Good, Better, Best

The 2011 horse sale season took off in positive fashion at Billings Livestock’s “Winter Special Catalog Sale” and annual “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” January 22.

One big day of horses, tack, and more horses saw 363 head of horses offered in addition to two sale sessions of used and collectible tack items.

Horse after horse, the market held solid and steady, from first horse to last, the top 50 horses averaged just under $2,000 per head.

The weekend’s selection was headlined by LeRoy Bieber’s dispersion of 48 head of horses, including AQHA point earners, extra-nice ranch, riding, and using geldings, mares, and young stock.

The top five averaged $3,380 – every horse a Bieber consignment.

The Leola, SD rancher and breeder had the day’s top selling horse – Hip 65 “Biebers Oak Lite” a 2003 AQHA Palomino gelding x TC Rebel Cody and out of Docs Golden Oak x Doc’s Oak.

A finished reiner that had been shown in “everything” at local shows by kids, the pretty gelding was started on barrels, and had also been used elk hunting.

Ed Burge, Medical Lake, WA purchased the all-around, one-owner gelding for $3,900.

4K Livestock, Jackson, MN offered Hip 56 “First Buckwheat” a 2004 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Adams First Dancer x First Down Dash and out of a Special Effort granddaughter.

The big, upstanding gelding had been used on the ranch calving and sorting and came smart and sensible, and moved to Meridian, ID with Quint Whitman for $3,000.

On the tack side, the “Cabin Fever Tack Sale” saw a 1920’s horsehair hitched , Deer Lodge, Montana prison-made, headstall fetch $2,600.

Selling in excellent condition, the multi-colored, complete headstall and reins sold to a Montana collector.

Sale averages on the horses include the top five at $3,380; top ten averaged $3,100, top 20 at $2,670; and the top 100 at $1,494.

Loose horses saw a bump in value over November prices as the top loose horse of the day brought $1,200 and the top five averaged $1,035; top ten $883; Top 20 at $709, top 50 at $572 and the top 100 averaged $408.

Billings Livestock’s “February Catalog Sale” will feature an expanded three-day sale format February 25-26-27.

The sale weekend is highlighted by a special, limited session of “Sons and Daughters” of Champions and Money Earners in addition to the NFR Session. All classes of horses will sell.

A preview of the rope horses, cutting horses, barrel horses, and saddle horses is set for Friday, February 25 at 11 a.m. at the Horse Palace Arena. Rope horses, calf horses, and cutting horses will all preview on cattle.

Catalogs will be available on-line Thursday, February 17 with hard copy catalogs mailed on Friday, February 18.

See the sale advertisement insert in the February/March issue ofWestern Horse Review, and check in at www.billingslivestock.com