Simply. Bedazzled.
Five-star and fancy, Billings Livestock’s February 24-25-26 sale presented the business with a catalog sale top of $98,000, a loose horse at $9,700, a zonkey sold for $7,000 and the coolest mules around brought $33,000 and $20,000.
A jam-up, quality filled February event highlighted by the annual “Sons and Daughters” sale sessions where horses are sired by money earners, AQHA Champions, or horses with a record themselves.
The crackerjack set of horses, mules, and ponies saw 114 head bump $10,000 or better, with 45 over the $20,000 mark and six pushing $50,000 plus.
Leader of the pack, Hip 310 “Metallicat” a 2011 AQHA Sorrel mare sired by the $52 Million dollar sire, Metallic Cat and out of Mates Matrix x Smart Mate was herself an AQHA Open World Champion Head Horse as well as an NRCHA Open Futurity Finalist.
All eyes on the blue-chip mare, she came consigned by Ty Smith, Whitesboro, TX and sold for $98,000.
Two foals – a filly and a stud colt – out of Metallicat and by the $8 million dollar sire Woody Be Tuff also sold bringing $24,000 each.
Number two for the day was Hip 282 “The Mamba” a 2017 AQHA Red Roan stallion sired by the boss – Metallic Cat – and our of an Abracadabracre daughter – came with NCHA earnings of $77,000 plus.
Offered by Alan Chappel, Collinsville, TX the handsome stallion sold to Steve Cockerum, Fruitland, ID.
Red roan and a stallion, too, this one sired by Metallic Cat’s number one son – Stevie Rey Von and out of a daughter of Peptoboonsmal – Hip 321 “Stevies Final Play” a 2019 model that had two years of cutting training as well being paid to date in the Riata Buckle Rope Horse Futurity.
Consigned by Cooper Smith, Whitesboro, TX he was purchased by Bryan Orton, Spanish Fork, UT for $64,000.
Eight out of the top ten selling horses were Riata Buckle eligible with seven out of the top ten having Royal Crown eligibility. The top ten averaged $76,600.
Oh, those mules!! Hip 319 “Hollywood” a 2018 Grade Gray John Mule consigned by Nebo Valley Farms, Fredericksburg, OH looked like a mule but rode like a reiner!
The unique fellow had been used daily on an Amish farm, ridden by riders from 3 to 65, used on a drill team, carried flags in parades, and would lay down on cue.
He brought $33,000 and sold to Michael Boitnott, Prescott, AZ.
The top three selling mules brought $33,000, $20,000, and $19,500.
Loose horses started the year on fire with 198 head offered in this division with the top five loose at $9,700, $9,000, $8,700, $8,700, and $7,750.
Sixty six head on the loose brought $2,000 or better with 20 at $4,000 plus.
Overall sale averages reflect the quality offered in February as the top five averaged $76,600; top ten at $58,850; Top 20 brought $44,150; top 50 at $30,758; and the top 100 at $22,590.
Something for every pocketbook as 88 head brought between $5,000 and $7,500.
Loose averages show just how good it was – the top five at $8,770, top ten at $7,600; top 20 at $6,195, top 50 brought $4,307; and top 100 – that’s half – averaging $3,065.
Up next – March 25 – the Spring Special Catalog Sale, it‘s on premise and online. Consign, see what‘s coming, and sign up for online bidding www.billingslivestock.com .