LEADING. THE WAY.
Impressive – from the first horse in to the last horse out – Billings Livestock’s June 25 “Summer Special Catalog Sale” met with strong buyer demand – both on premise and online – in all classes and divisions.
The summer sale sparkled as 573 head were offered – 179 in the catalog and 394 in the loose division – with only nine pass outs or no sales, computing to a 95% sale percentage.
The quest for a better horse continues as evidenced by the top five average of $24,300.
Even at the end of the day horses selling on the supplement saw big prices including a $10,000 grade gelding and a $9,000 mare.
Leading the way as June’s “Number One” with a $31,000 sale tag was Hip 103 “Fireproof 66” a 2018 AQHA Palomino Gelding x Inferno Sixty Six and out of a Nu Chex To Cash daughter offered by Ervin Miller, Hulett, WY.
The golden boy showed flawlessly in the previews, had been ridden in the mountains, did the reining maneuvers, was used to tarps, dogs, and had been ridden by the young Miller children.
Turner Performance Horses, East Helena, MT offered Hip 96 “Playing Rey” a 2012 AQHA Sorrel Gelding x Jewel Rey x Lenas Jewel Bars that had been ranch and trail ridden.
Barn named “Steady”, the fancy gelding brought $29,500.
NRHA professional Justin Michels, River Falls, WI offered a nice set of geldings including Hip 123 “CR Two Eyed Midnight” a 2012 AQHA Gray Gelding x CR Smokes Midnight and out of a daughter of Two Eyed Red Buck that came gentle, ridden extensively outside, and took good care of his rider.
A handsome gelding with a kind demeanor, he brought $24,000.
America’s Number One gelding market delivered good geldings – again – as 19 out of the top 20 selling horses were geldings and averaged a smooth $16,825.
The only mare to crack the top 20 came purple pedigreed, started right, and rode around like an old horse.
Consigned by Cowan Select Horses, Havre, MT, Hip 56 “Shes Dashin Wright” a 2020 AQHA Chestnut mare by JL Sirocco and out of a daughter of Dash Ta Fame was certainly a standout and sale highlight. The mare with the big future brought $14,000.
In true Billings fashion, a “something for everyone” horse sale saw 33 head of catalog horses bring between $6,000 and $7,500.
Catalog sale averages include the top five at $24,300, Top ten at $20,290, top 20 brought $16,825, top 50 averaged $12,691 and the top 100 averaged $9,709.
A phenomenal loose trade continues at BLS where the top loose of the day brought $7,100 followed by $7,000, $6,900, and $6,800 for a top five average of $6,840. The top ten averaged $6,405, top 20 at $5,827, top 50 at $4,458 and the top 100 averaged $3,424.
Billings Livestock’s next sale event will be July 22-23.
The annual “Mid-Summer” Catalog Sale features performance and cow bred horses and will include all classes of horses from finished horses and prospects for ranch, roping, arena, cutting, or recreation.
Designed to allow the sellers an opportunity to showcase their consignments and at the same time, giving the buyer an honest, professional opportunity to assess the horses, Friday’s special preview of performance horses will begin at 3 p.m. at the HorsePalace Arena.
Saturday’s preview begins at 8:30 a.m. with another look at the cutters on cattle, followed by the saddle and ride horse demonstrations, with calf horses and team roping horses showing at 11 a.m. Catalog Sale Time is 12 Noon. each day. Loose horses sell at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Billings Livestock is a federally licensed and bonded facility and offers all classes and kinds of horses. For more information, contact Jann Parker, BLS Sale Manager 406-855-1947. www.billingslivestock.com