Saturday, April 17 was one of the first sun-shiny days of spring in Billings, Montana, and the Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch was the perfect meeting place that day for real ranch cowboys and cowgirls with good horses to sell and prospective buyers who came from across the country looking for reliable mounts. It was the fourth annual “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale, and dependable geldings were in high demand once again this year.

Don Selle of Baker, Montana brought the high selling horse to this year’s “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale. “Superman” is shown here with buyer Mary Hanson of Edgar, Montana. Also pictured, Kellie Yost represented Nutra-Lix, sponsor of the award vests presented for high-selling horse, at the sale.

This well-attended sale organized by the Montana Ranch Horse Association is where genuine ranch-made horses preview fresh and unridden before the crowd the morning of the sale, in an effort to show the true character of each horse.  Horse hands brought their offerings to the sale this year from ranches in Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Idaho. A team roping preview and an open ranch horse competition held the day before the sale gave sellers a chance to show off any sale horses with arena merit.

Don Selle of Baker, Montana brought the high selling horse to the 2010 “REAL” Ranch Horse Sale, just like he did in 2009. Lot 56 – Starburst Rackateer, a 10-year-old gelding finished in both heading and heeling, had also been used to pick up on and haze off of. Known as “Superman,” this prime-age gentleman was named the 2008 Champion Bridle Horse at the Black Hills Stock Show Ranch Horse Competition. He went home with Mary Hanson of Edgar, Montana, for the price of $8,500.

Second high seller of the day was a 7-year-old gelding, Lot 29 – Silverdollar Duece, consigned by Chad Rainsdon of Deer Lodge, Montana.  The quiet giant measured 16.2 hands and brought $8,400, selling to Mike Jorgenson of Corvallis, Montana.

Jake and Jessica Hahn of Bridger, Montana offered the third high seller of the day, Lot 1 – Triple Bar Slots, and exchanged him for $7,700.  The 5-year-old ranch gelding was extremely gentle and handy to boot and will make his new home at the Fishtail Basin Ranch, Fishtail, Montana.

The top five selling ranch horses averaged $7,900 at this year’s “REAL” Sale, while the top 10 averaged $6,905 and the top 20 $6,075.  All the ranch horses selling averaged $4,975.

This year’s offering included a dozen green ranch horses as well. The youngsters came to the sale with background and potential, just not as much experience.  Sky Grant of Lovell, Wyoming, brought the high-selling green ranch horse to the “REAL” Sale this year.  Lot 20 – MNM Cruzer, a 5-year-old gelding, brought $5,500 and sold to Gary and Callie DeVries of Bridger, Montana.  The top five selling green horses at the 2010 “REAL” Sale averaged $4,140, and all 12 of them averaged $3,475.

As a special addition to this year’s “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale, Rawhide Quarter Horses (Nate, TJ and Jake Wald) of Lodge Grass, Montana donated proceeds from the auction of a 2008 gray gelding out of their program to the Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch, which provides residential treatment services for at-risk youth.  Mr. and Mrs. Rick Gilliland of Livingston, Montana, purchased the colt for $1,600.

Nate Wald is shown riding his stallion Stylish Tip, sire of the benefit colt donated by Rawhide Quarter Horses (Nate, TJ and Jake Wald) and auctioned off at the “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale. The colt sold to Mr. & Mrs. Rick Gilliland from Livingston, Montana, with proceeds benefiting the Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch.

Prospective buyers came to the sale from across the nation and Canada. After the auctioneer’s final call, horses were claimed by buyers from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Virginia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Volume buyer at the sale was Switchback Ranch of Roscoe, Montana.

Next year’s sale is scheduled for April 15-16 at the same location. For more information, contact sale organizer Jack Blankenship at realranchhorses@hotmail.com or 406-446-2203.  Visit www.realranchhorses.com.

North, south, east and west, they came in from big country, feedyards, and family ranches, and honest-to-goodness, working-class ranch horses enjoyed their own big weekend at Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog  sale May 22-23.

Friday‘s “Best of the Remuda” ranch horse competition spotlighted 48 head in a judged competition that crowned Hip 41 “Freds Quick Sand” a 2003 AQHA Bay mare raised, owned, and shown by Justin Lawrence, Alzada, MT the 2010 Champion Ranch Horse.

Straight up in the bridle, the good mare by Sir Fred Von Freckle and out of a Dos General daughter came with NRCHA earnings, AQHA points and brought $7,300.

Ranch horses enjoyed their own big weekend at Billings Livestock’s May 22-23 “Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale” where 48 head competed in a judged “Best of the Remuda” ranch horse competition. Top four competition ranch horses include: L to R: 4th place - Delon Parker, Worden, MT aboard Hip 56 “Benjamin Beggar Prom” a 2001 AQHA Sorrel gelding x Mr Peppy Olena purchased by Faith Dean, Bragg Creek, Alberta for $4,500; 3rd place: Hip 237 “Wolfman” a 2002 Grade gelding owned and shown by Jack Christiansen, Oakley, ID brought $4,200; Reserve Champ Hip 81 “Rosco Bob” a 2005 AQHA Red Dun gelding offered by Turner Performance Horses and shown by Chad Turner, Victor, MT sold to Sonja Cuffe, Pleasanton, CA for $8,500; and – the Champ, Hip 41 “Freds Quick Sand” a 2003 AQHA Bay mare raised, owned, and shown by Justin Lawrence, Alzada, MT selling for $7,300.

A market fueled by real cowhorses saw a  95% completed sale percentage – only 44 head of the weekend’s 823 horses were “no-saled” or passed out by the seller.

The top five averaged $7,580.

A bona-fide good gelding, Hip 81 “Rosco Bob” a 2005 AQHA Red Dun gelding sired by Abrakadabracre and out of The Peppy Widow by Peponita earned Reserve Champion Ranch Horse honors in addition to being the weekend’s top sale horse bringing a final bid of $8,500 from Sonja Cuffe, Pleasanton, CA.

Offered by Turner Performance Horses, Victor, MT and shown by Chad Turner, the fancy, quiet fellow came with  NCHA earnings, a solid ranch resume, and had been started heeling and breakaway in the arena.

Keith Munns, Rexburg, ID offered his personal mount, Hip 122 “Go Zan Eyed Parr” a 2003 AQHA Bay Roan gelding x Shi Bars Payday a big, strong, extra gentle gelding that  had been used for general ranch work, trail ridden, and ridden in the arena.

Julie Hunsinger, Drexel, MO purchased the 16 hand, 1400 lb mega-gelding for $8000.

With a double dose of gentle, Hip 145 “Smoke A Splash” a 2002 AQHA Grullo Gelding had been roped on, ranched on, and spent many miles in the mountains.

Consigned by RMO Horses, Heber, UT, the “same today and tomorrow” type gelding brought $6000 and sold to Jeff Harwood, Marion, MI.

Same song with the same verse – older, educated, and honest – the horses in demand continue to be the trustworthy kind with an occupation, while younger horses with little or no riding and horses in poor condition continue to see a softened demand.

Ranch and using geldings brought from $950 to $8,500.

Sale averages include the top five at $7,580; top ten brought $6,680; Top 20 at $5,717; Top 50 brought $4,299, and the top 100 averaged $3,263.

In the loose horse division – as is, where is, how is – the day’s top horse brought $1,600 with the top five averaging $1,100, top ten averaged $975, top 20 brought $806; Top 50 at $643; And the top 100 averaged $506.

Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale”  is  set for June 26-27and will feature “Team Sorting” horses in addition to a special session of “Buckskins”.

All classes and types of horses will sell, from prospects, mares, stallions, to finished horses.

Cattle will be available to show the penning, sorting, and cutting horses in addition to rope horses beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning.

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

A total of 417 prospective buyers registered to bid at the Western Horse Sale, held at Saskatoon Livestock Sales, Saturday, May 1. Here’s the results for this classic prairie sale.

The high selling stallion was Mark Dually, with lifetime earnings of $12,000, the 1995 chestnut is a son of Dual Pep out of Smart Little Margie. Consigned by Western Star Performance Horses, Wilmar, Minnesota and sold to David Kory of Preceville, Saskatchewan for $9,500.

The high selling mare was Unbellenable, a 1994 daughter of Smart Little Lena, consigned by Rattlesnake Ranch, Lufkin, Texas and sold to Mal Suitor, Pine Lake, Alberta for $12,000.

The high selling gelding was Col Jack Freckles, a 2001 Quarter Horse gelding consigned by Lee Pedersen, Milestone, Saskatchewan and sold to Arnold Fletcher, Wainwright, Alberta for $8,500.

Rally Time, a 1998 Paint Horse gelding turned out as the highest selling kids’ horse, for a price of $7,000, consigned by Hunter Watson, Wolseley, Saskatchewan and sold to Dan Delemont, Chauvin, Alberta.

Second highest selling kid’s horse was Shiney Show Bars, a 2004 Quarter Horse gelding consigned by Sydney Pedersen, Milestone, Saskatchewan and selling to Quinn Wilson, Calgary, Alberta for $6,900.

Sale Averages:

Top 5 Horses – $9,700.00
Top 10 Horses – $8,505.00
Top 25 – $7,477.50

Sale Average – $2,365.00

Kids Horse Average – $4,800.00

Check out Western Horse Sales Unlimited for more information about this great prairie sale, and to find details about next year’s event.