Billings Livestock Auction\’s Summer Sale Report

From kids to cowboys, horse shoppers from across the map met in Billings, Montana June 22-23 for Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale” showcasing team sorting horses and the final dispersion of Montana Horses, Inc. dude and trail horse string.

A grand total of 768 head of horses sold to buyers from California to New Hampshire.

Proving that previews matter, Friday afternoon’s team sorting allowed the sale horses to compete and buyers to take notes, and the 2013 Championship title went to Hip 324 “Coffee” a four-year-old Black John Mule offered by the Prairie Elk Colony, Wolf Point, MT and piloted by Matt Walter.

Rope bulls, tie off, heel calves or cut a cow, the big, black, broke mule brought $7,400 and came gentle and ranch used and sold to Carolyn and John Cruson, Potomac, WA.

Reserve Championship Sorting honors went to Hips 110 “TJ” a 2006 Grade Red Roan gelding owned and shown by Joe Fox, Hysham, MT and Hip 82 “Jrs Jeweled Haida” a 2003 AQHA Chestnut gelding x Haidas Little Pep offered and ridden by Edward Schwartz, Sanford, CO.

Both geldings came solid broke and brought $5,200 and $4,000 respectively.

Find him at the top of the high seller’s list, and Hip 78 “Vandys Yeller Bars” a 2005 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Paul Bunyon and out of Bold Patty Bar came quiet, gentle, and was a true all-around family horse offered by the Double K Ranch, McCook, NE.

A horse of a different color, the chocolate and silver showstopper had been ridden by a seven year old, used to gather pastures, pony colts, and sold to Rozamund Barclay, Auburn , WA for $15,000.

His names says it all and Hip 57 “Smart Super Flash” a 2010 AQHA Bay Roan Gelding x Dry Smart Crocker and out of Super Flash Ann x Lanes Super Cutter was offered by Steve Flint, West Point , UT.

Shown in Utah Reined Cow Horse Association events twice, both times to the pay window, the “three year old that rode like he was ten” had it all going on and showed capably in the sorting and previews.

Fred Lenertz, West Saint Paul, MN purchased the quality colt for $6,000.

Billings Livestock was proud to offer 26 head from Montana Horses, Inc., Kail and Renee Mantle, Three Forks, MT.

The final dispersion of their historic lease and trail horse string offered proven, gentle, recreational horses for all levels, in all colors and sizes.

The unique offering averaged $1,977, with Hip 222 “Moose” a 1997 Grade Brown Gelding topping the charts with a $6,000 price tag selling to John Fort, Lima, MT.

Ridden in kid camps, through Glacier National Park , the Bob Marshall Wilderness, this gelding was safe for all levels and at 1200 pounds was a gentle giant.

A fun sale with wide variety of good horses, the sale averages show the top five at $8,460; top ten averaged $7,230; top 20 at $6,292; top 50 averaged $4,587; and the top 100 came in at $3,455.

Loose horses remained steady where the top five prospects averaged $1,430, top ten at $1,135; top 20 brought $912; top 50 $643; and the top 100 averaged $476.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event will be July 27-28.

The annual “Mid-Summer” Catalog Sale – features cutting and cow bred horses – with two full days of horse sales and previews.

All classes of horses will sell, including finished horses and prospects for ranch, roping, arena, cutting, or recreation.

Designed to allow the sellers an opportunity to showcase their consignments and at the same time, giving the buyer an honest, professional opportunity to assess the horses, Friday’s special preview of cutting horses on cattle will begin at 5 p.m. in the BLS Arena.

Saturday’s preview begins at 8:30 a.m. with another look at the cutters on cattle, followed by the saddle and ride horse demonstrations, with calf horses and team roping horses showing at 11 a.m. Catalog Sale Time is 12 Noon each day. Loose horses sell at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning.

300 plus catalog horses are expected with a catalog closing date of Friday, July 5.

Billings Livestock is a federally licensed and bonded facility and offers all classes and kinds of horses. For more information, contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Sale Managers at 406-670-0773/406-855-1947. www.billingslivestock.com.