Tools of the Trade

North, south, east and west, they came in from big country, feedyards, and family ranches, and honest-to-goodness, working-class ranch horses enjoyed their own big weekend at Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog  sale May 22-23.

Friday‘s “Best of the Remuda” ranch horse competition spotlighted 48 head in a judged competition that crowned Hip 41 “Freds Quick Sand” a 2003 AQHA Bay mare raised, owned, and shown by Justin Lawrence, Alzada, MT the 2010 Champion Ranch Horse.

Straight up in the bridle, the good mare by Sir Fred Von Freckle and out of a Dos General daughter came with NRCHA earnings, AQHA points and brought $7,300.

A market fueled by real cowhorses saw a  95% completed sale percentage – only 44 head of the weekend’s 823 horses were “no-saled” or passed out by the seller.

The top five averaged $7,580.

A bona-fide good gelding, Hip 81 “Rosco Bob” a 2005 AQHA Red Dun gelding sired by Abrakadabracre and out of The Peppy Widow by Peponita earned Reserve Champion Ranch Horse honors in addition to being the weekend’s top sale horse bringing a final bid of $8,500 from Sonja Cuffe, Pleasanton, CA.

Offered by Turner Performance Horses, Victor, MT and shown by Chad Turner, the fancy, quiet fellow came with  NCHA earnings, a solid ranch resume, and had been started heeling and breakaway in the arena.

Keith Munns, Rexburg, ID offered his personal mount, Hip 122 “Go Zan Eyed Parr” a 2003 AQHA Bay Roan gelding x Shi Bars Payday a big, strong, extra gentle gelding that  had been used for general ranch work, trail ridden, and ridden in the arena.

Julie Hunsinger, Drexel, MO purchased the 16 hand, 1400 lb mega-gelding for $8000.

With a double dose of gentle, Hip 145 “Smoke A Splash” a 2002 AQHA Grullo Gelding had been roped on, ranched on, and spent many miles in the mountains.

Consigned by RMO Horses, Heber, UT, the “same today and tomorrow” type gelding brought $6000 and sold to Jeff Harwood, Marion, MI.

Same song with the same verse – older, educated, and honest – the horses in demand continue to be the trustworthy kind with an occupation, while younger horses with little or no riding and horses in poor condition continue to see a softened demand.

Ranch and using geldings brought from $950 to $8,500.

Sale averages include the top five at $7,580; top ten brought $6,680; Top 20 at $5,717; Top 50 brought $4,299, and the top 100 averaged $3,263.

In the loose horse division – as is, where is, how is – the day\’s top horse brought $1,600 with the top five averaging $1,100, top ten averaged $975, top 20 brought $806; Top 50 at $643; And the top 100 averaged $506.

Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale”  is  set for June 26-27and will feature “Team Sorting” horses in addition to a special session of “Buckskins”.

All classes and types of horses will sell, from prospects, mares, stallions, to finished horses.

Cattle will be available to show the penning, sorting, and cutting horses in addition to rope horses beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning.

To consign or request a catalog, contact Bill and Jann Parker, Billings Livestock Horse Sale Managers at 406-245-4151 or see it a all at www.billingslivestock.com