AQHA World Show Horse Sale
According to the American Quarter Horse Association and Mike Jennings of Professional Auction Services Inc., the prognosis for this year\’s AQHA World Show Horse Sale appears fantastic.
In an interview, Jennings stated, “We have sent out a record number of catalogs this year, over 2,000. Last year, we sent out 1,300, and the highest I could find before that was about 1,550.
“I’ve had a number of people say they thought the entire catalog looked stronger than it’s been for a while, and we agree with that,” he stated.
The big changes for this year’s sale include:
• Move of the sale to open finals weekend, November 18-19.
• Inclusion of breeder groups in working, pleasure and halter horse sessions, including the “World Saleabration.”
• Using the Barn 3 arena with a round sale ring, so horses can be longed or ridden as they are being sold.
• In addition to November 17 performance horse preview, there will be a roping horse preview in the Coliseum following the senior heeling prelims. “More of the roping horse exhibitor crowd will be able to view the sale horses, and we’ve got some very, very nice roping horses and prospects in the sale,” according to Jennings.
• Expansion of the World Show Sale bonus program so there would be more money paid to more people.
• Offer of three original Orren Mixer paintings of Goldseeker Bars, Paul A and Red Wimpy.
In the interview, Jennings pointed out that a lot of what has caused the buzz has been “the very well-bred horses” being offered throughout the sale. Of the 420 horses catalogued, about 225 of them are pleasure horses, including a consignment from breeders Robbie and Joan Schroeder of Gainesville, Texas.
“We wanted (the sale) to generate buzz,” Joan said, “to give people something to talk about, and it has. There are a lot of great horses in this sale, not just ours, and it’s exciting.”
Jennings pointed out that halter breeders have really supported the sale, offering world champions in both the breeder promotional groups and through individual consignors.
“We’re pleased to have that much interest in this economy; we’ve seen some strength in our show horses throughout the fall,” he continues, pointing to positives at the fall National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale in Reno, Nevada, and at the Congress Super Sale in Columbus, Ohio.
“With the interest coming into this sale, it’ll be a better market for our consignors than they’ve seen for a couple of years now.”
For more sale information, go to: www.professionalauction.com, or call (800) 240-7900.
