ROPE RIDE & RODEO
Rodeo ready, jackpot winners, and plenty of prospects, a first-class collection of rope horses head-lined Billings Livestock’s 23rd annual “Rope Horse Special and April Catalog Sale” April 24.
April’s event saw a one-day total of 558 horses, with a top five average bumping $32,700.
With the addition of the “ShowCase Internet Session” allowing for online bidding, horses consigned to this specific session can be bought on premise at Billings , by phone bid, or purchased on line. Over 200 head were offered in this special session with 52 horses selling to online buyers.
Another take-away from the current horse sale trend, value can be found if sought out at BLS as 107 of catalog horses brought $4,000 to $7,500.
Rope horses shined at the pre-sale jackpot held Friday afternoon at the HorsePalace Arena, hosting 141 teams, as the tell-all competition allowed the consignors to show their horses in a contest setting and gave buyers the opportunity to closely shop the rope horse rides.
They put it on three steers in 24.91 and the team of Taylor Lloyd aboard Hip 214 and Paul Griemsman heeling on Hip 173 claimed the jackpot championship, Gordy Alderson bits, and $585 per man.
Drafts dazzle at Billings and drafts and draft crosses continue to see strong demand as five graced the top 20 sellers listing including April’s Number One – Hip 98 “Hollywood Classic” a 2012 Palomino Gelding registered in the International Draft and Spotted Horse Registry. Offered by Blake Kruger, Forest Lake MN the 16 hand handsome Lusitano/Andelusian sold for $37,000.
Second High Seller and a talented hauled and won on heel horse/breakaway combo, Hip 135 “Metallic Mind” a 2016 AQHA Red Roan Gelding x Metallic Cat and out of Look Never Mind x Squeak Toy came kind, gentle, personable, and ranch ridden as well.
Consigned and roped on in the jackpot by Paul Griemsman, Piedmont , SD the double- fancy roan gelding brought $35,000.
So blue and special, too, Hip 180 “Blue Ghost Rider” a 2013 AQHA Blue Roan Gelding x Mecom Blue and out of a daughter of Young Gun offered and shown by Jarrod Cross, Paradise , TX came gentle and user friendly.
Head, heel, breakaway, and ranch on him, the well made, good looking gelding sold to Sharon Stigall, Aurora , OR for $34,500.
He was blue, too, and Hip 129 “Knockout Walker” a 2014 AQHA Blue Roan Gelding x Sister Walker x Window Walker offered by West Fork Ranch, Sheffield , IA came gentle and stayed gentle.
Ranched on, used for clinics, had extreme trail riding training, ridden along the beach, he brought $26,000 and sold to John Gills, Dearing , GA.
Overall sale averages reflect the strong market trend as the top five averaged $32,770, top ten at $28,650; Top 20 at $23,805; Top 50 brought $17,001; and the top 100 averaged $12,273.
Loose horses continue their rampage lead by the ride prospects as the top loose of the day hit $8,000, followed by $7,600, and $6,000.
96 head of loose horses brought $1,600 or better with nine over the $5,000 mark, and 36 at $3,000 plus.
Loose averages include top five at $6,560; top ten at $5,810; top 20 brought $5,010; top 50 averaged $3,836 and the top 100 came in at $2,873.
Billings Livestock’s next sale event is set for May 21-22 and will feature the annual “Cow Country Classic” catalog sale in addition to the “Best of the Remuda” Ranch Horse Competition. Featured in May will be Ranch geldings. See it all at www.billingslivestock.com