Pony Power

Pint sized and super sized – trail, tourist, and time tested – horses, mules, and ponies filled the sale offering at Billings Livestock’s “Spring Special Catalog Sale” March 26-27. Held each and every March, the “Trail, Outfitting, Guide, and Guest” horse and mule feature offered 756 head over the two days, including 11 teams and 70 mules. A two-day total of 460 buyers registered with 236 actually purchasing livestock, and 109 buying two or more head.

With all the magic of a “My Little Pony”, Hip 10 “Tonto” took top sale honors for the weekend with a $7,500 price tag. Offered by Clancy McNabb, Cody, Wy, the 11 year-old palomino pony gelding was a true beginner’s package – cute, gentle, happy, and would also drive single. The “point-and-go” pony went home with Teresa Hamit, Clearmont, WY.

Kelly Horses, Midway, UT offered a nice set of trail and mountain horses including Hip 143 “Pete” an 03 Grade Buckskin gelding. A family horse that knew his way around the sagebrush, the flashy fellow brought $7,000 and sold to Ernie Clifton, Sidney, MT.

An excellent prospect for ranch, roping, or working cowhorse, Hip 37 “Annabelles Pepto Taz” a 2007 AQHA sorrel gelding x Pepto Taz and out of a Little Peppy granddaughter was extra broke and gentle. Offered by Lynn “Spook” Pearman, North Platte, NE, the attractive gelding was purchased by Teresa Sperry, Wiggins, CO for $4,500.

Colby and Cody Gines, Powell, WY brought a first-class set of mules to Billings including Hips 235 and 235X “Bell and Bess” a seven-year-old gray molly mule team. Broke to pack or drive, the team had been used in the Gines’ outfitting business for the past two years and had seen more back country than most folks ever will. Jerren Carles, Big Fork, MT purchased the unique pair of real using mules for $4,000.

Ten years old, red roan, and a true family or guest trail horse, Hip 16 “Rigby” would travel in daylight or dark, front or back of the string, would also pack, cross rivers, deadfall, and bridges, and was a sure-shot mountain horse. Consigned by Scott and Sandy Sallee, Emigrant, MT, the utilitarian-kind-of guy brought $3,600 and sold to Robin Schindele, Emmett, ID.

Super solid, from the minute the gate cracked Saturday until the last horse on Sunday, sale averages include the top five at $5,900, top 10 averaged $5,020, top 20 at $4,260, top 50 averaged $4,418, and the top 100 came in at $2,609.

Loose horses rocked as the high selling loose of the day fetched $2,200, followed by $1,500, $1,350 – pushing the top five average to $1,520, top 10 at $1,365, top 20 brought $1,181, top 50 at $852, and the top 100 brought $669.

Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for April 23-24and will feature the 13th annual “Rope Horse Special” catalog sale and regular monthly horse sale.