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale featuring cutting horses July 27 - 28.Packing paychecks, hauled and won on, the horses with substantiated earnings graced the top of the Billings Livestock high seller chart, with every horse in the top five bearing a reputable record - all five came complete with National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) earnings.Market strength in Montana is alive and well with testimony given by the low pass-out percentage - a slim 15% of the 718 head of horses offered during the two-day sale event - were "passed-out" by the seller. Horses sold to 20 states and Canada, with a steady, solid demand for sharp, honest using geldings continuing - while - for the fourth consecutive month - the younger, plainer, less experienced horses were the buy of the weekend.Billings Livestock was proud to present Gary and Sandra Fishko’s multi-talented stallion "The Smart Smoke" as part of the July sale event. A true athlete and true producer, the big-time stallion was backed by a spectacular show career. The exceptional son of Smart Little Lena had won $20,000 NCHA money, $3,600 in the NRHA, and amassed 100 AQHA points.Out of a $20,000 money earning daughter of Mr. Gunsmoke - "Miss Reed Smoke", the 86 AQHA Bay stallion passed his versatility on to his get - producing over $214,000 in money earners, 46 performers with 7 ROM’S - cutting, reining, and working cowhorse.Purchased by Rimrock Livestock, John and Diane Spizziri, Shawmut, MT, the special stallion will compliment an already top mare program including daughters of Dual Pep, Badger Starlight, Doc Tari, and Boon Bar. Rimrock Livestock’s annual production sale is set for September 14 at the Carraige House Arena in Big Timber, MT.North Star Ranch, Livingston, MT, offered "Little Blue Robin" a 98 AQHA Bay mare sired by their $40,000 NCHA money earning stallion "Little Blue Lynx" x Smart Little Lena.Shown on cattle in the pre-sale previews, the extra-nice mare had already earned her NCHA COA and accumulated $3,000 in winnings. Appreciative of quality, Channing, TX cowboy Andy Michaels purchased the mare-with- a-future for $14,500.Ranch and using geldings made up the bulk of the weekend’s sale offerings, with demand strong on the finished, honest kind made in the west everyday. A horse for every trade, from common to spectacular, pricing on the cow horse geldings was dependent on pedigree, quality, and honesty, ranging from $1,200 to $7,500. A red-hot loose horse market played to a full sale arena, and again, saw Billings Livestock set the pace for the nation with the top selling loose horse bringing $1,675, followed by $1,400, and $1,250. Loose horse sale avearges include the top five at $1,355, top ten $1,164; and the top 50 horses on the loose averaged $791.Overall sale averages summarized the weekend’s quality offerings with the top five averaging $12,200; top ten $8,930; top 20 brought $6,557; top 50 averaged $4,295, while the top 100 came in at $3,011.Billings Livestock’s next sale event includes their annual "Speed Horse" Sale, "August Catalog Sale", and "Montana Miniature and Pony Sale" in a three-day sale blitz set for August 23-24-25.An open barrel race with $500 added will kick off the weekend’s activities on Friday morning, August 23 in the BLS Arena. To enter, consign or request a catalog, contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

June 22, 2002

"Summer Special Catalog Sale"

featuring Team Penning Horses!

Geldings To Go!Arena bound and honest, the number-one kind of finished gelding drew the interest at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s "Summer Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale June 22.Featuring "team penning" horses, the weekend’s events kicked off Friday afternoon with a jackpot team penning on sale horses in the BLS Arena.The one-day Saturday sale blitz saw 606 head of horses offered- with horses seeing final destinations to 20 states and Canada. Tuned in and tuned up, the geldings with the goods were the ready-to-go-to-the arena kind - finished, honest, and proven.Proving that it pays to play - the team penning team of Sally Johnson, Cody Cochum, and Ken McDaniel - all aboard sale horses - won third place in the pre-sale team penning aboard Hips 118, 54, and 189.Hip 118 "Fizz" was an all-around kind of fellow gentle enough for anyone and the 12 year-old appy gelding brought $3,200 and sold to Ed Brainard, Manhattan, MT.Cody Cochum, Elko, NV rode Hip 54 "One Peep’ a 93 AQHA Buckskin Gelding that had been ranch ridden and seen lots of country and brought $3,900 from Witt Crowser, Belle Fourche, SD.Rounding off the team was the real-deal kind of mare - Hip 189 "R Little Banker" a 95 APHA Solid Chestnut consigned by Ken McDaniel, Parma, ID. The cow-horse brought $5,400 and sold to Robert Sentman, Tiffin, IA.He had it all - proven head horse, proven barrel horse, and proven show horse and Hip 116 "Smokin Francis" had smoked ‘em at the pay window and the 91 AQHA Brown gelding came consigned by Lisa Doyle, Payton, CO.Sired by Fols Smoke, the 16.1 hand, gentle gelding brought $12,000 and sold to Stanley Germundson, Marshall, ND.Proving that Paddy’s have more than regional appeal, the former John Scott Ranch sire - Paddy’s Irish Whiskey - now standing at the famous 6666’s - sired Hip 43 "Hawks Whisper" - a 2001 model AQHA sorrel stallion.Brought to town by Ruth Anderson, Granstsville, UT, the show-stopping flaxen mane and tailed stud colt with charisma sold to Randle Tune, Whitesboro, TX for $15,000.Back to the using horses, the good using horses saw a high of $5,600 and a low of $1,500.Price variables included work experience, eye appeal, pedigree, and a "want to" attitude, with gentle being an important ingredient in the mix.Value was again found in the younger, less experienced type horses. Prospects looking for work brought from $700 to $2,000.Loose horse prices pushed the limit for the seventh straight month, with the top selling horse on the loose bringing $1,600 followed by $1,425, and $1,300. The top 50 loose horses averaged $788.Overall sale averages came in at $8,510 for the top five; top ten at $6,305; Top twenty at $4,817; top 50 brought $3,259; and the top 100 head of horses sold averaged $2,406.Next on the Billings Livestock Horse Sale schedule July 27-28 is the "Mid-Summer Catalog Sale" featuring cutting horses.Cattle will be available to show the cutters, in addition to steers for the roping horses.

To consign or request a catalog, contact Bill or Jann Parker, Billings Livestock Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

MAY 25 - 26 SALE REPORT

"Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale"

Featuring Ranch Horses!

Gelding Power!

A still smoking gelding market full of real ranch horses and good geldings sitting on go highlighted Billings Livestock Commission Company’s annual "Cow Country Classic" Catalog Sale and regular monthly horse sale on May 25 - 26.

Complimented by the "Best of the Remuda" Ranch horse competition, the using geldings came to town to show their stuff in a judged competition - and - geldings claimed 14 out of the top 20 selling positions.

The geldings with the gas were the kind made in the west everyday - true using horses - finished, working, and coming complete with their lessons learned.

With 673 head of horses offered during the two-day sale event, horses found new homes in 19 states and Canada.

A proven barrel horse that had pocketed his share of earnings - from WPRA to regional jackpots - Hip 138 "Sir Doctor Tari" a 91 AQHA bay - was competed on right up through sale day.

He was bred to cow on the topside and bred to run on the bottom and the big-time barrel horse set a new gelding record at Billings Livestock bringing a final bid of $14,000.

Sired by Sr Doctor Tari x Doc Tari and out of a daughter of Top Fugitive by Top Deck, the the rodeo-ready barrel horse was offered by Rod and Phyllis Brosz, Shepherd, MT and sold to Broken Bones Cattle Co., Lander, WY.

At the top of the pack was a tip-top mare - Hip 91 "Santana Pep" - a 97 AQHA Sorrel Mare by one of the hottest stars in the business - Bar H’s big-time sire Dual Pep - and out of a daughter of Dry Doc.

The finished cutting mare - only five years old - had a stud colt by her side by "Playboy Seventy" - a Strait Rail Ranch Sire.

Consigned by Strait Rail Ranch, Nevis, MN, the pretty, powerfully pedigreed mare sold to Rimrock Livestock, John and Diane Spizziri, Shawmut, MT for $17,000.

Ranch ridden, exposed to the elements, and packing a work ethic - geldings had the goods - with the top 20 geldings alone averaging $4645.

A sale highlight included the 2-4-6 Ranch Reduction Sale, Harold and Deb Adema, Sundance, WY, including top producing mares, geldings, and sires.

Rope horses and cutting horses previewed on cattle both days, allowing the consumer a birds-eye view of the consignments.

Gentle, finished geldings met with very strong demand, while the younger, less experienced geldings saw considerably less interest and were again a value to the buyer.

Loose horses ran rampant at Billings Livstock for the sixth consecutive month - maintaining BLS’s status as the top loose horse market in the United States - with the top selling horse on the loose demanding $1,450, the top five at $1,320, the top ten averaging $1,197, while the top 50 loose horses on the loose averaged $827.

Entire sale averages include the top five at $9,800; top ten at $7,460; top 20 brought $5,737; Top 50 came in at $4,179; while the top 100 head of horses sold averaged $3,264.

Billings Livstock’s next sale event is set for June 22 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 21 at 3 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

APRIL 27 - 28 SALE REPORT"April Catalog Sale" Featuring ROPE HORSES!

 Talkin’ Ropin’Horses Sell to 20 States and 3 Canadian ProvincesBillings, MT - Rope horses packed the horsepower with the hauled-and-won-on kind causing the big-bang at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s fourth annual "Rope Horse Special" Catalog Sale and regular monthly horse sale April 27 - 28.The weekend was off and running with a "show and tell" rope horse jackpot - open only to sale horses - on Friday evening. With 90 teams entered, buyers and sellers alike watched the rope horses under competition circumstances.Proving the point - 16 of the top 20 selling horses were cataloged as Rope horses and competed in the pre-sale jackpot. A final tally of 812 head of horses were offered at the two-day sale spree - all classes, types, and occupations - brought to cowtown by sellers from 16 states and two Canadian provinces - and sold to buyers from 20 states and three Canadian Provinces.Hauled to the big ones and cashed checks at them, too, Hip 175 "Jack’s Paleface" a 93 AQHA Gray Gelding x Jack Two Snips was a three-in-one package of head horse, heel horse, and tripping horse.Honored as the reserve Champion last year in the Northwest Steer Roping Association, the quiet and sensible-gentle giant was consigned by Keith Magnus, Hayden Lake, ID and sold for $7,500 to R. Reetz, Pueblo, CO.She’d qualified for every major Finals in the book from the NFR, USTRC, and CNFR and Hip 201 "Jenny Jo Chex" an 83 AQHA Brown Mare x Parky Chex was a dead-shot heel horse. The only mare to crack the BLS top twenty in April, "Jenny Jo Chex" also claimed the top-spot at the BLS Team Roping jackpot. She’d seen the lights of Las Vegas from the Thomas and Mack and Mike Hollibaugh, Chadron, NE purchased the big-time mare from Pat and Kay Lynn Beard, Walla Walla, WA for $6,750.Young, right, and on his way - Hip 106 "Heza Sociable Ghost" a 97 AQHA sorrel gelding x Beaus Ghost was a head/heel combo package offered by Bart Harris, Firth, ID.The get-along-wth-anyone kind of gelding brought a final bid of $6,300 and sold to Dave Duncan, Washougol, WA.The top 50 working geldings offered over the weekend ranged from a low of $2,200 to a high of $7,500, depending on experience, condition, pedigree, and disposition.Demand for gentle, finished geldings continues to be strong, while true value was found in the younger, less experienced horses.A raving loose market continued at Billings Livestock for the fifth straight month - qualifying the sale as the top loose horse market in the nation - where the top loose horses brought $1,375, $1,325, and $1,150 - with the top five averaging $1,185, top ten brought $1,060, with the top 50 loose horses averaging $814.Sale averages for the entire sale reflect a sound, solid market with the top five selling horses averaging $7,230; top ten brought $6,675; top 20 at $5,960; top 50 came in at $4,790; and the top 100 head of horses sold brought $3,737.Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for May 25 - 26 and will feature the annual "Cow Country Classic" catalog sale in addition to the "Best of the Remuda" Ranch Gelding competition. Featured in May will be Ranch geldings along with kid’s ponies and horses.Ranch Horse competition is set for 5 p.m. Friday, May 24 in the BLS Arena.Cattle will be available both days to preview the rope horses and cutting horses.For more information, to consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

MARCH 23 - 24 SALE REPORT

"Spring Special Catalog Sale"

Reds, Blues, and Grays - Focus on Foundation

Billings, MT - Roans and grays ruled the roost and real using horses met with strong demand at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s March 23 - 24 "Spring Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale featuring "Foundation-Bred" horses and the "Canadian Classic" sale sessions.

Blue roans and grays gathered attention and claimed six of ten top sale positions while winter-like weather brought a standing-room only crowd to town where 595 head of horses sold to 18 states and Canada during the two-day sale spree.

A crazed loose horse market plowed a path for the rest to follow with the number one horse selling on the loose bringing $1,500, followed by $1,475, $1,450, $1,300, and $1,275 - for an unprecedented top five average of $1,400.

Proving that it’s not a hit and miss market, the top ten on the loose averaged $1,244, the top 20 brought $1,020, while the top fifty loose horses averaged $831.

Interest and excitement remained strong on first-class mares and name-brand stallions and genetics maintained it’s hold on the top sale positions with Hip 107 "Boon Bars Last Gift" a 97 AQHA sorrel mare x Boon Bar and heavy in foal to Highbrow Hickory seizing the number-one sale position with final bid of $12,000.

Consigned by Double D Creek Ranch, Sauk Rapids, MN, the pretty cutting mare sold to Rimrock Livestock, Shawmut, MT.

King Ranch bred and branded and sired by their famous Doc Bar son - Dry Doc - and out of Rojo 53 by El Rey Rojo - "Doc’s Reddy" an 86 AQHA Bay stallion - brought $9,000 from Hugh Aycock, Tolleson, AZ.

Also consigned by Double D Creek Ranch, the text-book stallion had produced AQHA point earners in addition to NCHA money earners.

Pure using geldings with the goods - a job, eye appeal, and disposition, saw plenty of demand for the tried-and-true type where the top five geldings averaged $4,540.

Overall price range on the stock horse geldings - from the number one gelding to the number 50 gelding - was $5,300 for the high and a $2,100 low - on an honest, working class gelding.

A something-for-everyone horse market saw the entire sale - from breeding stock to riding stock - average $7,520 on the top five, with the top ten at $5,860, top 20 at $4,642, top 50 bringing $3,447, while the top 100 head of horses sold averaged $2,676.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for April 27 - 28 and will feature the fifth annual "Rope Horse Special" catalog sale and regular monthly horse sale.

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 April 5, with a supplement printed for later entries.

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

FEBRUARY 23-24 SALE REPORT:

Annual "February Catalog Sale" featuring "Sons and Daughters of Champions and Money Earners"

"Jettin Peppy" sets sale record - stallion brings $29,000

Billings, MT - Bearing the King Ranch brands on every corner and belonging to an elite fraternity - a direct son of the famous King Ranch sire "Peppy San Badger" - a 1988 AQHA bay stallion "Jettin Peppy" - smashed all previous sale records with a final bid of $29,000 at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s "February Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale February 23 - 24.

Accented by a special sale session of "Sons and Daughters" of AQHA Champions and Money Earners, the weekend’s selection offered sons and daughters of a "who’s who" in the horse business with a definite focus on genetics.

The two-day horse sale blitz welcomed a total of 554 head of horses selling to an overflowing crowd of buyers from 18 states and Canada.

It was "Little Peppys" front and center with three out of the top five sale positions bearing his famous bloodline - including daughters of Paddy’s Irish Whiskey and Haidas Little Pep.

Number one and looking every bit the part - Hip 141 "Jettin Peppy" was proof-positive why the "Little Peppys" pack the power - sensible, strong, and 100% cowhorse - while "Jettin Peppy’s" dam side - his mother is a granddaughter of both Jet Deck and Top Moon - provided the run, size and stretch.

Offered by Paul Reinert, Wynnewood, OK, the special stallion was purchased and will stand with Allen Munger, Borderview Ranch, Opheim, MT.

He’s a son of "Little Peppy" and a top-ten, all-time leading sire himself, and "Haidas Little Pep" has sired over $6 million in money earners and sired the number-two horse of the sale - "Haida Rositta" a 99 AQHA sorrel mare consigned by John Johnson, Brookings, SD.

The pretty mare with plenty of style was out of a producing daughter of Doc O’Lena - already the mother of $150,000 in money earners. The quiet, balanced filly sold to Warren Podany, Hilger, NE for $16,000.

Daughters of Doc’s Hickory and Doc’s Oak also claimed top sale positions with "Hickory Mia" a 97 AQHA Bay mare by Doc’s Hickory bringing $10,500. Offered by John Johnson, Brookings, SD, the stand-up mare sold to Rhett Searle, Vernal, UT.

"Oaks Jameen" a 97 AQHA sorrel mare by Doc’s Oak had been started on cattle and used on the ranch. Consigned by Marty McCormick, Weatherford, TX and purchased by Carla Conway, Decula, GA the attractive mare sold for $9,500.

Geldings with good credentials saw strong demand in a very potent gelding market where the top five geldings alone averaged $7,510. The honest, ready-to-haul geldings with documented money earnings - from roping, cutting, or barrel racing - were truly the stars of the show.

Affordability and value came in the prospect department, where the geldings "looking for work" brought from $1,000 to $2,500.

He raised him, showed him, and brought him to town and Woking, Alberta trainer Jim Meyaard consigned Hip 59 "Shellac’s Blackburn" a 94 AQHA Bay gelding by Shellac x Kitaman.

Purchased by Terry Logan, Belfield, ND the been-to-the-arena and ready-to-go back barrel horse brought $7,900.

A wild and wooly loose horse trade continued at Billings Livestock where the top selling loose horse rang the bell at $1,450.

Better than that, the top 50 horses selling on the loose averaged $800 - the top five brought $1,250, with the top ten coming in at $1,149.

Overall sale averages came in with the top five at $15,000; top ten brought $11,380; top twenty averaged $8,328; top 50 at $5,495; and the top 100 horses sold averaging $4,019.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event will be March 23 - 24 and will feature the "March Catalog Sale" featuring foundation-bred horses and the "Canadian Classic" - a special session of Canadian horses. Loose horses will sell Sunday at 9 a.m.

Contact Bill or Jann Parker, Billings Livestock Horse Sale Managers to consign or request a catalog at 406-245-4151 or see it all at www.billingslivestock.com

January 26 , 2002 SALE REPORT

"Winter Special Catalog Sale" and "Cabin Fever Tack Sale"

Prospects Pummel the MarketBLS Loose Horse Craze ContinuesPropelled by the prospects, Billings Livestock Commission Company’s loose horse trade continued in solid fashion - where a standing-room-only, sale-going crowd entertained a substantial market in all divisions at Billings Livestock Commission Company’s "Winter Special Catalog Sale" and regular monthly horse sale January 26.A tip-top loose horse trade saw 135 head offered specifically on the loose, with the pick-of-the-bunch bringing $1,350, while the top five averaged $1,132, and the top ten brought $1,038.Officially, Billings Livestock welcomed 285 head of horses for the one-day sale event, where proof-positive of a solid market is reflected in the low "pass-out" percentage - only 9% of the total sale - 26 head out of the 285 head offered for sale were "passed out" by the consignor.Dun, dapper, and a double-dip of Pretty Buck, Hip 46 "Eternal War Champ" a 97 AQHA Dun Stallion by Mr. Blackburn Champ and out of a daughter of Mr. Blackburn 3, topped the day’s sale with a final bid of $7,250.Brought to town by Rimrock Livestock, John and Diane Spizziri, Shawmut, MT and purchased by Cook Creek Performance Horses, Ashland, MT, the true Foundation-bred stallion was everything he was bred to be.Mares maintained maximum horse power with the number two and three sales positions coveted by top-notch daughters of well-known sires - Cash Quixote Rio and Tamulena."Little Sassy Cash" a 96 model AQHA sorrel daughter of Cash Quixote Rio had been shown in the NCHA Futurity as a three-year-old - her only time shown. The big, flashy mare was consigned by David and Marla Hughes, Spanish Fork, UT and sold to Kruger Quarter Horses, Maynard, MN for $6,600.Very pretty and packed with charisma, Hip 100 "Young Gun Lena" a 2000 AQHA sorrel filly sired by Tamulena and out of a daughter of Young Gun, was a top gun mare full of future. Purchased for $6,250 by Warren Podany, Pilger, NE, she was offered by John Johnson, Brookings, SD.The better-end using geldings- the trustworthy kind with a job - gained marketability as the the top gelding of the day brought $5,600.Validation in the strength of the gelding market is shown in the "geldings only average" where the top five geldings brought $4,400 - including two registered and three "grade" geldings.Proving once and for all that if they can do a day’s work, have eye-appeal and versatility, pedigree is secondary in the gelding business.A whopping 40% of the horse sold - including loose and cataloged - averaged $1,818. Overall sale averages include the top five at $6,080; top ten brought $4,870; top 20 came in at $3,837, while the top 50 averaged $2,610.

February 23-24 will be the next horse sale event at Billings Livestock and will feature the "February Catalog Sale" highlighted by a special, limited session of "Sons and Daughters" of Champions and Money Earners.