The Western Horse Sale, now in its eighteenth year, saw 53 horses presented to the buying public by a number of high profile consignors on Oct. 4 in Red Deer, Alberta, during the Canadian Supreme Show and Trade Fair, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 6.
This year, the auction featured 44 cutting, performance and breeding stock horses sold under the gavel of Dan Skeels of Rimbey, Alberta. The sales resulted in a top 10 average of $8,050, with an overall average of $4,284. (2012 overall average was $4,265.00).
The high selling horse was a two-year-old stallion, lot #33, American Trip, sire: Flo Rider, consigned by Doug Hines of Saltcoats, Saskatchewan, and brought $11,000 from Welland Muri of Calgary, Alberta. K&K Livestock donated a beautifully tooled show headstall to the new buyer of the high selling horse.
The second highest selling horse was a four-year-old mare, lot #32, Cee Me Shakinflo, sire: Smart Peppy Ote, consigned by Bill and Elaine Speight of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, and purchased by Frank Eaton of Fort St. John, British Columbia, for $10,500. The day after the sale, the mare became the 2013 Canadian Supreme Four-Year-Old Non Pro Derby Champion.
In the sale, there were 13 yearlings sold. The high seller was lot # 6, Dynamite Drive, sire: Hydrive Cat, consigned by Doug Hines of Salt Coats, Saskatchewan, and purchased by John and Debbie Thomas of Spruce Grove, Alberta, for $10,000.
The second highest selling yearling was lot #11, Atta Here, sire: Atta Cat, consigned by Equistar Enterprises of Spruce Grove, Alberta, and purchased by Bill and Elaine Speight of Rocky Mtn. House, Alberta, for $7,100.
There were 14 two-year-olds, and the second highest selling two year old was lot #30, Dechambeau Cat, sire: CJ Sugar Lena, consigned by Doug Hines of Saltcoats, Saskatchewan, and brought $6,500 from Les Jack of Rocanville, Saskatchewan.
There were 10 three-year-olds sold, with a top five average of $4,920. The high seller in the three-year-old division was lot #38, MS Holly Boon, sire: Mr Roan Freckles, consigned by Bob Butz of Stony Plain, Alberta, and purchased for $7,000 by Dewayne Sitler of Camrose, Alberta. The second highest selling three year old was lot #16, MS Dually, sire: Mr Roan Freckles, consigned by Bob Butz of Stony Plain, Alberta, and purchased by Rod Wilson of Brooks, Alberta, for $5,900.
There were eight quality broodmares offered with an overall average of $2,100. The highest selling mare was lot #53, Joli Coquette, sire: Docs Hickory, consigned by Equistar Enterprises of Spruce Grove, and purchased by Pekisko Ranch of Red Deer, Alberta for $4,900.
The quality of horses was excellent again this year and buyers are better educated on performance bloodlines. The overall average was about the same as last year, due to the number of quality horses consigned.
We would like to thank everyone for helping out at the sale, to the consignors, and the buyers who attended and purchased horses. Thank you to the Canadian Supreme for hosting the sale!