The Talent Show

A crackerjack collection of stock horses sporting solid skill sets shaped the market at Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale May 24.

The one-day supersale offered 700 head of horses with the top sale horse bringing $11,000.

Every horse on the BLS Top 20 Seller’s List was a gelding – and the top 20 averaged $7,567.

Complimented by the “Best of the Remuda” ranch horse competition Friday afternoon, 50 head of horses demonstrated their aptitude in a judged competition where Hip 75 “Hersheys Bar” a 2010 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Sweet Lil Pepto earned the 2014 Championship Ranch Horse Title.

Owned and shown by Jace Crabb, Mangum, OK  the attractive gelding had seen extensive outside ranch use, would cut a cow, and had been headed and heeled on in the arena.  Gentle everyday, the willing-to-please gentleman brought $9,700 and sold to Steve and Linda Hanson, Red Lodge, MT.

Jace Crabb also owned the day’s top selling gelding, Hip 181 “Tootin Spoonful” a 2006 AQHA Red Roan Gelding x Hes A Peptospoonful and out of a daughter of Smart Little Lena.

With NCHA earnings of $6,304, the finished cutter had seen big circles on the ranch as well as the branding fire.  An all around good gelding that came gentle and solid minded, he brought $11,000 and sold to Jack Wipplinger, Roberts, MT.

With a $10,000 sale price, Reserve Sale Honors went to Hip 80 “Dietz” a 2007 Grade Bay Gelding offered by Turner Performance Horses, Helena, MT.

Capably shown in the ranch horse competition where he earned a sixth place finish, “Dietz” came laid back and easy going, with a resume that included heeling, breakaway, and calf roping.

Bronco Mendenhall, Highland, UT purchased the multi-talented gelding.

Hip 26 “Smokey Eddie Jack” a 2000 AQHA Grullo Gelding x Bar Dee Eddie Joe was a hauled and won on barrel gelding brought to town by Rodney and Julie Payne, Claremore, OK.

Big, pretty, and knew his business, the rodeo-ready gelding brought $9,750 and sold to Tammy Bohlkey, Joshua, TX.

Jerry Cobb, Weiser, ID brought a nice set of geldings to Billings including Hip 125 “Tonto” a 2002 Grade Paint Gelding that came gentle and family oriented.

The solid ranch gelding brought $8,100 and sold to Scott Gray, Faith, SD.

A standout, one owner mare that earned a top five finish in the ranch horse competition, Hip 166 “CLG Double Dynamite” a 2000 AQHA Sorrel mare x Dynamite Shyanne x Doc O Dynamite had been raised, trained, and offered by Wyatt Glade, Miles City, MT.  Talented, fun to ride, and gentle, the little dynamo had NRCHA earnings and was patterned on the barrels

Complete sale averages include the top five at $10,050; top 10 at $9,205; top 20 brought $7,567; top 50 averaged $5,485; and the top 100 came in at $4,113.

Loose horses continue to bring better money as worldwide demand is pushing the U.S. market.  Generally speaking, the average loose horse is demanding 25 to 50% more than one year ago.

Loose averages include the prospects as well as the processing horses and the top five averaged $1,700; top ten brought $1,467; top 20 at $1,220; top 50 at $880. and the top 100 averaged $682.

Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale” is next on the agenda set for June 28.

Contact Bill or Jann Parker, BLS Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or visit their website.